R41: Bf. I. von Jerusalem an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Salutation from Jerusalem
The bishop of Jerusalem greets Hildegard as a beloved daughter, reporting how pilgrims have testified to God's power at work in her.
The bishop of Jerusalem to Hildegard. I. Servant of God by grace and by the ordination of the people of Jerusalem, and useless bishop — to Hildegard, beloved daughter and teacher from the mountain of Saint Robert in Pingen. That is, in the bishopric of Mainz! The humblest prayer and greeting in Christ. From many people who have come to our regions across the vast distances of lands. We have learned, as they bent their knees time and again toward the Lord's tomb, that divine power is at work in you and through you. And so we ourselves offer unfailing thanks, as best we can, with humility.
Delayed Wishes and Present Need
The bishop explains his long-delayed desire to write and asks for encouraging words amid severe trials.
And so, most beloved daughter, we have long been meaning to speak to you. But because a messenger has been unavailable until now, our desire has gone forward entirely in vain. Now indeed, since after long periods of time the opportunity has presented itself, we are writing to address you and all your sisters, who are, as I hear, subject to you in Christ. We have thought it fitting to speak to you. Hence, if any encouraging words should reach us amid the severe straits by which we are constantly oppressed, they would be a welcome presence to us.1
Snares of Spirits and Sword of Pagans
Beset by wicked spirits and pagan attacks, the bishop urges Hildegard, as Christ's bride, to remain intent on Christ's mysteries rather than human praise.
because on one side we're beset by the snares of wicked spirits, and on the other we're attacked by the sword of pagans! you, as the bride of Christ—2 always to be intent on the mysteries of Christ. we would consider it worthy to extol But there's no need to be raised up by human praises—she whom divine grace has granted to be mingled with angelic praises!3 And we'll call those women happy who from day to day deserve to be present at and filled by your sweetest addresses. Happy indeed—we would not say it unfittingly.4
The Mirror of Divine Splendor
Those who lean on God's splendor despise earthly things and run their race for heavenly reward.
You who lean upon the mirror of divine splendor! They strive to receive from the Lord, each day, the prize of their own race, the reward of their own merits. Exceedingly fortunate, I say. Fortunate are those who, for the sake of heavenly reward, have despised all earthly things! And they are the ones by whom it is despised. It is trampled down. It is held in contempt. Whatever in this life is sweet to other mortals.
Daughters of Jerusalem
The bishop praises the pure daughters of Jerusalem who follow the Lamb, then humbly asks for their consolation and prayers amid worldly storms.
How delightful! And it seems preferable. See, truly, daughters of Jerusalem, in whom no stain is found — whom the world has nothing it loves! They even follow the Lamb without doubt, wherever he goes. But now, O daughter — turning back to you. Your consolation, shown to you from heaven, we humbly seek. And we commend ourselves to your prayers and to those of all your sisters. So that we may be steadfast amid the storms of worldly cares that surge around us.
Prayer for the Bridal Chamber
The bishop asks Hildegard to intercede so that he may enter Christ's bridal chamber and behold the good things of Jerusalem all his life.
Intercede for us piously before him. whose bridal chamber you long to enter at the close of this life. May the Lord grant it, O beloved. so that you may see the good things of Jerusalem all the days of your life.✦
Read the original Latin
Episcopus ierosolimitanorum hildigardi. I. dei gratia et ordinatione ierosolimitanorum seruus et inutilis episcopus hildegardi dilectę filię et magistrę de monte sancti Roberti in pingis. scilicet in moguntino episcopatu! humillimam orationem et salutem in christo. A multis per longa terrarum spacia partes nostras adeuntibus. et genua sua ad sepulchrum domini flectentibus multociens percepimus quod diuina uirtus in te et per te operetur. unde ipsi gratias indefessas prout possumus humiliter offerimus.
Ad te igitur filiam dilectissimam sermo nobis iam diu fuit! sed quia internuncius hactenus abfuit. desiderium nostrum frustra penitus processit. Nunc uero quoniam quidem post longa temporum curricula oportunitas se obtulit! per presentia scripta te cunctasque sorores tuas tibi ut audio in christo subiectas. alloqui congruum duximus. Inde est quod si qua dulcia uerba. pre nimijs angustijs quibus assidue premimur nobis adessent.
quoniam ex altero latere insidijs malignorum spirituum. ex altero gladio paganorum impugnamur! te ut christi sponsam. ut christi archanis semper intentam. extollere dignum existimaremus. Sed non opus est laudibus humanis attolli quam diuina gratia laudibus concessit angelicis admisceri! et illas felices dicemus quę de die in diem dulcissimis alloquijs tuis interesse ac saciari merentur. Felices etenim illas haut incongrue dixerimus.
quę speculo diuinę candidationis innixe! brauium cursus sui meritorum suorum a domino cottidie percipere affectant. Felices inquam nimium. felices quibus ob remunerationem celestium terrena cuncta uiluerunt! et a quibus despicitur. calcatur. uilipenditur. quicquid in hac uita ceteris mortalibus dulce.
delectabile. atque prestabile uidetur. Ecce uere filię ierusalem in quibus non est inuenta macula in quibus mundus nichil quod diligat habet! quę etiam procul dubio secuntur agnum quocumque ierit. Nunc autem o filia ad te reuertentes. consolationem tuam celitus tibi ostensam humiliter requirimus. ac nos orationibus tuis cunctarumque sororum tuarum commendamus! quatenus nobis in procellis mundanarum curarum fluctuantibus.
pie apud illum interueniatis. cuius thalamum post huius uitę terminum intrare desideratis. Faciat dominus o dilecta. ut uideas bona ierusalem omnibus diebus uitę tuę.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Ps.26.6;Ps.28.4 — I wash my hands in innocence, and I go around your altar, O LORD. Ps.28.4 — Give them according to their deeds and according to the evil of their hands; give to them according to the work of their hands — return their due to them.
Notes
- 1 ↩The Latin is elliptical: the protasis (s7) and apodosis (s8) are split across two sentences. The conditional force of 'si qua dulcia verba … nobis adessent' is rendered as a single conditional period for readability.
- 2 ↩ut here functions as a complementizer of characterization ('as'), not a purpose clause.
- 3 ↩The relative clause quam … admisceri is predicated on an implied subject (te/sponsam) carried from the preceding sentence fragment.
- 4 ↩etenim is a postpositive confirmatory connective ('for indeed / truly'); haut incongrue = 'not inappropriately.'
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