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Chapter 185HildE.1.185

R185: Elisabeth von Schönau an Hildegard von Rupertsberg

Salutation and Consolation

Elisabeth greets Hildegard with affection and recalls how Hildegard's consoling words proved true in her distress.

Elisabeth, the teacher in Schönau. To Hildegard. To Lady Hildegard, the venerable teacher of the brides of Christ who are in Pinguia. Elisabeth. The humble nun and teacher of the sisters who are in Schönau. With all devoted love, prayers. May the grace and consolation of the Most High fill you with joy. Because you kindly sympathized with my distress.

Slander and Mockery

Elisabeth confesses her grief over false rumors and the mockery of those who scorn the grace at work in her.

Just as I understood from the words of my Consoler, whom you carefully warned me about for my own consolation. For just as you told me it had been revealed to you about myself, I confess that truly a certain cloud of disturbance recently took shape in my mind on account of the foolish talk of the people saying many things about me that are not true. But I would easily endure the talk of the crowd if it weren't that even those who walk in the habit of religious life would grieve my spirit more bitterly. For these too — I don't know by what goads they've been stirred up — They mock the grace of the Lord at work in me! And about these things they don't know, they're not afraid to judge rashly. I'm also hearing about certain letters written under his own spirit. being circulated under my name. They slandered me, saying I prophesied about the day of judgment. Something I certainly never presumed to do! Since the coming of that One escapes the knowledge of all mortals.✦ But I'll disclose to you the occasion of this report about me.

Hidden Mysteries Revealed

Elisabeth testifies that God has shown her heavenly mysteries and commanded her to proclaim them, though she sought to remain hidden.

so that you may judge whether I have done or said anything presumptuously in this matter. Just as you have heard through others, the Lord has magnified his mercy with me beyond what I have deserved or could ever deserve in any way. to such a degree that he has also deigned to reveal to me certain heavenly mysteries frequently. He also signified to me frequently through his angel what things were about to come upon his people in these days unless they were to do penance for their iniquities. and he commanded that I announce these things openly. But I, in order to avoid arrogance — and lest I seem like an author of novelties, as much as I could.

The Angel's Rebuke and Command

In ecstasy the angel rebukes Elisabeth for hiding God's word and commands her to proclaim it for the Lord's glory, then strikes her in stern love.

I tried to hide all these things. So one Sunday, while I was in a state of ecstasy, as was my usual way, the angel of the Lord stood beside me and said, Why do you hide gold in the mud?✦ This is the word of God that has been sent through your mouth into the world.✦ It is not meant to be hidden. But it is to be made known — for the praise and glory of our Lord, and for the salvation of his people.✦ And having said this, he raised a scourge over me and, as though in great wrath, struck me with it five times, most bitterly.

Silence, Disclosure, and the Psalm of Praise

After three days of weakness the angel enforces silence until the ninth hour, then Elisabeth discloses her visions to the abbot and prays 'Not to us, Lord.'

So for three days my whole body was weak from that blow. After this she put her finger to my mouth, saying: You will be silent until the ninth hour! when you reveal those things that the Lord has done with you. So I remained mute until the ninth hour. Then I made a sign to the mistress to bring me a certain little book that I had hidden in my bed. containing in part those things that the Lord had done with me. When I was offering it into the hands of the lord abbot who had come to visit me! my tongue was loosened into these words. Not to us, Lord, not to us! but to your name give glory. After I had revealed these things and certain others to him, which I had not wished to be committed to writing. namely, concerning the great vengeance of the Lord, which I had learned from an angel was about to come upon the whole world shortly, I asked him most diligently to keep that word hidden to himself.

Prayer and the Commission to Cry Out

Elisabeth prays for guidance and receives a new angelic command to cry out 'Woe to all nations' because the world has turned to darkness.

She instructed me, however, to devote myself to prayer. and to ask the Lord to grant me understanding of whether he wished the things I had spoken to be kept hidden in silence, or not.1 And when, over some time, I had afflicted myself by persisting in prayer for this matter,2 at the coming of the Lord, on the feast of Saint Barbara, during the first vigil of the night, I fell into ecstasy. And the angel of the Lord stood beside me, saying, "Cry out loudly, and say: Woe to all nations!" "because the whole world has turned into darkness." "And you shall speak."

The Call to Repentance

The abbot spreads the message of repentance, calling hearers to turn to God, and some receive it reverently while others scoff.

Go out! The one who formed you from the earth has called you.✦ And he says, 'Repent!'✦ For the kingdom of God is near.✦ Moved by this message, then, the lord abbot—3 began to spread the word before the magistrates of the church and devout men.4 Some of them received the word with reverence.5 But some did not.6

Penitence and Mockery

Many respond with Lenten penance and prayer, yet Elisabeth and her community endure mockery for the message they have delivered.

But they spoke perversely. So it happened that many among whom that message had been spread abroad— throughout the whole season of Lent, in great fear, afflicted themselves through penance, and persisted in almsgiving and prayers. During that time, someone—driven by some kind of zeal, I don't know what— to the city of Cologne, in the lord abbot's own person—God knows, though he himself was unaware—sent letters in which certain terrible threats were read aloud in the hearing of all the people. And so, although we were mocked by those who looked on—

The Lord Relents

On the eve of Easter the angel appears again and announces that the Lord has seen His people's affliction and turned away His wrath.

Those with good sense, however, as we hear, received the message reverently, and they saw that it called for discernment. And they did not scorn honoring God with the fruits of penitence. Now it happened on the fourth day of the week, the day before Easter. When, after great physical labors, I had fallen into an ecstasy, the angel of the Lord appeared to me. And I said to him: Lord! What will come of the word you have spoken to me? He answered: Don't be saddened, and don't be troubled, if what I foretold hasn't come to pass on the day I set for you. Because the Lord has been appeased by the satisfaction of many. After this, on the sixth weekday around the third hour, I came into an ecstasy of mind with severe suffering. And again he stood beside me, saying: The Lord has seen the affliction of his people! And he turned the wrath of his indignation away from them. To him I said:

Patience in Mockery

Elisabeth fears becoming a laughingstock, but the angel counsels patience and points to Christ's own endurance of mockery.

What then, my Lord? Won't I become a laughingstock to everyone among whom this message has spread?7 To this she replied. Bear everything that has happened to you on account of this, patiently and with goodwill. Pay close attention to him. He who, though he was the creator of the whole world—8 endured the mockery of men. Now for the first time the Lord is testing your patience.

Appeal for Prayer and Comfort

The angel concludes by commending the whole matter to Hildegard's judgment and Elisabeth asks for her prayers and a comforting reply.

See, my lady, I have laid out the whole matter for you in order. So that you too may come to know my innocence and that of our abbot. And so that you may be able to make it known to others as well. I beg you, then, make me a sharer in your prayers as well. And respond as the Spirit of the Lord prompts you. Write back to me with some words of comfort. The grace of Christ be with you. Amen.

Read the original Latin

Elisabeth magistra in sconaugia. hildigardi. Dominę hildegardi uenerabili magistrę sponsarum christi quę sunt in pinguia. Elisabeth. humilis monacha et magistra sororum quę in schonaugia sunt. deuotas cum omni dilectione orationes. Gratia et consolatio altissimi repleat uos gaudio. quia meę perturbationi benigne compassa estis.

sicut ex uerbis consolatoris mei intellexi! quem de mei consolatione diligenter commonuistis. Sicut enim uobis de me reuelatum fuisse dixistis! fateor uere quandam perturbationis nubem me nuper in animo concepisse propter ineptos sermones populi multa loquentis de me quę uera non sunt. Sed uulgi sermones facile sustinerem. si non et hi qui in habitu religionis ambulant. spiritum meum acerbius contristarent. Nam et hi nescio quibus stimulis agitati.

gratiam domini in me derident! et de his quę ignorant temere iudicare non formidant. Audio et quosdam litteras de suo spiritu scriptas. sub nomine meo circumferre. De iudicij die me prophetasse diffamauerunt. quod certe numquam facere presumpsi! cum omnium mortalium cognitionem fugiat eius aduentus. Sed eius famę occasionem uobis aperiam.

ut iudicetis utrum presumptuose quicquam in hac re fecerim aut dixerim. Sicut per alios audistis magnificauit dominus misericordiam suam mecum supra quam meruerim aut mereri ullatenus possim. in tantum ut et celestia quędam mihi sacramenta frequenter reuelare dignatus sit. Significauit etiam mihi per angelum suum frequenter qualia uentura essent super populum suum in his diebus. nisi agerent penitentiam de iniquitatibus suis. atque ut palam hęc annunciarem precepit. Ego autem ut arrogantiam euitarem. et ne autrix nouitatum uiderer in quantum potui.

omnia hęc studui occultare. Cum igitur solito more quadam dominica die essem in mentis excessu. astitit mihi angelus domini dicens. Quare abscondis aurum in luto. hoc est uerbum dei quod per os tuum missum est in terram. non ut abscondatur. sed ut manifestetur ad laudem et gloriam domini nostri et ad saluationem populi sui? Et hoc dicto eleuauit super me flagellum quod quasi in ira magna quinquies mihi amarissime inflixit.

ita ut per triduum in toto corpore meo ex illa percussione languerem. Post hęc apposuit digitum ori meo dicens. Eris tacens usque ad horam nonam! quando manifestabis ea quę operatus est dominus tecum. Ego igitur usque ad horam nonam muta permansi. Tunc significaui magistrę ut afferret ad me libellum quendam quem in stratu meo absconderam! continentem ex parte ea quę fecerat dominus mecum. Quem cum offerrem in manus domini abbatis.

qui ad uisitandum me uenerat! soluta est lingua mea in hęc uerba. Non nobis domine non nobis! sed nomini tuo da gloriam. Post hęc cum et alia quędam ipsi reuelassem. quę scripto committi nolueram. uidelicet de uindicta domini magna. quam uniuerso mundo in breui superuenturam ab angelo didiceram rogaui illum diligentissime ut uerbum illud apud se haberet absconditum.

Precepit autem mihi ut operam darem orationi. atque a domino postularem ut daret mihi intelligere utrum ea quę dixeram silentio tegi uellet an non. Cumque per aliquod tempus pro hac re orationi insistendo me afflixissem. in aduentu domini in festiuitate sanctę Barbarę in prima uigilia noctis corrui in extasim! et astitit mihi angelus domini dicens. Clama fortiter et dic heu ad omnes gentes. quia totus mundus in tenebras est conuersus. Et dices.

Exite! ille uos uocauit qui de terra uos formauit. et dicit penitentiam agite! quia prope est regnum dei. Hoc igitur sermone inductus dominus abbas! cepit diuulgare uerbum coram magistratibus ęcclesię et uiris religiosis. Quorum quidam cum reuerentia uerbum exceperunt. quidam uero non sic!

sed sinistre locuti sunt. Factum est igitur ut multi apud quos sermo iste diffamatus est. per totum tempus quadragesimale in timore magno per penitentiam sese affligerent. et elemosinis et orationibus insisterunt. In tempore illo quidam nescio quo zelo ductus. ad urbem coloniniam in persona domini abbatis ipso nouit deus ignorante litteras direxit! in quibus terribiles quędam comminationes audiente omni populo lectę sunt. Unde quamquam ab inspicientibus illusum nobis sit!

prudentes tamen ut audimus reuerenter sermonem animaduerterunt. et penitentię fructibus deum honorare non contempserunt. Factum est autem in quarta feria ante diem paschę. cum post magnos labores corporis in extasim uenissem. apparuit mihi angelus domini! et dixi ad eum. Domine! quid fiet de uerbo quod locutus es ad me?

Qui respondit. Noli contristari neque perturberis si non in die quam determinaui tibi euenerint quę predixi! quoniam multorum satisfactione placatus est dominus. Post hęc in sexta feria circa horam terciam cum graui passione ueni in mentis excessum. et rursus astitit mihi dicens. Uidit dominus afflictionem populi sui! et auertit indignationis suę iram ab eis. Cui dixit.

Quid ergo domine mi! nonne ero in irrisionem omnibus apud quos uerbum hoc diuulgatum est? Qui ait. Omnia quę occasione hac euenerint tibi pacienter et beniuole sustineto. Illum diligenter animaduerte. qui cum esset totius orbis creator. hominum irrisiones sustinuit. Nunc primum pacientiam tuam dominus probat.

Ecce domina mea totum ordinem rei uobis explicaui. quatenus et uos innocentiam meam et abbatis nostri cognoscatis! et alijs manifestare possitis. Obsecro autem ut et orationum uestrarum participem me faciatis! et prout spiritus domini uobis suggesserit. aliqua mihi consolatoria uerba rescribatis. Gratia christi uobiscum. Amen.

Scripture echoes

  1. ↩1Thess.5.1-1Thess.5.2 — Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 1Thess.5.2 — For you yourselves know accurately that the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night.
  2. ↩Matt.7.6 — Do not give what is holy to the dogs, and do not throw your pearls before the swine, lest they trample them under their feet and turn and tear you to pieces.
  3. ↩Isa.51.16;Jer.1.9 — I have put my words in your mouth and covered you in the shadow of my hand, to plant the heavens and to found the earth, and to say to Zion, 'You are my people.' Jer.1.9 — Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, "See, I have placed my words in your mouth."
  4. ↩Ps.105.1-Ps.105.2;Isa.43.21 — Give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known among the peoples his deeds. Ps.105.2 — Sing to him, sing praises to him; speak of all his wondrous works. Isa.43.21 — This people I have formed for myself; they shall declare my praise.
  5. ↩Gen.2.7 — Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
  6. ↩Matt.3.2;Matt.4.17 — and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." Matt.4.17 — From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
  7. ↩Matt.3.2;Mark.1.15 — and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." Mark.1.15 — The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has drawn near. Repent and believe the good news.

Notes

  1. 1 ↩The abbreviated form 'quę' is expanded as 'quae' (which/those things), referring back to the revelations previously mentioned.
  2. 2 ↩afflixissem: lemma uncertain between affligere (to afflict) and afficere (to affect/influence). The context of sustained prayer and self-denial favors 'afflicted.'
  3. 3 ↩inductus rendered 'moved' to capture the sense of being led or persuaded by the discourse; the participle functions as a predicate with an implied 'est.'
  4. 4 ↩cclesię is a variant/abbreviated spelling of ecclesiae ('of the church'); normalized reading translated.
  5. 5 ↩cum taken as a preposition with the ablative ('with reverence') rather than as a conjunction; the alternative causal/temporal reading ('since/when they received') is possible but less natural in context.
  6. 6 ↩uero rendered as 'but' to capture its adversative force; non sic ('not so / not in this way') compressed to 'did not' for natural English.
  7. 7 ↩nonne expects an affirmative answer ('surely...not?'), rendered here as a worried rhetorical question. irrisionem captures mockery/derision, not merely laughter.
  8. 8 ↩cum is ambiguous between concessive ('although') and causal ('since'). The concessive reading is preferred here, as it heightens the contrast with the following clause about enduring mockery.

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