R187: Äbtissin E. von Obermünster in Regensburg an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Salutation from an Unworthy Abbess
The Abbess E. of Obermünster identifies herself with humility and addresses Hildegard with devoted greeting and prayerful affection.
The Abbess of the upper monastery in Regensburg. To Hildegard. To the venerable mother Hildegard, greatly beloved in Christ. E. By the grace of God, if she is anything at all. That is, the abbess, though unworthy. In the upper monastery in Regensburg. With every prayer she can offer.
Longing to See and Hear Hildegard
The abbess expresses her deep desire to see Hildegard and hear her words, explains her unanswered letter, and humbly entreats a reply through a messenger.
With sincere faith and the affection of love. To see your face, lady most beloved, my soul longs greatly. And to hear the words of your mouth — my ears have been alert a long time.1 my ears.2 It is also because of my great longing that I have at some point greeted your holiness by letter! But I have received no reply. Therefore I ask, and prostrate at your feet from afar, I humbly entreat you. That through a messenger standing before you, you might at least deign to answer me on two questions.3
Anxious Plea for Counsel and Relief
The abbess lays bare her inner distress, seeks Hildegard's counsel on a heavy responsibility, and urgently begs for merciful consolation through her words.
That is, if there is some danger to be feared in the matter about which my heart is now most deeply afflicted. Or whether we should presume upon the mercy of God. I want to know your counsel about the care entrusted to me. How or when I might be freed from it. Again and again, humbly imploring your love, I urgently beg you. If there is any tenderness of mercy in you.✦ Please do not hesitate to relieve, with your words, the greatest distress that threatens my heart.
Read the original Latin
Abbatissa in superiori monasterio Ratisbone. hildegardi. Venerandę et in christo multum diligendę matri hildegardi. E. dei gratia si quid est. scilicet abbatissa quamuis indigna. in superiori monasterio ratisbonę. orationes quas potest.
cum sincerę fidei et dilectionis affectu. Videre faciem uestram domina dilectissima multum desiderat anima mea. et ad audienda uerba oris uestri multo tempore arrectę sunt. aures meę. Pro magno etiam desiderio meo aliquando litteris sanctitatem uestram salutaui! sed rescripta nulla recepi. Rogo igitur atque pedibus uestris eminus prouoluta humiliter deprecor. ut per presentem nuncium saltem de duabus inquisitionibus mihi respondere dignemini!
si uidelicet de re pro qua iam maxime affligitur cor meum aliquod periculum timendum. uel de misericordia dei presumendum sit. Scire cupio consilium uestrum de cura mihi credita! quomodo uel quando expediri possim de illa. Iterum atque iterum caritatem uestram suppliciter implorans efflagito. si qua sint in uobis uiscera misericordię. ut maximam angustiam cordi meo imminentem scriptis uestris releuare uos non pigeat.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Col.3.12 — Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
Notes
- 1 ↩Form 'arrectę' appears truncated in the source; context suggests 'arrectae'. Translation proceeds on the intended sense 'alert, attentive'.
- 2 ↩Form 'meę' appears archaic or possibly a genitive; context suggests nominative plural 'meae'. Translation proceeds on the intended sense 'my'.
- 3 ↩Purpose clause after deprecor; 'deign' is slightly formal but fits the humble petition register without becoming archaic.
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