R272: Hildegard von Rupertsberg an Dekan T. von St. Aposteln in Köln
God's Work and Adam's Fall
Hildegard introduces God's work, the fall of Adam, and the renewal of truth through the prophets.
Hildegard. God has done his work! But he did not establish it in one way. For Adam perished. For he didn't complete the course of his cycle. But after midday he was sought again. But God sent his breath into the prophets so that they might announce the truth. And so wisdom was speaking through the mouths of those whom she herself had established.
The Apostles and the Saints
The apostles, martyrs, and spiritual ones complete God's work through the Holy Spirit, like the brightness of day.
So that they would bring forth wonders. The apostles also, through the Holy Spirit, completed the work of God in faith. And the martyrdom of these and of others shows God. The spiritual ones also the Holy Spirit inspired peoples. who put an end to the world in themselves. and worship the angelic order. So is the work of God! It is like the day.
One Voice, Many Voices
God's workers speak as one yet each cries out individually, just as the sun's light progresses through the hours of the day.
They all spoke as one! but each one cried out individually. At the breaking of day, dawn goes ahead of the sun, and in the morning the sun's ray shines forth. By the third hour it's starting to burn hot, at midday it's fully ablaze with its heat, and around the ninth hour it inclines its heat downward. Toward evening it brings to an end the heat it had during the day.
The Day Completes Its Course
The day completes its cycle and rests, showing that God's varied works are full and pleasing, for God is Sabaoth.
And before nightfall it hides itself. And so the day is completed. And it rests from its labors. If these things were completed in a single way,1 they would displease a person. And so God's name is also 'Sabaoth' (of hosts), because each such course has its full duty, In this way God works in all his works.
The Woman United All in Prayer
Hildegard applies the image to the woman in question, describing how high and low, humble and great, labored for her in prayer and mercy.
So too in this woman you're asking about, it has been accomplished! For her, the high and the higher, the humble and the lesser, with labors and prayers spoke as one, and each cried out individually. According to what the Holy Spirit taught them as their duty. For some, through sighs of mercy — and some labored for her through prayers and vigils. Some also endured fasts and bodily chastisement for their own sake. Many, too, gave alms for her. And the greatest crowd, with the help of every good each one could do, turned themselves toward her.
Praise and Blessing
All look toward God together on her behalf, and Hildegard closes with praise and blessing for all who showed mercy.
And some people accomplished this with great eagerness and without weariness. And so everyone looked toward God together on her behalf! Just as the day also completes its cycle. Now then, let us speak together with praise! Glory to you, Lord.✦ May the blessing of God be upon you in his grace. And upon everyone who has been moved to mercy on her behalf! For the Lord himself said: 'I want mercy and not sacrifice.'✦
Read the original Latin
Hildegardis. Deus opus suum fecit! sed illud uno modo non constituit. Adam enim perijt. nam cursum circuli sui non compleuit. sed post meridiem requisitus est. Deus autem spiramen suum in prophetas misit ut ueritatem nuntiarent. et sic sapientia in ore illorum quos ipsa constituit loquebatur.
quatenus miracula proferrent. Apostoli etiam per spiritum sanctum opus dei in fide perfecerunt. et martirium eorum et aliorum deum ostendit. Spiritales quoue populos spiritus sanctus inflauit. qui seculum in semetipsis finiunt. et angelicum ordinem colunt. Sic opus dei! simile diei est.
Omnes enim unum dixerunt! sed tamen singillatim clamauerunt. In ortu namque diei aurora solem precedit. et in mane radius solis resplendet. qui in tercia in calore suo ardere incipit. in media uero die in calore suo pleniter ardet. et circa nonam calorem suum inclinat. circa uesperam autem calorem suum quem in die habuit finit.
et ante noctem se abscondit. et sic dies completur. et ab operibus suis requiescit. Quę si uno modo complerentur! homini displicerent. Vnde etiam deo est nomen sabaoth. quia unusquisque huiusmodi cursus plenum officium habet. Tali modo deus in omnibus operibus suis operatur.
Sic etiam in hac muliere de qua queritis gestum est! pro qua alti et altiores parui et minores cum laboribus et orationibus unum dixerunt et singillatim clamauerunt. secundum quod spiritus sanctus eos hoc officium docuit. Nam quidam per suspiria misericordię. et quidam per orationes et uigilias pro ipsa laborauerunt. quidam etiam ieiunia et castigationem in corpore suo sustinebant. multi quoque pro ipsa elemosinas dederunt. et maxima turba cum adiutorio cuiusque boni quod facere potuit se ad ipsam declinauit.
et aliqui in magno studio sine tedio hoc perfecerunt. et ita omnes ad deum pro ipsa simul aspiciebant! queadmodum etiam dies circulum suum complet. Nunc autem cum laude simul dicamus! gloria tibi domine. Benedictio dei in gratia ipsius super uos sit. et super omnes qui super illam misericordia moti sunt! quoniam ipse dominus dixit misericordiam uolo et non sacrificium.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Luke.2.14 — Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.
- ↩Hos.6.6;Matt.9.13;Matt.12.7 — For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. Matt.9.13 — But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners. Matt.12.7 — But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent.
Notes
- 1 ↩The source reads 'Quę' (likely 'quae'), which is uncertain in tokenization; the translation assumes 'quae' (these things) as the antecedent to the preceding clauses about the sun's course.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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