R203: Udalrich von Augsburg an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Greeting to Hildegard
The priest Udalrich sends a formal salutation to Hildegard, commending her for her devotion, wisdom, discipline, character, and proven virtue.
A certain priest of Hildegard. To Lady Hildegard. In religious devotion, in wisdom, in discipline, in character, finally, most thoroughly proven with every virtue of both kinds of person.
Martha, Mary, and Longing for Her Presence
Udalrich describes his labor and spiritual joy through images of Martha and Mary, then confesses his sorrow and wonder at having been absent from Hildegard's sweet presence and conversation.
That one, his own through all things. U. At the sixth hour, to labor with Martha.✦ At the seventh hour, to be restored. At the eighth hour, to rejoice with Mary.✦ How could I have been withdrawn for so long from the sight and conversation of your sweetness, my most beloved lady — [your sweetness] more pleasing to me than the taste of all honey? Or at least that I delayed visiting you with little letters in the meantime. I can't wonder enough at myself!
Humility and Gratitude for Her Grace
Udalrich humbly acknowledges his own smallness and slowness, expresses fear that his conduct has fallen short of Hildegard's devotion, and gives thanks for the grace and conversation she generously extended to him.
And I count all of this as my own smallness and sloth. I'm also very much afraid that your devotion of this kind — God forbid — has shown my own arrangement to be something shameful. And rightly so. Indeed, someone whom before neither by voice nor by appearance — nor by face — much less known by reputation, when I first came — which is exceedingly difficult to do — you received by the favor of your most kind grace. And immediately you deigned to restore, through the sharing of your conversation, something I consider great. But because it brings repentance!
Promise of Amendment and Prayer Request
Udalrich asks forgiveness, explains that his heart was ready even when ability failed, promises amendment if God grants him opportunity, and closes by asking Hildegard to remember him in her prayers.
You'll forgive me. For my heart was never anything but ready. But the ability was lacking. So I promise — if there's anything I can truly promise. That if God gives me the ability, I'll make amends as quickly as I can. In the meantime, keep me in your prayers. For God's sake, please remember me, a most wretched sinner.
Read the original Latin
Sacerdos quidam hildegardi. Dominę hildegardi. religione. sapientia. disciplina. moribus. postremo. omni utriusque hominis uirtute probatissimę.
ille suus per omnia. U. in sexta cum marta laborare. in septima redintegrari. in octaua cum maria iocundari. Quomodo me domina dilectissima ab aspectu et colloquio uestrę dulcedinis mihi omni mellis sapore gratioris tamdiu subtraxisse potuerim. uel interim litterulis saltem uos uisitasse distulerim. memetipsum satis ammirari nequeo!
totumque id paruitatis meę desidię deputo. Uestram etiam pietatem huiusmodi mea in concinnitate quod absit ostendisse ualde timeo. et merito. quippe quem antea nec uoce nec habitu. nec facie. nedum etiam fama agnitum ut primum ueni quod factu perdifficile est gratia uestri benignissime recepistis. et statim uestri colloquij participatione quod magnum duco recreare dignata estis. Verum quia penitet!
ignoscetis. Animus enim meus numquam non promptus fuit. facultas uero defuit. Promitto igitur si quid uere promittere possum. me si deus facultatem dederit quantocius emendaturum. Interim autem in orationibus uestris. pro deo mei miserrimi peccatoris memor esse dignemini.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Luke.10.38-Luke.10.42 — Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. Luke.10.39 — She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his word. Luke.10.40 — But Martha was distracted by much service. She came up and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." Luke.10.41 — But the Lord answered her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.' Luke.10.42 — Few things are needed, or only one. For Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.
- ↩Luke.10.38-Luke.10.42 — Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. Luke.10.39 — She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his word. Luke.10.40 — But Martha was distracted by much service. She came up and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." Luke.10.41 — But the Lord answered her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.' Luke.10.42 — Few things are needed, or only one. For Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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