R243: Mönchskonvent von St. Michael in Siegburg an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Greeting to a Spiritual Mother
The brothers of Saint Michael's in Siegburg address Hildegard as their beloved spiritual mother and declare their devotion and entry into the fellowship of her prayers.
Brothers in Siegburg: To Hildegard— to the lady and most beloved mother! The like-minded brothers of Saint Michael's in Siegburg— whatever servants owe to their lady, or sons owe to a mother— with what special love's affection we have chosen you as our spiritual mother, and into the fellowship of your prayers we have entered.
A Mother's Neglected Love
The brothers gently reproach Hildegard for withholding a mother's encouraging letters, yet persist in knocking at the door of her heart.
God, who knows every secret, is aware of it. And from the many messages we've sent you. Your love, too, has been able to see this. But you, on the other hand, have never shown a mother's love toward us. You should have sent us letters of encouragement, which a mother owes even to her unwilling children. You have never offered them even to those who desired them. Nevertheless, as we began, we do not stop knocking at the door of your heart. So if you will not rise, it is because you are our mother.
Petition for Vision and Admonition
The brothers urgently ask Hildegard to reveal the state of their monastery through true vision, send correcting admonition, and receive them into mutual prayer.
Nevertheless, rise up because we keep urging you. And grant us each thing that we need. For we ask that you reveal to us, instructed by true vision, something about the state of our place. And send us words of admonition that carry correction as well. These are the things, most beloved mother, whose careful examination we especially desire from you. Humbly beseeching you, write out both these things and whatever else you know to be more necessary for us. Just as we receive you. So also receive us, you, into the fellowship of your prayer.
Farewell
The letter closes with a brief farewell.
Farewell.
Read the original Latin
Fratres in sigeberch. hildegardi. Hildigardi dominę et matri dilectissimę! fratres unanimes de sancto Michale in sigeberch. quicquid dominę suę famuli. uel matri debent filij. Quam speciali caritatis affectu uos in matrem spiritualem elegerimus. et in consortium orationum uestrarum susceperimus.
omnium secretorum cognitor nouit. et ex frequentibus nuncijs quos uobis transmisimus. uestra quoque dilectio animaduertere potuit. Sed uos econtra affectum matris in nobis numquam ostendistis. litteras commonitorias quas etiam nolentibus utpote mater filijs dirigere debueratis. ne quidem desiderantibus umquam obtulistis. Uerumtamen ut cepimus ad cordis uestri ianuam pulsare non desinamus. ut si non surgitis eo quod mater nostra sitis.
propter importunitatem tamen nostram surgatis. et quęque necessaria nobis sunt tribuatis. Petimus enim ut aliqua de statu loci nostri in uera uisione edocta nobis aperiatis! et ut uerba commonitoria et correptionem habentia nobis transmittatis. Hęc sunt mater dilectissima quarum indaginem a uobis precipue desideramus. humiliter deposcentes ut et hęc et cetera quę nobis magis necessaria esse nostis transcribatis. et sicut nos uos. sic quoque uos nos in consortium uestrę orationis suscipiatis.
Valete.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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