R227: Mönch T. von Ebrach an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Greeting and Sender
The monk T. from Ebrach greets Hildegard and her mother, identifies himself as a sinful Cistercian monk, and wishes to live and die in the Lord.
A monk from Ebrach. To Hildegard. To the lady and to her mother. To Hildegard. Most blessed olive tree of Christ. T. A sinner from Ebrach, a useless monk of the Cistercian order — to live for the Lord! And to die in the Lord.
Humility and Prayer
T. explains his brief letter by reason of humility and unworthiness, then commends himself to Hildegard's prayers and to Christ, promising to remember her community as grace allows.
Let your love know that the reason I sent you such a brief letter is this: because I was unable to think of anything worthy enough for your holiness. And that too with a mind full of trembling. I hardly dared to write anything at all to someone as great as you. But I didn't consider myself worthy of this either. So if your grace permits, I venture to commend myself to your prayers, kneeling and trembling. I entrust myself—base though I am—into the heart of Jesus Christ. And as much as I can, as grace works with me, according to the measure of my own weakness, I'll most gladly keep you and your community in mind, in Christ.
Presence in Heart and Final Commendation
Though absent in body, T. affirms his spiritual presence with Hildegard, asks to be remembered and commended to Christ and Mary, seeks consolation through her revelations, and closes with a blessing of the Holy Spirit.
And even though I'm absent in body, in heart and in love — with God as my witness — I'm with you. So now, keep me in your memory. And commend me constantly to Christ and to holy Saint Mary, just as I trust in you. And do your best to console me with words of comfort, according to the divine revelation given to you. May the grace of the Holy Spirit be with you.
Read the original Latin
Monachus de ebra. hildegardi. Dominę et matri suę. hildegardi. beatissimę christi oliuę. T. peccator de ebra cisterciensis ordinis inutilis monachus domino uiuere! in dominoque mori.
Noscat dilectio uestra quod ideo pauculas litteras uobis misi. quia sanctitati uestrę satis digna excogitare nequiui. et etiam tremula mente. tali tantęque personę quicquam scribere uix presumpsi! sed neque me dignum ad hoc existimaui. Proinde si salua gratia uestra audeo genu flexo tremens orationibus uestris. in uisceribus iesu christi me quamuis sordidum committo. quantumque cooperante gratia pro modulo desidię meę potuero uestri uestręque familię in christo libentissime memor ero!
et si corpore absens sum! corde et dilectione deo teste uobiscum sum. Nunc ergo in memoria uestra me reseruate. ac christo et sanctę Marię prout uobis confido assidue me commendate! atque uerbis consolationum uestrarum secundum diuinam ostensionem me consolari studete. Gratia spiritus sancti uobiscum sit.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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