R213: Priester B. von Trier an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Greeting to the Bride of Christ
The priest B. greets Hildegard as the holy virgin and venerable bride of Christ, humbly presenting himself by God's grace though unworthy, and notes that although he rarely sees her bodily, he still experiences her presence.
A certain priest of Hildegard. To the holy virgin of God. To Hildegard. To the venerable bride of Jesus Christ! B. By the grace of God, whatever kind of priest I may be in the church of Trier, though unworthy of the dignity of the priesthood. Presents himself. Although I rarely see you with my bodily eyes.
Daily Brightness of Sacred Remembrance
The priest describes how imagination daily presents Hildegard's brightness and memory, stirring him to God's praise, and reflects that God has made Himself known through her as the Holy Spirit once spoke through unlearned apostles.
And yet that wonderful power of our soul — the power called imagination — daily presents me with the brightness of your countenance. And the joyful memory of you gladdens me. And it stirs me up to the praise of God! who in our own days has deigned to make himself known through you, by open display and clear example, which sacred Scripture daily recounts! namely, how the Holy Spirit — the light of chaste souls — spoke wonderfully through the ancient fathers and through the holy apostles of God, men without learning — It seems to me, then, that together with Peter you can say in the voice of David:
Humble Confession and Plea for Prayer
Citing Psalm 70, the priest confesses his lack of learning, appeals to God's mercy shining in Hildegard, and earnestly begs her prayers and written consolation for himself as a wretched sinner.
Because I have no learning! I will enter into the power of the Lord. Through that mercy, then — the mercy of a pious God — which fills the innermost depths of your sacred heart. He has illumined you with his brightest rays in an extraordinary way. I earnestly beg you. I ask that by your prayer you would be willing to help me, a wretched sinner. I also ask that, through the divine consolation by which you are frequently sustained in your heavenly vision, you would write back to me words of consolation.
Counsel in Pastoral Governance
The priest asks Hildegard to advise him on how to govern those under his care with kindness, and closes with a farewell.
And you must suggest to me how I might be in charge of those whom I am obliged to guide kindly under the governance of the priesthood. Farewell.
Read the original Latin
Sacerdos quidam hildegardi. Sacrę dei uirgini. hildegardi. uenerabili sponsę iesu christi! B. dei gratia in treuerensi ęcclesia qualiscumque sacerdos quamuis sacerdotij dignitate indignus. seipsum. Etsi oculis corporalibus uos raro conspiciam.
illa tamen nostrę animę ammiranda potentia quę imaginatio dicitur. cottidie uultus uestri serenitatem mihi representat. et iocunda uestri recordatione letificat. et ad dei laudem me excitat! qui in diebus nostris dignatus est manifesta ostensione atque euidenti exemplo per uos declarare. quod sacra scriptura cottidie recolit! scilicet quomodo spiritus sanctus castarum lumen animarum in antiquis patribus atque in sanctis dei apostolis hominibus indoctis mirabiliter locutus sit. Videtur enim mihi quod uos cum petro uoce dauid dicere possitis.
Quoniam non cognoui litteraturam! introibo in potentiam domini. Per illam itaque pię diuinitatis clementiam quę sacri uestri pectoris intima. clarissimis suis radijs inusitato modo perlustrauit. uos obnixe deprecor. ut uestra oratione me miserum peccatorem adiuuare uelitis. Rogo etiam ut per consolationem diuinam qua supernę uisioni frequenter innixa estis. mihi consolatoria uerba rescribatis.
et quomodo preesse possim quos sub regimine sacerdotij regere debeo benigne insinuetis. Valete.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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