R273: Mefried von Eberbach an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Salutation and Joy in Hildegard's Gifts
Meffrid and the brothers of Eberbach greet Hildegard with joyful praise for the remarkable gifts God has given her.
Meffridus, prior in Eberbach. To Hildegard. God's chosen one, God's beloved, Hildegard, venerable lady! Meffridus. The prior and the whole congregation of brothers in Eberbach, to enjoy the eternal delights in the chamber of the highest King. Most worthy of God, fragrant with your holiness, and most sweet in reputation, often heard. We, inept and unworthy. We have rejoiced with the ineffable joy of the Spirit.
God's Love and the Gift of Holy Piety
The letter extols how God's grace has made Hildegard worthy of love and filled with virtues, piety, and compassion.
Almighty God, by his grace and mercy, has given you such wonderful gifts out of his great generosity. It's clearer than daylight that the Lord loves you among those who love him. Because you are so worthy, so pleasing. You are so lovable, so worthy of reverence to all those in whom he dwells. So that he may be present in you. Let no one doubt that he remains with you. To whom have such great benefits of virtues ever been granted? We don't doubt that the gifts of holy piety are present in you, and that the tender mercies of love and compassion are not lacking.
Humble Prayer for Mercy and Intercession
Invoking Christ's birth through Mary, the brothers humbly beg Hildegard's mercy, prayers, and inspired writings.
So we humbly beseech your generous devotion that, since the Lord was born of the flesh of blessed Mary, always a virgin, to redeem and save sinners, through the love of our Lord himself, the Almighty, our Creator and most devout Redeemer. Have mercy on us. And deign to make us sharers in your prayers. Furthermore, we also earnestly ask that you not hesitate to send us letters about those from the world and the unlearned who have turned to a spiritual way of life — those we call converts — we have heard that you wrote through the Holy Spirit. Kindly send them to us; do not hesitate.
Desire to Imitate God's Works and Farewell
The brothers express their longing to witness God's wonders in converts and to follow those works wholeheartedly, closing with a farewell.
…so that we may see the wonderful works of God and his will in them. And as much as we can, let us follow those works with our whole heart and carry them out. Farewell.
Read the original Latin
Meffridus prior in eberbach. hildegardi. Dei electę dei dilectę hildegardi dominę uenerabili! Meffridus. prior totaque congregatio fratrum in Eberbach in thalamo summi regis perfrui delicijs sempiternis. Deo dignissima sanctitatis uestrę odorifera et suauissima opinione sepe audita. nos inertes et indigni. ineffabili spiritus leticia sumus gauisi.
pro eo quod deus omnipotentis gratia et misericordia uobis tanta suę largitatis contulit dona mirifica. Patet enim luce clarius quod uos diligat dominus in hominibus ipsum diligentibus! quoniam tam digna tam grata. tam amabilis tam uenerabilis estis eis omnibus in quibus habitat. ut eum in uobis esse. uobiscum manere nullus ambigat. Cui uero uirtutum tanta collata sunt beneficia. sanctę quoque pietatis uobis inesse non dubitamus munera et pię caritatis pię compassionis non deesse uiscera.
Vnde pietatis uestrę largitatem suppliciter exoramus ut quia pro peccatoribus redimendis ac saluandis natus est dominus ex carne beatę Marię semper uirginis. amore ipsius domini nostri omnipotentis nostri conditoris ac pijssimi redemptoris. nostri miseramini. participesque orationum uestrarum facere nos dignemini. Insuper etiam obnixe rogamus. ut litteras quas de secularibus et idiotis ad spiritalem conuersationem conuersis quos nos conuersos dicimus. spiritu sancto uos scripsisse audiuimus. nobis benigne transmittere non dubitetis.
quatenus mirifica opera dei et uoluntatem eius in ipsis uideamus. et quantum poterimus toto affectu bonorum operum illa sequamur et compleamus. Valete.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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