R189: Äbtissin L. von Neuss an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Salutation and Humble Greeting
The abbess L. of Neuss greets Hildegard as beloved lady and mother, offering humble prayer and service while reflecting on a change in their community's state.
The abbess in Neuss. To Hildegard. To Hildegard, lady and mother, most loving. L. The abbess, though unworthy, of the sisters in Neuss. With so little prayer and service, yet with deepest devotion. Because concerning our state — how it has changed into what it was before. From that which — alas! — she wished in vain to be, let it now be changed.
Report of Hildegard's Blessedness and Request for Prayer
The abbess affirms the widespread report of Hildegard's blessedness and urgently asks for her intercessory prayers.
We don't doubt that you've received your blessedness — the news has spread far and wide and is still making its rounds. And so we earnestly ask that you'd support us with your prayers all the more readily and all the more urgently, for God's sake.
Spiritual Distress and Fear of God's Judgments
The community describes its inner turmoil, external pressures, and awe before God's awesome yet hidden and just purposes.
We're now tossed about in a wavering spirit under the weight of this burden that's come upon us. We're driven and hemmed in by disturbances from every direction. For we know — and this is certain — that God is awesome in his purposes toward the children of men!✦ And so his judgments are indeed hidden in their severity. But never unjust — and it's with this fear that we stand in awe.
Entrusting Their Soul's Cause and Longing for a Reply
The abbess entrusts her soul's welfare wholly to Hildegard and her sisters, and closes with heartfelt longing for a reply and a farewell.
We entrust the cause of our soul entirely to you — to whom we place greater trust than in any other mortal — and to your revered sisters as well. And we long for your reply with our whole heart. Farewell.
Read the original Latin
Abbatissa in nussun. hildegardi. Hildigardi dominę et matri suę amantissimę. L. abbatissa licet immerita sororum in nussun! tantillum orationis et seruitii cum intima deuotione. Quia de statu nostro qualiter in id quod ante fuit. ab eo quod heu frustra esse uoluit immutatus sit.
beatitudinem uestram accepisse fama fama currente non ambigimus. suffragium orationis uestrę eo nobis propensius et instantius propter deum impertiri deposcimus! quo nunc fluctuanti animo labore oneris quod circa nos factum est. uarijs hinc inde motibus impellimur et angustiamur. Scimus etenim quia terribilis est deus in consilijs suis super filios hominum! ideoque districtionis eius occulta quidem. sed numquam iniusta iudicia formidantes. causam animę nostrę et uobis cui pre cunctis mortalibus amplius confidimus et reuerendis sororibus uestris totaliter committimus!
et rescripta uestra toto corde desideramus. Valete.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Ps.65.5;Ps.67.5 — Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts. We are satisfied with the goodness of your house, your holy temple. Ps.67.5 — Let the peoples be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the nations with equity and guide the peoples on earth. Selah.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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