R169: Äbtissin B. von St. Cyriakus in Erfurt an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Salutation and Prayer
The abbess greets Hildegard as a mirror of holiness and asks for her prayerful support under the burden of sin.
The abbess of Saint Cyriacus in Erfurt. To Hildegard. Hildegard, mirror of holiness. B. The unworthy abbess of the handmaids of Christ dwelling on the mountain of Saint Cyriacus in Erfurt. May I enjoy the eternal brightness with its joys. Glorious things are said of you, handmaid of God. Therefore I ask you, bowed down under the burden of sins, to extend your hands in prayer for me.
Entreaty Through Christ's Love
The writer deepens her appeal by calling Hildegard to imitate Christ's compassion and by asking her to plead for mercy before God.
By imitating your beloved, who stretched out his hands to the leper. For I have recognized that you are anointed with the oil of gladness before your companions.✦ So I adjure you by your bent knees as you pray. So that when you grasp those heavenly and eternal things— you may enter the holy of holies. May you sympathize with my miseries. By beseeching your bridegroom and mine for me, a poor woman! and reconciling my transgressions into his favor.
Appeal for Compassion and Protection
The abbess urges Hildegard to suffer with the weak, commends her community to her care, and asks for divine protection and obedience to God's commands.
How could you, beloved of Christ, have love if you refused to suffer with the weaknesses of others? May I therefore be commended to your holiness, and the sisters entrusted to me. and pray that our foot may stand on a straight path! so that walking forward perfectly we may reach the day of joy. Intercede with him who hides us in the shelter of his face from the disturbance of men. that he may deign to protect us in his dwelling from the contradiction of tongues! and grant both the will and the ability to do what he commands.
Communion and Blessing
The letter closes by entrusting the fullness of sisterly communion to Hildegard and blessing her holiness to flourish.
who guards truth forever. So we entrust the fullness of our brotherhood to your holiness. And so that we can be assured of your prayers. We earnestly entreat you. May the glory of your holiness flourish! May it flourish and be strong.
Read the original Latin
Abbatissa sancti Ciriaci erphodie. hildegardi. Hildigardi sanctitatis speculo. B. indigna abbatissa ancillarum christi in monte sancti Ciriaci erphodie commorantium! eternę claritatis perfrui gaudijs. Gloriosa dicuntur de te famula dei. Proinde te rogo ut mihi onere peccatorum pregrauatę precis tuę porrigas manus!
dilectum tuum imitando qui manus extendit leproso. Cognoui enim te unctam esse oleo leticię pre consortibus tuis. unde te flexis genibus precando adiuro. ut cum illa celestia et eterna comprehenderis. sancta sanctorum intraueris. meis condoleas miserijs. sponsum tuum et meum pro me paupercula exorando! et in gratiam eius meos excessus reconciliando.
Quomodo tu dilecta christi caritatem haberes. si compati infirmitatibus aliorum detrectares? Sim ergo tuę sanctitati commendata et sorores quę mihi commissę sunt. et ora ut pes noster stet in uia recta! ut gradientes perfecte diem attingamus leticię. Interpella eum qui nos abscondit in abscondito faciei suę a conturbatione hominum. ut nos protegere dignetur in tabernaculo suo a contradictione linguarum! detque uelle et posse quę precipit.
qui ueritatem in seculum custodit. Fraternitatis igitur nostrę plenitudinem sanctitati uestrę designamus! et ut uestrę precis certitudinem habeamus. intime exoramus. Sanctitatis uestrę gloria uigeat! floreat ualeat.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Ps.44.8;Ps.46.8 — For you saved us from our enemies, and those who hated us you put to shame. Ps.46.8 — The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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