R48: Hildegard von Rupertsberg an Philipp I. von Heinsberg
A Star Summoned to Speak
Hildegard greets Philipp as a bright star illuminated by divine love and the highest Sun, questioning how such a light could hide itself.
Hildegard. In the mystical breath of true vision! These words I saw and I heard. The fiery love that God is speaks to you. The star that shines under the sun! What name can it have in its own sphere? Bright One, clearly, it is called! Because through the sun it is illuminated more than the other stars.
The Danger of Hidden Light
Hildegard warns that a star who hides its light loses its glorious name, likening such failure to an unarmored soldier who is inevitably defeated.
But how would it be fitting for that same star to hide its light like that? So that it would shine less on the other lesser stars. For if it were to do this, it would not have its glorious name. but it would be called by a blind name! because even though it might be called bright, its light would nevertheless not be seen. A soldier who has come to battle without armor He will most certainly be trampled by his own enemies. Because he had not surrounded his own body with a breastplate.✦ Nor had he placed a helmet on his own head.✦ Nor had he covered himself with a shield.✦ And so he will be captured in great disgrace.
Called to Shine with Justice
Hildegard directly exhorts the bishop not to hide the light of justice, since he shines in the name of the highest Priest.
But you, who are called a bright star through your episcopal office, and who shine forth from the name of the highest Priest,✦ do not hide your light — which is words of justice to your subjects!✦
The Temptation to Soft Governance
Hildegard exposes the inner thought of fearing one’s subjects and seeking their favor, rejecting both intimidation and flattery as unfit for his office.
Because you often say in your heart, If I were to intimidate those subject to me with words, they would find me troublesome, because I am not strong enough to overcome them. If only I could quietly hold on to their friendship! And so, speak and act as one! It's not good for you. But how? Don't terrify them with terrifying words because of your episcopal office and your family's standing, like a hawk swooping down on its prey. And don't strike them with dangerous words like a club!
Justice Mingled with Mercy
Hildegard instructs him to blend justice with mercy, teach the danger of injustice, and avoid corrupt companionship while governing his flock.
But mix the words of justice with mercy for them. And anoint them with the fear of God. showing them how dangerous injustice is for their souls and for their prosperity. Most certainly. Most certainly, most certainly. they will hear you in this way. you. But do not associate with them through filthy and unstable behavior.
Guard Against Defilement
Hildegard warns against people-pleasing and sordid company, using the image of clean animals contaminated by pig’s food to illustrate moral defilement.
And don't look into what pleases or displeases each person. Because if you do this, you'll appear less than others before God and men. For such things aren't fitting for your station. See also that clean animals which chew the cud would be made lean, if it were mixed into their fodder, the food of pigs, by which they themselves grow fat. So too, if you were to join yourself to squalid habits and the company of sinners, you'd be defiled, through which the wicked would rejoice.
Lament and Renewed Charge
Hildegard voices the sorrow of failing bishops, then renews the call to rebuke unfaithfulness and cling to the breastplate of faith.
Perfect men were troubled, saying: Ah, ah. Woe. Woe. What kind of bishop are we? He does not shine upon us through the straight paths of justice. But rebuke your people, and turn them away from hostile unfaithfulness. so that you are not left bare of the breastplate of faith.
Armor of God for the Church’s Defender
Hildegard clothes the bishop in the helmet of hope, shield of faith, and light of truth, calling him to stand firm as a soldier of God in a ruined world.
And show him the way of justice from the holy Scriptures. And place the helmet of hope on your head.✦ And place the shield of true defense on your neck.✦ So that in all assaults and dangers you may stand as a defender of the church, as much as you prevail.✦ Hold fast, then, to the light of truth. So that you may appear as an upright soldier in my service, since I am true love. And be vigorous and strong in a shipwrecked world and in the harsh wars of wickedness. So that you may shine as a bright star in eternal happiness.
Visionary Authority and Obedient Disclosure
Hildegard closes by urging the pastor not to despise her humble authorship, insisting that she writes only what she sees and hears in true vision, at his request.
So then, you who are a father bearing the name of pastor— do not look down on the poverty of the person writing these things here, since I have neither dictated nor brought these words forth from my own mind or from any other human being. But I wrote these things in this way, just as I myself saw and heard them in a true vision—awake in mind and body. This is because you ordered me to write certain things to you.
Read the original Latin
Hildegardis. In mistico spiramine uerę uisionis! hęc uerba uidi et audiui. Ignea caritas quę deus est tibi dicit. Stella quę sub sole lucet! quod nomen in parte sua habere potest? Lucida scilicet nominatur! quoniam per solem alijs stellis amplius irradiatur.
Sed quomodo deceret quod eadem stella lumen suum ita absconderet. quod alijs minoribus stellis minus luceret. Si enim hoc faceret. gloriosum nomen suum non haberet. sed ceco nomine nominaretur! quia quamuis lucida diceretur. lumen eius tamen non uideretur. Miles etiam qui ad prelium sine armatura uenerit.
ab inimicis suis certissime conculcabitur. quia corpus suum lorica non circumdederat. nec capiti suo galeam imposuerat. nec clipeo se texerat. unde et in magna confusione capietur. Tu autem qui lucida stella per episcopale officium appellaris. et qui de nomine summi sacerdotis radias. lumen tuum quod uerba iusticię sunt subditis tuis non abscondas!
quoniam in corde tuo sepe dicis. Si ego mihi subiectos uerbis terrerem molestum me haberent quia eos superare non ualeo. utinam amiciciam eorum tacens retinere possem. Itaque sic dicere et facere! tibi non expedit. Sed quid? Terribilibus uerbis propter episcopale nomen et corporis tui nobilitatem eos ut rapiens accipiter non terreas. nec periculosis uerbis uelut claua illos percutias!
sed uerba iusticię cum misericordia eis misce. et ipsos cum timore dei inungue. proponens eis quam periculosa animabus et felicitati eorum iniusticia sit. Certissime. certissime certissime. hoc modo audient. te. Per squalidos autem et instabiles mores te illis non admisceas.
nec quid cuique placeat seu displiceat inspicias. quoniam si hoc feceris. minor ceteris coram deo et hominibus apparebis. Nam talia personam tuam non decent. Uide etiam quod munda animalia quę ruminant macerarentur. si pabulo eorum cibus porcorum per quam ipsi pinguescunt admisceretur. Sic et tu si squalidis moribus et societati peccatorum te adiungeres polluereris. per quod nefarij gauderent.
perfecti uiri turbarentur dicentes. Ach ach. ue. ue. qualis episcopus noster est. per recta itinera iusticię nobis non lucet. Populum autem tuum ab inimica infidelitate corripe et auerte. ita ne lorica fidei nudus sis.
et de scripturis sanctis uiam iusticię illi ostende. et galeam spei capiti tuo. et scutum uerę defensionis collo tuo impone. quatenus in omnibus erumpnis et periculis defensor ęcclesię quantum preuales existas. Lumen quoque ueritatis sic tene. ut probus miles in milicia mea quę uera caritas sum appareas. et in naufrago mundo et in duris bellis iniquitatis strenuus et fortis sis. quatenus lucida stella in eterna felicitate fulgeas.
Nunc o tu pater qui in pastorali nomine es. paupertatem hominis hęc scribentis non dedigneris quoniam ista non secundum me nec secundum alium hominem dictaui nec protuli! sed ea hoc modo scripsi quemadmodum ipsa in uera uisione uigilans mente et corpore uidi et audiui! quia ut aliqua ad te scriberem iussisti.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Eph.6.14-Eph.6.17 — Stand firm, then, having fastened the belt of truth around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness. Eph.6.15 — and having shod your feet with the readiness of the gospel of peace Eph.6.16 — In all circumstances, take up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Eph.6.17 — And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
- ↩Eph.6.17 — And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
- ↩Eph.6.16 — In all circumstances, take up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
- ↩Heb.4.14 — Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.
- ↩Matt.5.15-Matt.5.16 — Neither do people light a lamp and put it under the basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Matt.5.16 — In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in the heavens.
- ↩Eph.6.17 — And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
- ↩Eph.6.16 — In all circumstances, take up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
- ↩Eph.6.14-Eph.6.17 — Stand firm, then, having fastened the belt of truth around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness. Eph.6.15 — and having shod your feet with the readiness of the gospel of peace Eph.6.16 — In all circumstances, take up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Eph.6.17 — And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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