R275: Werner von Kirchheim an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Salutation and Unworthy Servants
Werner and his community greet Hildegard, confessing their unworthiness while invoking God's strength.
Werner of the church of Kirchheim, with the other brothers of his own community, to Hildegard, a virgin in mind and body, and dedicated to God from the cradle, Werner of Kirchheim, with the other brothers of his own community, serving God in their parishes, though they are unworthy of such service! By the example of [unclear], to trample down hostile troops with God as leader.
The Fragrance of Virtue and Prophetic Grace
Werner praises Hildegard's widespread reputation and prophetic gift, then humbly entrusts himself to her holiness.
Because the fragrance of your virtues has spread across no small stretches of the world. For this reason, you are able not only to do good works but also to prophesy things to come. To contemplate heavenly things. Since the grace of the Holy Spirit has illuminated your pure heart, we have thought it fitting, though we are unworthy, to entrust ourselves to your holiness on the grounds of our brotherhood. And certainly, because we are the lowest members of Christ, we believe that we will be with you nevertheless. We say confidently that whatever we ask of you in his name— since you are able to grant it, you will not refuse those who ask. We ask, therefore, for your kindness, mother and bride of the Lamb.
Prayer Request and Priestly Admonition
Werner asks Hildegard to remember them in prayer and to send her Spirit-taught words warning negligent priests.
In your prayers, then, please remember us more attentively. We're confident about our people, that they can do something before God. And because of this, while we pray we'll always keep you in mind. We have one more request to make of you — namely, that you not neglect to write to us and send us the words which, taught by the Holy Spirit, you have disclosed to us and to many others here in Kirchheim concerning the negligence that priests show in the divine sacrifice. Don't neglect to write to us and send them, so that they may not slip from our memory. But we ask this so that we may keep them more carefully before our eyes. Since we linger over earthly and worldly matters more than we should. Too often we let fleeting words slip carelessly into the wind.
A Mother's Love
The letter closes with a brief blessing that a mother's love may abide in Hildegard.
May a mother's love abide in you.
Read the original Latin
Vvernerus ecclesie kircheim. cum ceteris societatis suę fratribus. hildegardi. Hildigardi mente et corpore uirgini immaculatę et a cunabulis deo dicatę. Vvernerus. de kircheim. cum ceteris societatis suę fratribus in parrochijs suis deo quamuis indignum famulatum exhibentibus! exemplo depporę hostiles turmas deo duce proterere.
Quia uirtutum uestrarum fraglantia non modica terrarum spacia dispersit. eo quod non solum operari bona uerum etiam prophetare uentura. contemplari celestia. spiritus sancti gratia cor uestrum mundum illustrauerit dignum duximus licet indigni uestrę nos sanctitati obtentu fraternitatis committere. Et certe quia nos ultima christi tamen membra uobiscum fore credimus. fidenter dicimus quod quicquid in eius nomine uos poscimus. cum prestare potestis non negetis postulantibus. Rogamus igitur benignitatem uestram mater et sponsa agni.
quatenus in uestris orationibus nostri memineritis propensius. certa de nostris si quid possunt apud deum. quod inter orandum semper uestri memoriam faciemus. Adhuc unam peticionem uos petere presumimus scilicet ut uerba quę spiritu sancto uos docente nobis et alijs quamplurimis in kircheim presentibus de negligentia sacerdotum quam in diuino sacrificio habent aperuistis. materna pietate nobis scribere et transmittere non negligatis ne a memoria nostra elabantur. sed ut ea attentius pre oculis nostris habeamus. quoniam cum terrenis et secularibus causis plus quam oportet inhiniamus. uerba transitoria in uentum multociens negligenter emittimus.
Valeat materna dilectio in uobis.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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