R237: Priester N. von Königslutter an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Greeting and Blessing
The priest N. greets Hildegard with divine light and humility, referencing the glory of the Lord.
A certain priest. To Hildegard. To our Lady Hildegard. With the splendor of divine light shining upon you. N. An unworthy priest and teacher in Königslutter, namely in the hospice house. When the glory of the Lord appears.✦ To be filled with the chosen ones.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
The writer gives thanks for Hildegard's grace and virtues, prays for her, and asks to learn from her God-given teachings.
Grace and goodwill—which many have experienced in you—come to mind often, and we give thanks to almighty God, again and again. For in so frail a sex, as a woman, she has been without bodily strength since childhood— yet a manly spirit— and with no small number of virtues, has been pleased to adorn her. May the Lord increase his grace in you, and in all who are with you. And may he bring it about that in a spirit of goodwill you remain mindful, before God, both of us and of the many who have placed their hope in you. And so, we eagerly long to hear from you the wholesome teachings of your holiness, and to learn from you, carefully, the state of our way of life. And whatever God reveals to you in this matter.
A Cry for Guidance
The priest asks Hildegard to write back and seeks her counsel on whether to withdraw to the monastery or continue amid turmoil.
Please write back to us! knowing this, that we have decided to follow your advice and guidance as best we can. For we are charged to serve the poor, and we cannot fulfill that charge without the burden of a troubled mind. Therefore we want to know from you whether it is more helpful for us to withdraw to our monastery or to press on amid this turmoil. May God open the way for you! whatever is most pleasing to him in this matter.
Read the original Latin
Sacerdos quidam. hildegardi. Dominę suę hildegardi. diuini luminis splendore radianti. N. indignus sacerdos et magister in lutherun scilicet in domo hospitali. cum apparuerit gloria domini. cum electis saciari.
Gratiam et beniuolentiam quam multi in uobis experti sunt sepius recolentes gratias omnipotenti deo referimus. quod in tam fragili sexu muliere ab infantia uiribus corporis destituta. uirilem animum. et uirtutibus non paucis ad ornatum conferre dignatus est. Adaugeat dominus gratiam suam in uobis et in omnibus quę uobiscum sunt. et faciat ut in spiritu beniuolentię memores sitis apud deum et nostri et multorum qui spem suam in uobis posuerunt. Salutaria itaque sanctitatis uestrę documenta exoptamus a uobis audire et statum uitę nostrę diligenter a uobis intelligere. et quicquid uobis deus super hoc reuelauerit.
nobis dignamini rescribere! hoc scientes quia consilijs et monitis uestris pro posse nostro obtemperare decreuimus. Nam nobis iniunctum est ut pauperibus seruiamus quod sine grauedine tumultuantis animi implere non possumus! quapropter a uobis scire desideramus. utrum nobis utilius sit ad claustrum nostrum nos recludere an in tumultu isto perseuerare. Deus uobis aperiat! quid sibi in hoc melius placeat.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Exod.16.10 — And it came about, as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the sons of Israel, that they turned toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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