R196: Hildegard von Rupertsberg an Tenxwind von Andernach
A Woman Must Hide Herself
Hildegard declares that a woman must hide herself in shame because the serpent's assault struck Eve like lightning, yet her form still shines in the first root.
Hildegard's reply. The living fountain speaks. Let a woman hide within her chamber. So that she may have great shame! Because the horrible wanton serpent breathed great dangers into the first woman?✦ How so? The form of woman was struck like lightning. And it shone in the first root.
The Wondrous Duality of Woman
Woman is fashioned in two parts—God's handiwork and heavenly beauty—containing every creature within her, and is therefore a wondrous being who rises above the earth.
In her this was fashioned: in whom every creature lies hidden. How? In two parts! In one part, surely, the experienced making of God's finger. And in the other, of heavenly beauty. O what a wondrous thing you are! You who placed your foundation in the sun!
Paul's Silence and the Covered Woman
Just as Paul soared to heaven yet kept silent about what he heard, a woman joined to her husband from the rib must maintain modesty and not reveal what belongs to him.
And you have risen above the earth. For Paul the apostle soared to the highest heavens.✦1 And on earth he kept silent.✦2 So that he did not reveal what had been hidden from him. She pays heed to this. A woman who is subject to the authority of her husband.✦3 Joined to him from the first rib, she ought to have great modesty.✦4 So that she must not give or reveal the praise belonging to her husband's own vessel to a place that is foreign and does not pertain to her.5
Winter Strips Away the Flower's Beauty
God joined man and woman together under the devil's derision, but just as winter strips the earth's greenness, so a woman's outward beauty is fleeting and must be covered.
And let her do this in the word in which the ruler of the earth spoke. For God has joined them together! Let no one separate them. —in the derision of the devil. Listen. The earth sweats forth the greenness of grass! until winter overtakes it. For winter strips away the beauty of its flower.
A Woman Must Not Exalt Herself
Because winter has taken away her flower, a woman must not raise herself in her hair, adorn herself, or wear gold crowns except within her husband's will and right measure.
And she covers the greenness of her flower. Afterward, no longer able to reveal herself, as though she had not yet withered! Because winter has taken it away. Therefore a woman ought not to raise herself up in her hair. Nor adorn herself. Nor raise herself up in any lofty crown or gold of any kind. Except in the will of her own husband. According as it has pleased him in right measure.
The Virgin Stands in Paradise's Bloom
These commands do not apply to a virgin, who stands in paradise's integrity, forever in bloom, hiding her soul's beauty from the hawk of pride through deepest humility.
These things don't apply to a virgin! But she herself stands in simplicity and in the integrity of a beautiful paradise. She will never appear withered. But she always remains in the full bloom of the virgin flower. A virgin doesn't have the covering of hair — the greenness of her own — by commandment. But in her own will, through the deepest humility, she governs herself. Because a person will hide the beauty of their own soul, lest a hawk snatch it away through pride. Virgins are joined in the Holy Spirit to holiness.
The Virgin's White Garment and the Lamb
Virgins come to the highest priest as a burnt offering, wear the white garment of Christ's betrothal, bear His name on their foreheads, and follow the Lamb wherever He goes.
And the dawn of virginity! From which it is fitting for them to come to the highest priest, like a whole burnt offering dedicated to God. For which reason it is fitting, through the permission and revelation in the mystical breath of the finger of God, that a virgin should put on a white garment. In the clear signification of the betrothal of Christ, seeing that her mind is strengthened, woven into integrity. Considering also who that one is to whom she is joined, as it is written. They have his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads.✦ And again: They follow the Lamb wherever he has gone.✦
God's Searching Eye and the Stable Flock
God examines every person so that no lower order rises above a higher one, as Satan and Adam did, and so the whole flock must be gathered into one stable with discernment.
God also has a searching examination for every person. So that no lower order may rise above a higher one, as Satan and the first human being did. Those who wanted to fly higher than where they were placed. And what person gathers their whole flock into a single stable — namely, the oxen? the donkeys, the sheep and the young goats. So that they don't scatter themselves? And so let there be discernment in this.
Pride Scatters What God Distinguishes
God distinguishes His people on earth as in heaven, but pride of exaltation gathers a diverse flock in pride and scatters it in disgrace, tearing apart the ranks of conduct.
Lest a diverse people be gathered into one flock in a pride of exaltation, And in the disgrace of diversity, it is scattered. And above all, lest the integrity of conduct be broken there. When they tear each other apart in hatred, when a higher order falls upon a lower,6 and a lower rises above a higher. Because God distinguishes his people on earth just as he does in heaven— namely, the angels.
The Angelic Orders and Pride's Hatred
God distinguishes angels, archangels, thrones, dominions, cherubim, and seraphim—all loved but unequal—while pride loves princes only to hate them when they destroy her.
archangels, thrones, dominions, cherubim and seraphim, distinguishing them, And all of these are loved by God! but they do not have equal names. Pride loves princes and nobles in the person of Exaltation! but when they destroy her, she hates them.
God Loves Works, Not Status
God does not reject the powerful but shows no favor to rank; He loves the works that have taste in Him, for Christ's food was to do the Father's will.
It is written. God does not reject the powerful! since he himself is powerful too. But he doesn't love persons of standing.7 but the works that have taste in him!8 just as the Son of God says. My food is to do the will of my Father.
Where Humility Is, There Christ Feasts
Where there is humility, there Christ always feasts; therefore those who seek empty honor must be discerned, and the sickly sheep cast out to protect the flock.
Where there is humility, there it is! There Christ always feasts. And so it is necessary that those people be discerned, who seek empty honor more than humility, when they see what things are set above them. Let even the sickly sheep be cast out! so that the whole flock is not contaminated.
Stand in the Valley of Humility
May God grant good understanding; let no one grasp a mountain they cannot move, but stand in the valley, for these words come from the living Light Himself.
May God pour good understanding into people! May their names not be wiped out.✦ For it is good that no one take hold of a mountain they cannot move.✦9 Instead, stand in the valley and learn step by step what you can actually grasp. These words were spoken by the living Light itself!✦ And not by any human being. Let the one who hears — understand!✦ Let that person see and believe where these words come from.
Read the original Latin
Responsum hildegardis. Fons uiuus dicit. Mulier intra cubiculum lateat. ita ut magnam uerecundiam habeat! quia magna pericula horribilis lasciuię serpens in primam mulierem sufflauit? Quomodo? Forma mulieris fulminauit. et in prima radice radiauit.
in qua formatum est hoc. in quo omnis creatura latet. Quomodo? In duabus partibus! in altera parte scilicet expertę facturę digiti dei. et in altera supernę pulcritudinis. O quam mira res es. quę in sole fundamentum posuisti!
et terram superasti. Paulus enim apostolus qui in summa uolauit. et in terra tacuit. ita quod non reuelauit quod absconsum fuit. hęc adtendit. Mulier quę subiacet uirili potestati mariti sui. illi coniuncta in prima costa magnam uerecundiam habere debet. sic quod non debet dare aut reuelare preconium proprij uasculi uiri sui ad alienum locum qui ad illam non pertinet.
et hoc faciat in uerbo illo quod dominator terrę dixit. Quod deus coniunxit! homo non separat. in irrisione diaboli. Audi. Terra sudat uiriditatem graminis! usque dum eam hiemps superat. Illa enim pulcritudinem floris illius aufert.
et uiriditatem sui floris tegit. deinceps non ualens se reuelare quasi nondum aruerit! quia hiemps illam abstulit. Ideo mulier non debet se in crinibus suis subleuare. nec ornare. nec erigere in ulla sublimitate coronę et auri ullius rei. nisi in uoluntate uiri sui. secundum quod illi in recta mensura placuerit.
Hęc non pertinent ad uirginem! sed ipsa stat in simplicitate et in integritate pulcri paradysi. qui numquam aridus apparebit. sed semper in plena floriditate floris uirgę permanet. Virgo non habet tegmen crinium uiriditatis suę in precepto. sed in propria uoluntate sua per summam humilitatem se regit. quoniam homo pulcritudinem animę suę abscondet ne accipiter eam per superbiam rapiat. Uirgines in spiritu sancto coniunctę sunt sanctimonię.
et aurorę uirginitatis! unde decet illas peruenire ad summum sacerdotem sicut holocaustum deo dedicatum. Quapropter decet per licentiam et reuelationem in mistico spiramine digiti dei quod uirgo candidam uestem induat. in clara significatione desponsationis christi uidens quod intextę integritati mens eius solidetur. considerans etiam quis ille sit cui coniuncta est sicut scriptum est. Habent nomen eius et nomen patris eius scriptum in frontibus suis. Et iterum. Secuntur agnum quocumque ierit.
Deus etiam habet scrutinium scrutationis in omni persona. ita ne minor ordo super superiorem ascendat sicut satanas et primus homo fecerunt. qui altius uolare uoluerunt quam positi essent. Et quis homo congregat omnem gregem suum in unum stabulum scilicet boues. asinos. oues et hedos. ita quod non dissipent se? Ideo et discretio sit in hoc.
ne diuersus populus in unum gregem congregatus. in superbia elationis. et in ignominia diuersitatis dissipetur. et precipue ne honestas morum ibi dirumpatur. cum se inuicem odio dilaniant quando altior ordo super inferiorem cadit. et inferior super altiorem ascendit. quia deus populum suum in terra sicut et in celo discernit. uidelicet angelos.
archangelos. tronos. dominationes. cherubin et seraphin discernens. Et hi omnes a deo amantur! sed tamen equalia nomina non habent. Superbia principes et nobiles in persona elationis amat! sed cum ipsam interimunt illos odit.
Scriptum est. Deus potentes non abicit! cum et ipse sit potens. Ipse autem personas non amat. sed opera quę gustum habent in illo! sicut filius dei dicit. Meus cibus est! ut faciam uoluntatem patris mei.
Vbi humilitas. est! ibi christus semper epulatur. Et ideo necesse est ut illi homines discernantur. qui plus uanum honorem quam humilitatem appetunt. cum hęc uident quę illis superiora sunt. Morbida etiam ouis abiciatur! ne totus grex contaminetur.
Deus bonum intellectum hominibus infundat! ne nomen ipsorum deleatur. Bonum enim est ne homo montem apprehendat quem mouere non poterit! sed in ualle subsistat paulatim discens quod capere potest. Hęc dicta sunt a uiuente lumine! et non ab homine. Qui audit! uideat et credat unde sint.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Gen.3.1-Gen.3.6 — Now the serpent was more crafty than any other animal that the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?" Gen.3.2 — And the woman said to the serpent, "From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat, Gen.3.3 — but of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, God said, 'You shall not eat from it, and you shall not touch it, lest you die.' Gen.3.4 — But the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not certainly die.' Gen.3.5 — for God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. Gen.3.6 — And the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and the tree was desirable to make one wise. She took of its fruit and ate, and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.
- ↩2Cor.12.2-2Cor.12.4 — I know a person in Christ fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know; God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 2Cor.12.3 — And I know that such a person—whether in the body or apart from the body, I do not know; God knows— 2Cor.12.4 — that he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a person to speak.
- ↩2Cor.12.4 — that he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a person to speak.
- ↩Eph.5.22-Eph.5.24 — Wives, to your own husbands, as to the Lord. Eph.5.23 — For the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is the head of the church; he himself the Savior of the body. Eph.5.24 — But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
- ↩Gen.2.21-Gen.2.22 — So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh in its place. Gen.2.22 — And the LORD God built the rib that He had taken from the man into a woman, and brought her to the man.
- ↩Rev.14.1 — And I looked, and behold, the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him one hundred forty-four thousand having his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads.
- ↩Rev.14.4 — These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from among mankind as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.
- ↩Exod.32.32-Exod.32.33;Ps.69.28;Rev.3.5 — But now, if you will forgive their sin—and if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written. Exod.32.33 — And the LORD said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book." Ps.69.28 — Let iniquity be added to their iniquity, and let them not come into your righteousness. Rev.3.5 — The one who conquers will thus be clothed in white garments, and I will not erase his name from the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
- ↩Matt.17.20;1Cor.13.2 — And he said to them, 'Because of your little faith. For truly I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, "Move from here to there," and it will move. And nothing will be impossible for you.' 1Cor.13.2 — And if I have prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
- ↩John.1.4 — In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
- ↩Matt.11.15;Mark.4.9 — The one who has ears, let him hear. Mark.4.9 — And he said, "Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear."
Notes
- 1 ↩Likely echoes 2 Corinthians 12:2–4, where Paul speaks of being caught up to the third heaven.
- 2 ↩Continues the allusion to 2 Corinthians 12:4, where Paul heard unspeakable things he was not permitted to reveal.
- 3 ↩Alludes to Ephesians 5:22–24 or 1 Peter 3:1, where wives are instructed to be subject to their husbands.
- 4 ↩Alludes to Genesis 2:21–22, where Eve is formed from Adam's rib.
- 5 ↩'Preconium proprij uasculi uiri sui' (the praise of her husband's own vessel) is a metaphorical expression likely referring to the husband's dignity, authority, or intimate marital bond, which the woman is not to expose or transfer to outsiders.
- 6 ↩cum rendered as temporal 'when'; could also be causal or concessive.
- 7 ↩personas: in the sense of persons of rank or social distinction, not individuals generally.
- 8 ↩quę: abbreviated form of quae, here rendered as 'that'. gustum habent in illo: literally 'have taste in him'; sense is that works find their savor or proving in God.
- 9 ↩The mountain metaphor likely signifies an undertaking beyond one's God-given capacity; the warning is against presumption.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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