R60: Hildegard von Rupertsberg an Eberhard von Eberbach
The Serene Light and Pastoral Care
Hildegard describes how a serene divine light oversees each congregation and how a wise pastor must distribute spiritual gifts and disciplines appropriately to different souls.
Hildegard's response. Who is, says. A serene light sees the dwelling and the appointed meal of each congregation. which has its duty in its own ministry. Distributing the food of refreshment in proper moderation. so that joy may not be lacking to the faithful who cling to her. A pastoral steward ought to give the sword in its sheath to the strongest minds. and to the gentlest manners show arrows in the quiver, and to the receptive one bestow the spices of medicines in love.
The Threat of Black Tyrants
Hildegard contrasts upright soldiers and gentle minds with savage tyrants who bring slaughter and exile from mercy.
But the black tyrants! They carry the scourges of slaughter. The upright soldier fights without growing weary of mockery. and a gentle mind seeks sufficiency in the common good at work. and those feasting are girded with upright customs in all the virtues. so that they hunger to accomplish justice. But the most savage are exiles from the noble mother, mercy! They are simple sheep who are in the halls of the king's house.
Lament for the Scattered Sheep
Hildegard cries out against those who slaughter the Lord's scattered sheep and exhorts the shepherd to remain cheerful, promising that the faithful will become a harmony of the Holy Spirit.
They slaughter. Alas, alas, who rage like this in slaughter! They are exiles from the house of the king unless they repent! Because the Lord's sheep are scattered. But you, O shepherd, keep a cheerful face toward the misery of the poor who are faint-hearted! Unable to take hold of the plow of discipline. Yet those who are good and have goodwill. May they be to you as a harmony of the Holy Spirit.
Warning Against Hypocrisy
Hildegard warns against spiritual sluggardness and double-faced speech, explaining that the hypocritical veil their faces in darkness and fail to grasp what they show outwardly.
Be careful, too, not to grow sluggish in the light you've been given.1 But let your mind stay awake and watchful. Don't let what you say be two-faced.2 Don't say one thing inwardly and another outwardly. Those who do this!3 They veil their own faces in darkness. But if afterward they tremble in fear, it's because they don't grasp in their hearts what they show in their faces.
Girded Loins and Hidden Treasure
Hildegard promises refreshment to the one who girds his loins with true desire, does not neglect heavenly treasure, and remains untouched by the shipwreck of the world, for God will raise him up.
They are snatched away from unfaithfulness, shaken as they are into repentance. But for you, O man, refreshment will come when you gird up your loins.✦ Where you hold true desire in your own hands. Since you do not neglect the treasure of true wealth.✦ The earth sleeps for you. Because the shipwreck of the world does not harm you. At the end of your time! God will raise you up.
Praise and Eternal Salvation
Hildegard declares that God has placed the addressee in great honor and calls him, as a good servant, to praise God, who will save him forever.
He himself has placed you in great honor. O good servant, you will praise him! And he himself will save you forever.
Read the original Latin
Responsum hildegardis. Qui est dicit. Serena lux uidet stabulum et statutum prandium cuiusque congregationis. quę officium in ministerio suo habet. cibum refectionis in recta moderatione distribuens. ne fidelibus sibi adherentibus leticia animę desit. pastoralis uillicus debet fortissimis mentibus gladium in uagina dare. et suauissimis moribus sagittas in pharetra ostendere et capaci beniuolentię aromata medicinarum tribuere.
Nigri autem tyranni! flagella occisionis portant. Probus miles sine tedio derisionis pugnat. et suauis sensus sufficientiam in communi bono labore captat. et epulantes mores in rectitudine precincti sunt in omnibus uirtutibus. ita ut famem habeant iusticiam perficere. Sed seuissimi et a nobile matre misericordia peregrini! simplices oues quę in atriis domus regis sunt.
iugulant. Heu heu qui sic in occisione insaniunt. a domo regis nisi peniteant peregrini sunt! quia oues domini dispergunt. Tu autem o pastor letam faciem in miseria pauperum qui pusillanimes sunt habe! non ualentes aratrum disciplinę apprehendere. Boni uero et beniuolentiam habentes. sint tibi in symphoniam spiritus sancti.
Caue etiam ne torpescas in lumine. sed intellectus tuus uigilet. et non sit duplex in sono! ita ne aliud dictes interius quam sonas exterius. Qui hoc faciunt! in tenebris faciem suam obnubilant. Sed si postea in tremore timent. quoniam in corde suo hoc non capiunt quod in facie sua ostendunt.
eripiuntur ab infidelitate concussi in penitudine. Tibi autem o homo refectio fiet in cinctura femorum tuorum. ubi uerum desiderium in manibus tuis habes. cum thesaurum uerę pecunię non negligis. Terra tibi dormit. quoniam naufragium mundi te non ledit. In fine temporis tui! deus suscitabit te.
Ipse in magno honore te constituit. O serue bone illum laudabis! et ipse in eternum saluabit te.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Luke.12.35 — Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning,
- ↩Matt.6.19-Matt.6.21 — Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Matt.6.20 — But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal. Matt.6.21 — For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Notes
- 1 ↩The metaphor of growing sluggish 'in the light' suggests spiritual negligence or loss of fervor despite illumination.
- 2 ↩duplex in sono: 'double in sound/utterance' — the sense is hypocrisy or duplicity between speech and inner conviction.
- 3 ↩The exclamatory fragment Qui hoc faciunt! carries an implicit rebuke or lament; the full force depends on context.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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