R252: Hildegard von Rupertsberg an Nonnenkonvent von Zwiefalten
A Beautiful Bride and a Heavenly Betrothal
Hildegard greets the sisters and describes a noble man's beautiful bride, whose physical perfection mirrors her spiritual dignity.
To the congregation of sisters in Zwiefalten. Hildegard. Who sees all things and from whom nothing is hidden. says: A certain noble man, joined to himself with the greatest diligence a bride very beautiful in face, with sapphire-blue eyes. whose stature was equal.
The Lure of Vanity and the Call to Detachment
The bride's beauty is praised, yet her refusal of worldly roles is contrasted with a lament over the devil's snares and the disgrace of wanton living.
And not twisted in any diversity! But beautiful in all adornments. She herself was also deeply lovable in all her ways. So much so that every harmony on lyres and in every kind of music would have been fitting for her. Such was she, too, that she refused to be a concubine or a dancer in a prostitute's dress. And that she refused to roam through the various streets! Nor to speak toward the mockery of young men. O vanity and filth of the devil's darts, and O disgrace of wanton girls!
Choosing God Over a Carnal Husband
Hildegard calls women who refuse marriage for God's sake to embrace the Lord, recalling Eve's original state before union with Adam.
Tremble at this discourse. When a woman withdraws herself from union with a husband for the sake of God, unwilling to be joined to a man. O how great is her nobility then, because the betrothal of the heavenly king befits her, since she has refused a carnal husband. And so she ought to embrace God and cling to her Lord. Because she has no earthly husband. For she ought to remain as Eve was before God presented her to Adam. When she looked then not toward Adam but toward God. Let a woman do thus.
The Hardness of Renunciation and the Embrace of Christ
Although the ancient serpent makes such renunciation bitter, a consecrated woman is armed to enter the bridal chamber of the King and embrace Him with love.
She refuses a fleshly husband for the love of God, so that she may look toward God and not toward another man she was unwilling to have before. But it's exceedingly hard and bitter because of the deceitfulness of the ancient serpent. So that the freshness of the flesh may always be dried up in itself. Nevertheless, when a woman has been most powerfully armed. So as to place herself in the bridal chamber of the king. And may embrace the king himself with the sweetest love. Not willing to cultivate the duty of fleshly passion in desire. But willing to set the gaze of her soul upon God.
Eyes Fixed on God, Not on the World
The consecrated woman is urged to gaze on God like an eagle toward the sun, to shun secret carnal loves, and to recognize such unfaithfulness as viper-like.
She refuses the pleasure of the flesh. Let her look to God as an eagle looks into the sun, and as a dove looks through its windows. Let her think and strive how to draw her soul away from worldly riches and pleasures and from the company of a man in the flesh. And so a woman who refuses to enter the bridal chamber of a man in the flesh because of love for God ought to be with me in the spiritual life, for I am without beginning and without end. Nor should she be in secret embraces, secretly loving a rustic man. But if she does these things, she is not with me! She has viper-like ways. That is why a woman who burns in this way.
The Example of Mary and the Danger of Presumption
Hildegard warns against rashly leaving worldly safety, recalls the Virgin Mary's joy in the Holy Spirit, and cautions that no woman should act without God's sending.
so that she can't leave the world behind. she must not put herself in danger or climb a high mountain. so that she doesn't get plunged into a lake afterward. because she was betrothed to me first. and then went into the arms of a man. For the Virgin Mary was joyful in the warmth of the Holy Spirit! and her virginity flourished. But no woman should begin in this way with what the Holy Spirit has not sent into her, so that she not be left empty afterward.
Adorned in Virtue, Hearing the Heavenly Voice
The sisters are urged to be steadfast in virtue, to reject pride and scattered ambition, and to listen to God's voice calling each according to her station.
A woman who wants to look back to me must not be scattered in the dividedness of her own heart through the ambition of this world. Nor should she be twisted by the burning eloquence of pride's grand words. But let her be steadfast in all the adornments of the virtues, and in the nobility of love and justice, which hold sway in all the splendid things of the heavenly King. Now, O you band of maidens! Listen to what the heavenly voice sounds out to you. Do not be a concubine, and do not set your mind on the lofty vanity of pride. So that you may wish to discern the honor of the King, to each one according to their own station. Since you think it's not possible for me to distinguish the sun and the moon and the other adornments of heaven.✦
Warning Against Spiritual Unfaithfulness and Display
Hildegard condemns the leveling of sacred distinctions, the vanity of self-display, and the mutual deception that comes from worldly performance.
A prostitute treats everything as though it were all the same and equal. That is, a prince as though he were a peasant. Whoever does this dishonors me. making wisdom resemble ignorance and devotion mere vanity. and the other virtues no better than copper. Now then, O you young women — do not become dancers in the likeness of the worst sort of people, performing to suit your own pleasure. lest you deceive one another in all things, if you carry on this way.
Hidden as a Dove, Safe from the Hawk
A woman who refuses carnal intimacy must remain hidden in body and mind, like a dove in a hollow, lest the masculine predator seize her.
For a dancer dances for each person according to that person's vanity. But even with doors open, don't walk out of the squalor of your mind, and don't make a nod with wanton gestures through the recklessness of your heart's indulgence, as if you were in the streets — you who loved what you once despised in the King's embrace.1 when you place a peasant in your arms instead of royal love. So a woman who doesn't want carnal intimacy with a man shouldn't be out in the open in any way, because that's not fitting for her. but in secret — in body and in mind. Let her remain in hiding, like a dove in a hollow! lest a hawk — that is, a masculine mind — seize her.
Rise to Your First Bridegroom
Hildegard urgently calls the community to rise to their first and royal Betrothal, to repent of offenses, and to receive eternal salvation.
Now then, O you crowd— rise up more quickly to the first and royal betrothal— to the betrothal of your first and chief Bridegroom. For he himself calls you. So amend and correct the ways you have offended him! And he will receive you into eternal salvation. And you will live.
Read the original Latin
Congregationi sororum in zvvifilda. hildegardis. Qui omnia uidet et quem nichil latet. dicit. Quidam nobilis uir. copulauit sibimetipsi cum summa diligentia. sponsam ualde pulcram in facie cum saphirinis oculis. cuius statura equalis erat.
et non tortuosa in ulla diuersitate! sed speciosa in omnibus ornamentis. Ipsa quoque ualde amabilis fuit in omnibus moribus suis. ita ut eam deceret omnis symphonia in cytharis et in omni genere musicorum. talis etiam existens quod noluit esse concubina nec saltatrix in habitu meretricio. et quod nolebat uagari per diuersas plateas! nec loqui ad irrisionem iunenum. O uanitas et spurcicia diabolicorum iaculorum et o ignominia lasciuię puellarum.
contremisce sermonem istum. Cum feminea forma subtrahit se a iunctura mariti propter deum nolens uiro copulari! o quam magna nobilitas in illa tunc est quia ipsam decet desponsatio superni regis quoniam carnalem uirum recusauit. Et sic debet amplecti deum et adherere domino suo. quia terrenum uirum non habet. Nam ipsa debet sic permanere ut eua fuit antequam eam deus ade representaret. cum illa tunc non ad adam sed ad deum aspexit. Sic mulier faciat.
quę propter amorem dei carnalem uirum recusat ad deum aspiciat et non ab alium uirum quem prius habere nolebat. Sed ualde durum et amarum est propter dolositatem antiqui serpentis. ut uiriditas carnis in seipsa semper arida sit. Attamen cum mulier fortissime armata fuerit. ita ut in thalamum regis se collocet. et ipsum regem dulcissima caritate amplectatur. nolens colere officium carnalis ardoris in concupiscentia. sed uolens uultum animi sui ponere in deum.
recusans uoluptatem carnis suę. aspiciat ut aquila in solem et ut columba per fenestras suas. cogitans et studens quomodo animum suum abstrahat de diuicijs et delicijs secularibus et de consortio carnalis uiri. Et ideo femina quę non uult ire in thalamum carnalis uiri propter dilectionem dei debet in spiritali uita mecum esse qui sum sine inicio et sine fine. nec sit in furtiuis amplexibus rusticum occulte amans. Sed si hec fecerit non est mecum! quia uipereos mores habet. Quapropter mulier quę ita feruet.
ut non possit seculum relinquere. non in periculum nec in altum montem ascendat. ne postea in lacum mergatur. quia mihi prius desponsata fuit. et deinde ad carnales amplexus iuit. Nam uirgo maria in calore spiritus sancti iocunda fuit! et uirginitas eius floruit. Sed nulla feminea forma hoc incipiat quod spiritus sanctus in illam non misit ne postea uacua remaneat.
Mulier quę ad me uult respicere non sit in diuersitate dispersi cordis sui per ambitionem huius seculi. nec sit tortuosa per flagrantia magniloquia superbię. sed sit stabilis in omnibus ornamentis uirtutum et in nobilitate caritatis et iusticię quę dominantur in omnibus speciosis superni regis. Nunc o tu turba puellarum! audi quod superna uox ad te sonat. Noli esse concubina nec in altam uanitatem superbię mentem tuam pone. ita ut uelis honorem regis discernere unicuique secundum statum suum. cum putas quod mihi non sit possibile ut discernam solem et lunam et cetera ornamenta celi.
Meretrix omnia quasi similia et equalia habet. uidelicet principem ut rusticum. Qui sic facit inhonorat me. sapientiam similem faciens ignorantię et pietatem uanitati. et ceteras uirtutes similes cupro. Nunc o uos puellę. nolite esse saltatrices in similitudine pessimorum morum secundum quod uobis placet. ne in alterutrutrum decipiamini in omnibus rebus si sic feceritis.
Nam saltatrix unicuique secundum uanitatem illius saltat. Sed et apertis ostijs ne ambuletis propter sordiditatem mentis uestre nec nutum faciatis in lasciuis nutibus per petulantiam latitudinis cordis uestri quasi in plateis illud amantes quod contempsistis in amplexibus regis. cum rusticum pro regio amore in amplexus uestros ponitis. Vnde mulier quę non uult habere consortium uiri carnalis. non sit ullo modo in aperto quia hoc non decet eam. sed in occulto corpore et mente. uelut columba in cauerna maneat! ne eam accipiter scilicet uirilis animus arripiat.
Nunc tu o turba. citius surge ad primam et regalem desponsationem. primi et principalis uiri tui. Ipse enim uocat te. Emenda ergo et corrige quod illum offendisti! et suscipiet te in eterna saluatione. Et uiues.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Gen.1.16 — And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars.
Notes
- 1 ↩regis (the King) is capitalized in context to refer to Christ the Bridegroom.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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