R257: Prior C. von Cîteaux an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Greeting and Loving Salutation
The prior of Cîteaux addresses Hildegard with honor, love, and humility, identifying his congregation as followers of the Lamb.
The prior of the Cîteaux brothers. To Hildegard. To Hildegard, to be honored and sincerely embraced in the arms of love, lady and mistress of the sisters of Saint Robert — paint! 100. The prior, though unworthy, and the whole poor and humble congregation of the Cîteaux brothers, among the choirs of virgins, to follow the Lamb wherever he has gone.✦ Separated by the distance of places, because we are not able to enjoy your desirable presence in person. We rejoice to greet you and to speak to you through the duty of letters. Indeed, we venerate her in Christ as a superior.
Service, Prayer, and Letter of Salvation
The prior offers Hildegard their service and prayers, writes as a letter of salvation, and asks her to remember them and examine God's hidden works.
And we hope to have, through Christ the one who mediates, the most dear Mother. For having heard the report of your good way of life and faithful stewardship in God, we offer our service for your stability and the devotion of your prayer, and to God for your salvation.1 Therefore, O Lady, we write this letter of salvation to you, so that you might both remember us and urge your subjects to do the same.2 For we have heard many things about you, and for this we greatly rejoice. so that you may be able to examine the secret things of God. and to make known no small things from his hidden works. Therefore we ask for your mercy. so that what is in us and in our order—namely, the monastic life—[may be] to you…3
Request and Farewell
The prior concludes with a warning that neglect displeases God, asks Hildegard to share what God reveals, and sends farewell.
Indeed, it's displeasing in God's eyes! according to what God will make known to you. Don't hesitate to describe it to us. Farewell.
Read the original Latin
Prior cistellensium fratrum. hildegardi. Hildigardi honorandę et sincere caritatis ulnis amplectendę domine et magistrę sororum de sancto Roberto in pinge! C. prior licet indignus totaque pauper et humilis congregatio cistellensium fratrum inter choros uirginum sequi agnum quocumque ierit. Locorum intersticio seiuncti quia desiderabili presentia uestra frui corporaliter non possumus. litterarum officio salutare uos et alloqui gaudemus. quippe quam in christo ueneramur ut superiorem.
et apud christum mediatricem habere speramus ut carissimam matrem. Audita namque fama uestrę bonę conuersationis et in dei fidelis administrationis pro uestra stabilitate et orationis obsequium et ad deum pro uestra salute exhibemus ministerium. Hanc igitur o domina salutatoriam uobis scribimus epistolam ut et nostri memoriam faciatis et subditis uobis eadem facere suadeatis. Nam multa audiuimus de uobis unde ualde gaudemus. ut possitis archana dei scrutare. et de occultis suis non modica manifestare. Proinde clementiam uestram petimus. ut quod in nobis et in ordine nostro scilicet monastico uobis.
immo diuinis oculis displicet! secundum quod deus uobis ostenderit. nobis describere non ambigatis. Valete.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Rev.14.4 — These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from among mankind as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.
Notes
- 1 ↩The Latin syntax is compressed and ambiguous: 'et in dei fidelis administrationis' is a difficult phrase, likely meaning 'faithful stewardship in God' or 'faithful administration of God's [work]'; 'orationis obsequium' rendered as 'the devotion of your prayer' captures the sense of reverent submission carried by obsequium in a prayer context.
- 2 ↩salutatoriam rendered 'of salvation' (i.e., salutary / bringing health); could also mean 'of greeting/welcome' depending on whether the letter itself is viewed as spiritually beneficial.
- 3 ↩The final clause is truncated in the manuscript input; the sentence appears incomplete. The sense seems to be an offering or commendation of their monastic life to her, but the verb or completion is missing. Translation reflects the incomplete state.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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