R202: Hildegard von Rupertsberg an Bertolf von Reutlingen
The Pilgrim Spirit
Hildegard announces the Spirit's message, using the image of a pilgrim hastening toward his homeland and the comfort of God's fatherly care.
Hildegard's reply. The Spirit says this. It is most worthy of praise and wonderful. that a pilgrim hurries toward his homeland.✦ O, what great grief and sorrow arise among the citizens and acquaintances of one who feasted and played with them! And O, how deeply the wanton ones blush, because their companion has left behind the little vessel he carried with them. See that in the eye of the Living One you have been foreseen with great zeal. just as the gentlest father seeks his own sheep.✦✦
The Soldier's Storm
From the false peace of idle friends the text turns to the brave soldier caught in storms, urged to stand firm, and illustrated by the hornet and the pursuing swarm.
Friends who sit idle in comfort have mutual peace. They enjoy peace among themselves! But the bravest soldier is one caught in great storms. Stand firm on the path of uprightness! And prepare your soul for battle, for those who serve as soldiers on the king's mission are always fighting. See — if a single hornet were to fly away from its companions, and, looking up toward the sun, began to soar, all the swarm of flies would rush after it.
The Sun's Covering and Eternal Life
The swarm seeks to oppress the upright soldier, yet the sun hides him in its light; the crowd is scandalized, and the letter closes with a blessing of unending life in unfailing light.
They wanted to oppress him! but the sun would cover that with its own light, lest he be seen by ... (uncertain reading). And so he would flee away. Then all that crowd would be scandalized! and so that upright soldier would become it. May God stretch out his hand to you, so that you may live forever! where the sun is not darkened.
Read the original Latin
Responsum hildegardis. Hęc dicit spiritus. Laude dignissimum est et mirabile. quod peregrinus ad patriam festinat. O quam magnus luctus et meror inter ciues et notos illius qui cum ipso epulabantur et ludebant tunc oritur. et o quam ualde erubescunt lasciui quod sodalis ipsorum reliquit uasculum quod cum ipsis portabat. Respice quod in oculo uiuentis in magno studio preuisus es. sicut mitissimus pater ouem suam requirit.
Socij qui in latitudine ociosi sedent. mutuam pacem habent! fortissimus autem miles in magnis turbinibus est. Sta in uia rectitudinis! et prepara animam tuam ad pugnandum cum illis qui semper in legatione regis militant. Vide quia si aliquod uolatile scrabronum a socijs suis recederet. et in altum respiciens ad solem uolare inciperet. omnis turba muscarum illarum irrueret in illud.
uolens ipsum opprimere! sed sol tegeret illud lumine sua ne ipsum utra uideretur. Et sic aufugeret. Tunc omnis turba illa scandalizaretur! et sic illud probus miles efficeretur. Deus manum suam tibi porrigat ut uiuas in eternum! ubi sol non obscuratur.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Heb.11.13-Heb.11.16 — By faith these all died, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar and having greeted them, and having confessed that they are strangers and exiles on the earth. Heb.11.14 — For those who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. Heb.11.15 — And if they had been remembering that country from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. Heb.11.16 — But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
- ↩Luke.15.4-Luke.15.6 — Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until he finds it? Luke.15.5 — And when he finds it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. Luke.15.6 — And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.'
- ↩Isa.40.11 — Like a shepherd he will tend his flock; in his arm he will gather the lambs, and in his bosom he will carry them, and the nursing ewes he will gently lead.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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