R223: Kleriker M. an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Greeting and Self-Introduction
The cleric identifies himself and greets Hildegard as God's chosen vessel, expressing his desire for her prosperity.
A certain cleric of Hildegard. To the venerable and most beloved teacher Hildegard, the most fitting little vessel of divine election. M. By the grace of God, what I am! Whatever service is worth, with constant prayer alone. In spirit and in mind, I earnestly wish you to prosper.
Prayer and Separation
The writer commits to constant prayer for Hildegard and acknowledges their physical separation by divine providence.
And for the state of all your affairs, I prostrate myself at the feet of God with devoted prayers day and night. Dearest, if God's ordination in this life has separated us.
The Bond of Love
Despite separation, the unbreakable bond of love unites them, and the writer asks for the same love in return.
Yet the unbreakable bond of love has bound us fast. For I ask that the mutual return of that same love come from you.1
Commendation and Blessing
The writer asks to be remembered in prayers and commends his soul, body, and congregation to Hildegard's faith, closing with a blessing.
so that you may remember me in your prayers and commend me to your holy community. What more? Into your faith I commend my soul and body and all our congregation. May your blessedness endure forever.
Read the original Latin
Clericus quidam hildegardi. Uenerabili et dilectissimę magistrę hildegardi uasculo diuinę electionis aptissimo. M. dei gratia id quod est! quicquid ualet seruitus unica cum oratione assidua. Spiritu et mente uos ualere exopto. et pro statu omnium rerum uestrarum deuotis precibus die noctuque pedibus dei procumbo. Carissima si ordinatio dei in hac uita nos separauit.
insolubile tamen uinculum dilectionis insolubiliter nos conglutinauit. Ipsius namque dilectionis uicissitudinem a uobis exposco. ut mei memoriam habeatis in orationibus uestris. et sancto conuentui uestro commendetis. Quid plura? In fidem uestram. animam et corpus meum cunctamque nostram congregationem commendo. Valeat in eternum beatitudo uestra.
Notes
- 1 ↩uicissitudinem rendered 'mutual return' — carries the sense of reciprocal exchange of love; could also be 'reciprocity'.
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