R281: Helenger von Disibodenberg an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Salutation and Blessing
Helenger greets Hildegard with a blessing, asking divine grace and the gifts of the Spirit to abound in her and to flow out to others through her.
Helengerus, abbot of Saint Disibod. to Hildegard. Helengerus, by God's grace a servant on the mountain of Saint Disibod and a steward of the Lord's flock, though unworthy, along with the whole congregation of his brothers, to the venerable mother, Lady Hildegard. concerning Saint Robert, a ray of divine splendor beyond human sense's capacity, which we know truly illuminates most fully. to abound in the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit. and to offer cups from the same spring to those who thirst, for the sake of divine reward. For as the beloved mother of almighty God, moved by the Holy Spirit's prompting,
Thanksgiving for Reconciliation
Helenger gives thanks to the Holy Spirit for Hildegard's visit and for the healing of long-standing hatreds into unity and true love.
And also, at the command of the one who wishes all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth,✦ We have recently learned that your holiness has come to us. To the same Paraclete, as best we can—though we are not equal to it—we unceasingly give thanks. Because, truly, we must confess that we have perceived the ardor and most full touch of that one's illumination among us and in us. While all the hatreds and the fuel of enmities, now inveterate over several years, we have all cast off with one unanimous consent. And we have fully come together in the unity of true love, as if in one body and one soul. For this reason, we earnestly seek the love of your holiness with persistent prayer.
Hidden Faults and Open Heart
Helenger urges Hildegard to recognize the divine grace in herself, to open her heart, and to disclose any hidden discord between them.
So that the divine grace of that splendor, bestowed on you through the very sight by which it was closed to your love and hidden from everyone else, might be revealed to you. Let the eyes of your heart be opened. For out of a genuine debt — because, when we are with your sisters, though in body but not in spirit — we truly hope and know that you have gone out. If we have truly come together in true love, which is the beginning of all good things — or if any root of dissension still lies hidden between us, please make it known. But let us also keep silent about other, greater matters, so that we may stay quiet about lesser offenses. Whatever you have recognized as contrary in the eyes of the divine majesty.
Request for the Life of Saint Disibod
Helenger asks Hildegard to send a written account of the virtues and life of their common patron, Saint Disibod, and of whatever God reveals to her.
Please make these things known to us in writing. With one accord we knock at the door of your love, urgently and persistently, for a record of the deeds done and of the virtues, and also of the life of our patron and yours, the most blessed Disibod, in whose house you have been raised from your very cradles. And we earnestly admonish the ears of your devotion. And with persistent prayers, poured out tirelessly, we seek it earnestly. So that the memory of your blessedness may also be kept alive through this, in the praises of that same father of ours. So that whatever God reveals to you about him. you may disclose to us.
Closing Prayer
Helenger closes with a prayer that God may inflame Hildegard with divine light and give spiritual refreshment to those who thirst.
May the Almighty Father of eternal mercy inflame the mind of your love with the light of his own radiance! And may he earnestly supply cups to those longing for refreshment.
Read the original Latin
Helengerus abbas sancti Dysibodi. hildegardi. Helengerus. dei gratia seruus in monte sancti Dysibodi et prouisor ouilis dominici licet indignus cum tota congregatione fratrum suorum uenerabili matri dominę hildegardi. de sancto Roberto radio diuini splendoris ultra humani sensus capacitatem quod uerissime scimus illustratę plenissimę. donis septiformis sancti spiritus habundare. ac sicientibus pocula de eodem fonte causa diuinę remunerationis ministrare. Quia mater dilecta omnipotentis dei sancti paracliti spiritus instinctu.
necnon et iussione qui uult omnes homines saluos fieri et ad agnitionem ueritatis uenire. nuper uestram sanctitatem ad nos uenisse cognouimus. eidem paraclito prout possumus licet non condigne ualeamus gratias incessanter referimus. quia ut ueraciter fateamur illustrationis eius ardorem et tactum plenissimę inter nos et in nobis persensimus. dum omnis odij et inimiciciarum fomenta per plures iam annos inueterata. omnes unanimi consensu abiecimus. et in uerę caritatis unitatem pleniter quasi in uno corpore et anima conuenimus. Eapropter sanctitatis uestrę dilectionem obnixis precibus pulsamus.
ut predicti splendoris diuina gratia uobis collati inspectu per quem uestrę caritati clausa et ceteris mortalibus absconsa. oculis cordis uestri reserantur. quoniam ex debito debitis quia cum sororibus uestris a nobis quamuis corpore sed non spiritu ut ueraciter speramus et scimus. egressa estis. si ueraciter in uera caritate quę est inicium omnium bonorum conuenerimus. uel si qua radix alicuius dissensionis inter nos adhuc lateat manifestetis. sed et de aliis quibusque maioribus ut de minoribus admissis taceamus. quem diuinę maiestatis oculis contraria cognoueritis.
nobis scriptis manifestare uelitis. Super hęc unanimi consensu ianuam uestrę caritatis oportune et importune pro descriptione gestarum ac uirtutum necnon et uitę patroni nostri necnon et uestri beatissimi Dysibodi in cuius domo ab ipsis cunabulis nutrita estis pulsamus. uestręque pietatis aures intime commonemus. atque obnixis precibus indefesse profusis expetimus. quatenus etiam memoria uestrę beatitudinis per hoc in laudibus eiusdem patris nostri habeatur. ut quicquid deus de ipso uobis reuelauerit. nobis aperiatis. Omnipotens pater eternę misericordię mentem uestrę caritatis lumine sui fulgoris inflammet!
et obnixe desiderantibus pocula ad refocilandum subministret.
Scripture echoes
- ↩1Tim.2.4 — who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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