R68: Hildegard von Rupertsberg an Abt A. von St. Emmeram in Regensburg
A Call to Watchfulness
Hildegard urges the abbot to guard his flock from spiritual ambushers and the clouds of vice stirred by the devil.
Hildegard. Whoever this is, she says. O human being, you must look around yourself on every side! so that you drive away the ambushers of your sheep. See also that you examine the scars of their wounds! because many clouds surround the spiritual people. And these clouds are full of vices. When the devil has seen these.
The Snares of the Deceived
Those who yield to the devil’s persuasion are harassed by vices, dwell in sorrow, and even contradict God’s glory.
In haste, with mockery, God sends that person rushing toward his own persuasion. And he stirs him up on every side, with flying darts, harassing him in all kinds of ways. These worthless people are troubles and incredulities in vices that bring punishment, not feasting. Because where these things are, there sorrow is. And rare is the victory. And when dry veins in the same people seek out their own sins in the restlessness of their own mind. Always looking toward unhappiness, as though they could never be saved. Even contradicting the glory of God.
Clouded Knowledge and Self-Made Martyrs
Although God is not absent, a cloud of deception blinds these people so that they recognize evil yet still resist, making martyrs of themselves.
And yet not in such a way that God does not exist. But a certain cloud takes hold of their knowledge of these things. This cloud suggests things to them with deceptive words. But they themselves, even as they resist, know that these things are not so. But they perceive those things only in their own knowledge, in such a way. Just as a person's hearing takes in the most shameful words. Yet it recognizes these things to be evil. These people almost always make martyrs of themselves.
The Watchman’s Mercy and Discipline
Hildegard exhorts the abbot, as a watchman over his flock, to discern the cloud among his sheep, comfort the suffering, discipline the guilty, and heed the sword of conscience amid life’s storms.
where a person does not carry their vices into their actions. Now, you who stand watch over your flock— look with the eye of your knowledge to see where that cloud may be in your sheepfold! and with mercy and consolation anoint those who toil under those punishments. But correct the feasting of crimes with the rod of discipline! lest they go into the pit.✦ For in your conscience the light of the sword shines!✦ but nevertheless in your conduct there are storms.
Look to the True Light
Hildegard concludes by turning the abbot from storms and clouds to the true light, promising life to those who look toward it.
But you—look toward the true light. And you will live.
Read the original Latin
Hildegardis. Qui est dicit. O homo ubique circumspicere debes! ut abigas insidiatores ouium tuarum. Uide etiam ut inspicias cicatrices uulnerum illorum! quia multe nebulę circueunt in spiritali populo. Et hę nebulę uicijs plenę sunt. Quas cum diabolus uiderit.
ad illum festinanter persuasionem suam cum irrisione mittit! et eum diuersis modis cum uolantibus iaculis ubique mouet. Nebulę istę sunt molestię et incredulitates in uicijs quę penas habent et non epulas! quia ubi hęc sunt ibi tristicia est. et rara uictoria. et aridę uenę in eisdem hominibus cum requirunt peccata sua in inquietudine mentis suę. semper aspicientes ad infelicitatem uelut saluari non possint. contradicentes etiam glorię dei.
non tamen sic quasi deus non sit. sed quędam nebula scientiam ipsorum comprehendit. hęc illis suggerens cum fallacibus uerbis. Sed ipsi tamen repugnantes sciunt ea sic non esse. sed tantum illa in scientia sua ita percipiunt. sicut auditus hominis turpissima uerba capit. quę tamen mala esse cognoscit. Penę iste sepe martires faciunt.
ubi homo uicia eorum non perficit in operibus. Nunc o tu homo qui in ouibus tuis ad speculationem positus es. inspice in oculo scientię tuę ubi istę nebulę in ouili tuo sint! et cum misericordia et consolatione ungue homines in his penis laborantes. Sed epulantia crimina corrige in uirga disciplinę! ne in lacum uadant. Nam in conscientia tua fulget lumen gladij! sed tamen in moribus tuis turbines sunt.
Tu autem ad uerum lumen aspice. et uiues.
Scripture echoes
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
Read one voice like Hildegard's every morning
Chosen Portion delivers daily excerpts from Hildegard and 77 other historic devotional writers, free on iOS.
Hildegard directed souls through short written portions sent one at a time, and Chosen Portion continues that letter-a-day rhythm as daily devotionals.
- Daily 2-minute readings including Hildegard's letters and visions
- 78 complete historic works, translated into modern readable English
- A weekly email tracing one writer's story in depth