R207: Balduin von Utrecht an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Greeting and Desire for Christ
Baldwin greets Hildegard with longing and expresses his hope to rejoice in Christ, asking for the consolation of her holy letters as a wise physician tends the soul.
Baldwin, a monk. To Hildegard. To the most beloved and most longed-for lady, his own and mother, Hildegard. Baldwin the sinner, after this frail and fleeting life. To rejoice eternally with Christ the Lord. I consider it a blessed thing to be! If I shall have deserved to be consoled by the letters of your holiness. But because it belongs to a wise physician—
Wounded, He Asks to Be Healed
Using the image of a wounded physician, Baldwin confesses his own wounds and asks Hildegard to intercede so that no spiritual rot remains, admitting his long-standing weakness and desire to come to her.
It takes someone who is frequently wounded to visit the wounded, and to cut away flesh that is diseased and rotting. Otherwise the wound may later turn into something worse. If it isn't cut away cautiously and carefully, I ask you, for the love of the merciful Redeemer, to look often at the wounds of my wounds. So that through God's mercy and your counsel there may be no trace of the rot left in them — no trace of the rot should remain. O sweetest and most desired of mothers! I have long desired to come to you in my weakness.
Beholding, Confessing, and Renouncing the World
Baldwin beholds Hildegard inwardly, confesses his sin, asks for prayer, and renounces earthly gain in favor of God's grace.
O sweetest lady, with the eyes of my heart I always behold you! I speak with you in my mind and I dwell with you. I know that I have sinned against my God in his work! I acknowledge that I have sinned. Pray for me. I don't seek earthly gain. Not anything transitory. But the grace of my God!
Prayer, Aid, and a Trusted Messenger
Baldwin asks for Hildegard's help, praises the power of her prayers, and commends to her a devoted messenger who regards her as lady and mother.
And greetings for my soul. Come to my aid! O how great are the continual protections of your prayers on my behalf! So that, therefore, I might not be entirely deprived of my desire. My lady, willing to satisfy me. I have taken care to send this client of mine to you with these letters. who regards you as lady and mother. embraces you with devoted love.
Final Blessing and Amen
Baldwin closes by wishing Hildegard present consolation and eternal blessedness, commending her to God with a final 'amen.'
Consolation in this present life and eternal blessedness with the saints! May God grant this to you, amen.
Read the original Latin
Baldevvinus monachus. hildegardii. Amantissimę ac desiderantissimę dominę suę ac matri hildegardi. Baldevvinus peccator post hanc uitam fragilem et caducam. perenniter gaudere cum christo domino. Beatum me fore existimo! si litteris sanctitatis uestrę consolari promeruero. Sed quia prudentis medici est.
sepius uulneratum hominem uisitare et carnem superfluam et putridam resecare. ne postmodum deterior fiat corruptio. si caute et diligenter recisa non fuerit! rogo ut pro amore pij redemptoris plagas uulnerum meorum crebrius inspiciatis. ut nullum in eis per dei misericordiam et uestrum consilium. uestigium correptionis remaneat. O dulcissime mater ac desiderantissima! iam diu desideraui in baculo meo uenire ad uos.
O dulcissima domina oculis cordis uos semper intueor! uobiscum loquor mente et conuersor. Scio quia deo meo peccaui in opere suo! cognosco me peccasse. orate pro me. Non quero terrenum lucrum. non rem transitoriam. sed gratiam dei mei!
et salutem animę meę. Succurrite mihi. O quanti mihi sunt orationum uestrarum continuata presidia. Vt igitur a desiderio meo omnino non fraudarer. domina mea satisfacere mihi uolens. clientem hunc cum litteris istis ad uos mittere curaui. qui uos ut dominam et matrem. pio complectitur amore.
Consolationem uitę presentis et perpetuam beatitudinem cum sanctis! tribuat uobis deus amen.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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