R170: Hildegard von Rupertsberg an Äbtissin B. von St. Cyriakus in Erfurt
Greeting and Consolation in Christ's Love
Hildegard greets the abbess as a daughter of God, acknowledges her bodily suffering, and encourages her joyful perseverance in good works.
Hildegard's reply. O daughter of God, you are surrounded by the love of Christ. But even so, since you are constrained by the bitterness of your body, you are hemmed in by struggles. And you rebel by contradicting the devil. I see that the building up of the people among whom you are is pleasing to God. And I see you rising actively into the better part! And in good conduct there is more to be built up than was originally established. So let your soul exult in God!
The Limits of Human Resistance
Hildegard warns that the abbess cannot break the chains of the mockers and questions the futility of fighting those who reject her.
And in that, may she remain devout. But still, you do not know — nor can you even imagine — how to break apart the chains of those who bind others! Of those, namely, who walk in the trackless place of mockery. How so? A certain man looked up at a great tower, lest it should move against him. But he couldn't prevent it! And he cried out in restless shouts. Woe! Alas. And so the one speaking has been led into the mockery of the people. What good will it do you to always wage war against those who don't want you?
Rest for the Restless Soul
Hildegard urges the abbess to look to God on the high mountain, who will fulfill her soul's needs, and to cease her restless striving.
Look up to the high mountain, to him who will respond to you with diligent love. My daughter, what do you want? I will fulfill everything you ask for on behalf of your soul. So stop with your restless mind! And take up rest for yourself.
Tending the Land of the Soul
Hildegard warns that excessive asceticism can destroy spiritual virtues more than proper nourishment would, using the image of a field whose green shoots are broken by over-ploughing.
I see it in the true light! that this is for the good of your soul.1 But take care that you tend your land with diligence, and do not let it break apart.2 Otherwise the greenness of herbs and the fragrance of spices — that is, of virtues — worn down by the plough of labor, may be unable to put forth shoots.3 I have often seen this. When a person afflicts his body through excessive abstinence, weariness rises up in him.4 And vices entangle themselves with weariness! More so than if that body were properly nourished.5
Guard the Soul and Live Forever
Hildegard calls the abbess to resist the flesh's demands, apply the remedies of salvation at proper times, and persevere toward eternal life, seeing her soul radiant in divine light.
But because a loving soul of charity has been established in you, guard yourself so that you don't frequently see this thing that the flesh commands you to wound! But apply the rightly established times of the ointments of salvation to your own needs! so that you may live forever. I see your soul glowing brightly in the pure light.
Read the original Latin
Responsvm hildegardis. O filia dei caritate christi circumdata es. sed tamen cum amaritudine corporis tui constringeris bellis. et rebellas contradicendo diabolum. Constructionem populi cum quo es deo placidam uideo. et in meliorem partem strenue ascendentem! et in bona conuersatione plus edificari quam institutus sit. Vnde anima tua exultet in deo!
et in illo deuote permaneat. Sed tamen nescis nec cogitare poteris uincula ligatorum disrumpere! eorum scilicet quę in inuio irrisionis ambulant. Quomodo? Quidam homo ad magnam turrim aspexit ne se moueret. sed hoc prohibere non potuit! et in inquietis clamoribus clamauit. Ue.
ue. Et ita in irrisionem populi ductus est dicentis. Quid proderit tibi semper contra eos bellare qui te nolunt? In excelsum montem aspice ad illum qui diligenti caritate tibi respondeat. Filia mi quid uis! omnia quę pro anima tua poscis implebo. Vnde cessa de inquieta mente! et quietem tibi assume.
Uideo enim in uero lumine! quod hoc animę tuę utile sit. Sed prouide ut terram tuam in sollicitudine habeas et eam non confringas. ne uiriditas herbarum et aromatum uirtutum per aratrum laboris attrita germinare non possit. Sepe uideo. quia cum homo per nimietatem abstinentię corpus suum affligit quod tedium in illo surgit. et uicia tedio se implicant! plus quam si illud iuste pasceret.
Sed quia beniuola anima caritatis in te constituta est custodi ne frequenter uideas hoc quod carnem imperat uulnerare! sed adhibe tuis recte constituta tempora unguentorum salutis! ut in eternum uiuas. Video animam tuam in puro lumine ualde rutilantem.
Notes
- 1 ↩utile sit rendered as 'is for the good of' to capture the dative-of-benefit sense (animę tuę) smoothly.
- 2 ↩terra tua is metaphorical — likely the soul, the body, or the community under her care. Rendered as 'your land' to preserve the agricultural image; the abbess would understand it as her charge.
- 3 ↩uiriditas herbarum et aromatum is an allegorical image: the freshness and sweetness of virtues in the soul. The plough of excessive labour can wear down the very ground that should produce them.
- 4 ↩quod tedium surgit is a result clause; the excessive mortification produces weariness as a consequence.
- 5 ↩illud refers back to corpus; iuste pasceret means 'were fed/nourished in due measure.' The comparison shows that immoderate fasting does more harm than moderate nourishment.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
Read one voice like Hildegard's every morning
Chosen Portion delivers daily excerpts from Hildegard and 77 other historic devotional writers, free on iOS.
Hildegard directed souls through short written portions sent one at a time, and Chosen Portion continues that letter-a-day rhythm as daily devotionals.
- Daily 2-minute readings including Hildegard's letters and visions
- 78 complete historic works, translated into modern readable English
- A weekly email tracing one writer's story in depth