R247: Mönchskonvent von Eberbach an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Greeting to the Bridegroom's Chosen Handmaid
The convent of Eberbach greets Hildegard as the Lord's chosen handmaid, joined with wise virgins and the Bridegroom, nurtured by the Spirit's fatherly gentleness.
The convent at Eberbach. To Hildegard. Whom the Lord chose for himself as his handmaid. And aware of very many of his secrets. The poor flock of brothers at Eberbach, among the company of wise virgins, with the true lantern and the burning lamp, with the Bridegroom of faithful souls and of heavenly citizens. To enter happily into the wedding. The Spirit of the Lord, whom he chose and predestined for himself, has never forsaken. But he has nurtured their purpose in fatherly gentleness.
Obedience to Maternal Admonition
The brothers affirm Hildegard as God's chosen vessel, pledge obedience to her maternal admonition, and humbly ask her to reveal whatever needs correction in them according to the Lord's will.
Thus the Lord has chosen you as a blessed and happy soul, as his own instrument and a vessel of election.✦1 Beloved in the Lord, we ought to obey your maternal admonition!2 For the truth of the Lord speaks through you. For we gladly receive your admonitions. And we beseech you with humble petition not to conceal from us what in us needs correcting.3 But only as it may please the Lord, who reveals many secrets to you.4 Be eager to share it with us.5
Blessing of the Angel of Counsel
The angel of counsel and strength, ever present around Hildegard, is invoked as her guardian.
The angel of counsel and of strength, who is always around you —✦6
Closing Prayer for Preservation
The letter closes with a prayer that the angel may preserve Hildegard safely and unharmed.
May he preserve you and keep you safe and unharmed.
Read the original Latin
Conuentus in eberbach. hildegardi. Hildigardi quam dominus sibi elegit in famulam. et plurimorum secretorum suorum consciam! pauper grex fratrum in eberbach in numero prudentium uirginum cum uera lucerna et ardenti lampade cum fidelium animarum et supernorum ciuium sponso. feliciter introire ad nuptias. Spiritus domini quos elegit sibi et predestinauit numquam deseruit. sed cogitatum ipsorum in paterna mansuetudine enutriuit.
Ita uos felicem animam et beatam elegit sibi organum et uas electionis suę. Dilecta in domino obedire debemus maternę ammonitioni uestrę! quia ueritas domini per uos loquitur. Ammonitiones enim uestras libenter percipimus. precamurque humili peticione ne quod in nobis corrigendum est nos celetis. sed ut domino qui uobis multa secreta reserat placuerit. nobis id insinuare studeatis. Angelus consilij et fortitudinis qui semper circa uos est.
conseruet et custodiat uos sanam et incolomem.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Acts.9.15 — But the Lord said to him, "Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel.
- ↩Isa.11.2 — And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
Notes
- 1 ↩Vas electionis (vessel of election) echoes Acts 9:15, where Paul is called a 'vas electionis.' The phrase is retained in its traditional theological form.
- 2 ↩Maternae admonitioni rendered as 'maternal admonition' — the Eberbach community addresses Hildegard with a title evoking spiritual motherhood.
- 3 ↩Corrigendum (gerundive) rendered as 'needs correcting' to preserve the obligatory force — it is something that ought to be corrected.
- 4 ↩Sed ut is rendered 'But only as' — sed introduces a qualification, ut a purpose/limiting clause. The sense is: share with us, but only insofar as the Lord wills.
- 5 ↩Insinuare (to intimate, to share privately) rendered as 'to share' — the prefix in- suggests communicating something inward or confidential, but 'share' captures the request naturally in modern English.
- 6 ↩Angelus consilii et fortitudinis — 'angel of counsel and of strength.' The phrase may echo Isaiah 11:2 (the seven gifts of the Spirit) or refer to a guardian angel. Left open as a candidate allusion.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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