R271: Dekan T. von St. Aposteln in Köln an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Salutation from Cologne
Dean Declanus and the brothers of the Church of the Holy Apostles in Cologne send greetings to Hildegard and the community on Mount St. Robert.
Declanus of the Holy Apostles. I. Master of the Schools. Hildegard. T., by the grace of God, dean of the Church of the Holy Apostles which is in Cologne. I. The Master of the Schools, with all the brothers of the same church! To the lady Hildegard.
Joy Over a New Spiritual Daughter
The dean expresses devoted prayer and joy upon learning that Lady Sigewizen has joined Hildegard's community, noting how all of Cologne has been stirred by this godly devotion.
For all who are soldiers of Christ on Mount St. Robert. Devoted prayer to the Lord! And a greeting in true salvation. From the day it became known to us that you have gathered into the fellowship of your blessed community our sister — or rather, our especially beloved daughter — Lady Sigewizen. Not only us. Rather, the whole city of Cologne has been kindled by the nod of God with love of piety. That is why it is now openly proclaimed by everyone across all the borders of our land.
The Fragrance of Blessed Women
Using the image of a fragrant field blessed by the Lord, the dean praises the works of mercy Hildegard's community performs on their humble hill.
See, the fragrance of the ladies from holy Robert! Like the fragrance of a full field! The one the Lord has blessed. Blessed, then, are you by the Lord. Whatever works of mercy you have celebrated on your small and humble hill.1 Whatever heights of mountains. And all the breadth of our valleys to celebrate. We do not say, they could not.
The Enemy Cast Out by Prayer
Having heard that the ancient enemy was cast out through Hildegard's prayers, the dean asks her to share the account in writing so that Cologne may rejoice and together praise the Lord.
But they neglected it. We have indeed heard just recently. — so report proclaims. — that the ancient enemy has been cast out through your prayers.✦ And if it is so, we ask that you indicate to us, by writing back, the manner and order of the expulsion, so that we may rejoice together with you. And with you, in perpetual devotion, let us together praise the Lord.
Personal Greeting and Farewell
The dean sends a special personal greeting to Lady Sigewizen, renews promised prayers in Christ, awaits her prayers, and closes with a farewell.
We also greet that same Lady Sigevvizen, as we know her more intimately. And so we greet her all the more specially. Renewing the devout prayers promised in Christ! And awaiting those same prayers from her. Farewell.
Read the original Latin
Declanus sanctorum apostolorum. I. magister scolarum. hildegardi. T dei gratia ęcclesię sanctorum apostolorum quę est in colonia dictus decanus. I. magister scolarum cum uniuersis eiusdem ęcclesię fratribus! dominę hildegardi.
omnibusque in monte sancti roberti christo militantibus. deuotam in domino orationem! et in uero salutari salutem. Ex die qua nobis innotuit. quod sororem immo filiam nostram specialem dominam sigevvizen in uestrę beatitudinis consortium collegistis! non solum nos. immo uniuersa coloniensium ciuitas nutu dei ad pietatis amorem succensa est. Inde est quod iam manifeste per omnes terminos terrę nostrę a cunctis proclamatur.
Ecce odor dominarum de sancto roberto! sicut odor agri pleni! cui benedixit dominus. Benedictę itaque sitis a domino. quę in modico et humili uestro monticulo ea opera pietatis celebrastis. quę cunctę sublimitates montium. uniuersęque uallium nostrarum latitudines celebrare. non dicimus non potuerunt.
sed neglexerunt. Audiuimus siquidem nuperime. fama prodente. quod ille hostis antiquus per orationes uestras eiectus sit. quod si ita est. obsecramus ut modum et ordinem eiectionis nobis rescribendo significetis. quatenus uobis congaudeamus. et perpetua uobiscum deuotione dominum collaudemus.
Ipsam quoque dominam sigevvizen sicut familiarius cognoscimus. ita specialius salutamus. deuotas in christo orationes promissas renouantes! et easdem ab ipsa expectantes. Valete.
Scripture echoes
- ↩1Pet.5.8 — Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Notes
- 1 ↩pietas here in context of good works and mercy; rendered 'mercy' rather than 'piety' given the works sense.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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