R195: Tenxwind von Andernach an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Greeting to the Teacher of Andernach
Tenxwind greets Hildegard as teacher of the brides of Christ and of the sisters of Andernach, rejoicing in the widespread fame of her holiness.
Tengsvvich, speak — yesterday in Andernach. Hildegard. O Hildegard, teacher of the brides of Christ! T. Called teacher of the sisters of Andernach! By the highest spirits. To be joined at last in heavenly things. Concerning the opinion of your holiness, a famous report spreading far and wide has brought to our ears certain wonderful and astonishing things!
Heavenly Revelation and Reported Customs
The writer acknowledges Hildegard’s divinely revealed knowledge of heavenly secrets and then introduces her distinctive monastic customs of veils and crowns.
And the highest excellence of your religious life and singular dedication has commended itself to us, insignificant as we are. For indeed, we have learned from the testimony of many. That very many things about the secrets of heaven, difficult for mortals to grasp and confirmed in understanding, have been divinely revealed to you for writing about. And whatever is to be done by you is arranged not by human deliberation. But by God teaching, they are ordered. Another certain matter has also come to us concerning your custom. Namely, that your virgins on festive days use certain white veils for adornment. Also, that crowns, becomingly woven, are placed upon their heads from above.
Adornment Ordered to the Heavenly Bridegroom
The description of angelic images, the Lamb on the forehead, and rings is interpreted as leading the virgins to love of Christ rather than worldly display.
And on both sides of these, and behind them, angelic images are inserted. On the forehead, however, the figure of the Lamb is becomingly impressed. Moreover, their fingers are to be adorned with certain rings. All of which things, as we believe, you lead to the love of the heavenly Bridegroom. Since it is just. So that they are women composing themselves with modesty. Not in braided hair, nor in gold, nor in pearls, or in precious garments. And besides all this, what seems no less wonderful to us!
Noble Birth and the Lowly Apostles
The writer marvels that only noble and freeborn women are admitted, yet recognizes this is grounded in the example of Christ choosing poor and humble apostles.
Into your fellowship, only those of notable birth. And to introduce freeborn women. At which we ourselves marvel greatly! Yet we know you do this for a reasonable reason. Since you are not unaware that the Lord himself, in the early church, chose fishermen, humble and poor. And that blessed Peter, after they had turned to faith, said to the Gentiles — I have found it to be true.
God’s Election and the Institutions of the Fathers
Citing God’s respect for persons and the Pauline teaching on God’s choice of the lowly, the writer appeals to the institutions of the fathers as the standard for spiritual formation.
because God doesn't play favorites!✦ And then there are the words of the Apostle, which we should not forget. when he spoke to the Corinthians.✦ Not many are powerful.✦ Not many are noble.✦ But God chose the ignoble and the contemptible things of this world.✦ Indeed, all the institutions of the fathers who went before us. by which all who are spiritual ought especially to be formed, as far as we are able, in pursuit of them!
Admiration and Humble Request for Clarification
The writer confesses deep admiration for Hildegard’s holy and novel ways and explains that the letter is sent humbly to learn more from her.
We know that your ways are also altogether just and holy. For great indeed, O venerable bride of Christ — the novelty of your custom — far and incomparably surpasses the measure of our smallness! And it strikes us with no small admiration. Therefore, we who are so small, rejoicing deeply at your progress, yet desiring to learn something more certain about this matter from you — it has pleased us to direct our letters to your holiness.
Blessing, Farewell, and Prayer for Remembrance
The letter closes with a plea that Hildegard confirm the religious practice, a farewell, and a request to be remembered in her prayers.
Humbly and most devoutly beseeching you, so that by his authority this religious practice may be strengthened.1 May your dignity not disdain to write back to us in the near future. Farewell! And in your prayers, be mindful of us.
Read the original Latin
Tengsvvich dic gistra in anturnaco. hildegardi. Hildigardi magistrę sponsarum christi! T. dicta magistra sororum anturnacensium! summis spiritibus. quandoque coniungi in celestibus. De sanctitatis uestrę opinione celebris fama late prouolans quędam mira et stupenda auribus nostris insonuit!
summęque religionis ac singularis propositi uestri excellentiam exiguitati nostrę commendauit. Multorum namque testimonio didicimus. de secretis celestibus plurima mortalibus intellectu difficilia et rata uobis diuinitus ad scribendum reuelari. et quęque uobis agenda non deliberatione humana. sed deo edocente ordinari. Aliud etiam quoddam de consuetudine uestra ad nos peruenit. uirgines uidelicet uestras festis diebus pro ornamento candidis quibusdam uti uelaminibus. coronas etiam decenter contextas capitibus earum desuper impositas.
et his utraque parte et retro angelicas imagines insertas. in fronte autem agni figuram decenter impressam. insuper et digitos earundem quibusdam decorari anulis. quę omnia ut credimus ad amorem superni sponsi ducitis. cum iustum sit. ut sint mulieres cum uerecundia se componentes. non in tortis crinibus neque auro neque margaritis aut ueste preciosa. preterea et quod his omnibus non minus mirandum nobis uidetur!
in consorcium uestrum genere tantum spectabiles. et ingenuas introducere. Quod nos etiam plurimum admirantes! scimus tamen uos hoc rationabili causa facere. cum non ignoratis ipsum dominum in primitiua ęcclesia piscatores. modicos et pauperes elegisse. ac beatum petrum conuersis postea ad fidem gentibus dixisse. in ueritate comperi.
quod non est personarum acceptor deus! uerborum insuper apostoli non immemores. ad chorinthios dicentis. non multi potentes. non multi nobiles. sed ignobilia et contemptibilia huius mundi elegit deus. Omnia quippe precedentium patrum instituta. quibus cunctos spirituales maxime informari condecet pro posse nostro persectantes!
uestra etiam iusta et sancta esse omnino scimus. Tanta namque o sponsa christi uenerabilis. consuetudinis uestrę nouitas. exiguitatis nostrę modulum longe incomparabiliter excellit! atque non modicam admirationem nobis incutit. Igitur nos tantillulę profectibus uestris intime congaudentes. de hac re tamen aliquid a uobis eertius experiri cupientes. litteras nostras sanctitati uestrę placuit dirigere!
humiliter ac deuotissime obsecrantes. quatenus eius auctoritate talis religio adaugeatur. dignitas uestra in proximo non dedignetur nobis rescribere. Valete! et in orationibus uestris memores nostri estote.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Acts.10.34;Rom.2.11 — Then Peter opened his mouth and said, "Truly I understand that God is not one who shows partiality. Rom.2.11 — For there is no partiality with God.
- ↩1Cor.1.26-1Cor.1.28 — For consider your calling, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 1Cor.1.27 — But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 1Cor.1.28 — and God chose the lowborn of the world, and the despised - the things that are not - so that he might nullify the things that are,
- ↩1Cor.1.26 — For consider your calling, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.
- ↩1Cor.1.26 — For consider your calling, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.
- ↩1Cor.1.27-1Cor.1.28 — But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 1Cor.1.28 — and God chose the lowborn of the world, and the despised - the things that are not - so that he might nullify the things that are,
Notes
- 1 ↩eius ('his/its') — antecedent uncertain; likely refers to God or to a superior authority previously mentioned.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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