R71: Abt H. von St. Maria an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Greeting and Self-Introduction
The abbot greets Hildegard, identifies himself, and expresses his unworthiness and devotion.
To Hildegard. The abbot of blessed Mary. Lord of his own Hildegard. Shining with the honor of holy religious life! H. Uselessly called abbot of blessed Mary. The duty of whatever prayers and supplications. And the holy affection of owed service.
Desire for Personal Visit and Past Encounter
The abbot expresses his wish to speak in person rather than write, recalls a previous brief contact, and notes the confidence granted through the letter-bearer.
I'd rather speak with you in person than write to you from a distance. If only the time were free for us, or the length of the journey didn't stand in the way of our will. If only the length of the journey didn't stand in the way of our plans. In fact, we did at some point get an address from your holiness, even though it was very brief. And so we would like to hear from you often, because then whatever we heard was pleasing. Because then whatever we heard was pleasing. But now, on this occasion of writing, we have conceived confidence toward you, which, in Christ, the beloved bearer [REDACTED] these present letters, has granted to both of us, just as he has done in most monasteries. which, in Christ, the beloved bearer [REDACTED] these present letters, has granted to both of us, just as he has done in most monasteries.
Prayer, Remembrance, and Request for Intercession
The abbot affirms his humble remembrance of Hildegard, asks for her intercessions, and urges her to seek revelation about his spiritual state.
So too, when your blessedness lingered at our side, even our humble prayers commended her to you. And through a messenger he himself insisted that we demand this from you. Therefore, the remembrance of you—though we are nothing—we make, and we will make. And we, together with all who are ours, deserve your intercessions. With heart and body brought low, we beg this of you. Through him himself, however—the one you live devotedly from, and from whom you received the Spirit's pledge. This singular and hidden gift we long for from you. In other words, strive by the intimacy of obtaining to receive from the Lord, so that among the other gifts of revelation, he may deign to make known to you the condition of our lowliness.
Anxiety About Office and Spiritual Safety
The abbot questions whether his prelacy leads to salvation or danger, asks for revelation, and requests consolation and increased humility.
Namely, whether in this office of honor and burden, He has foreseen whether I might merit the salvation of my soul through this prelacy and its danger. Or whether He has foreseen that being freed from this would be useful for me! And if you have received any revelation concerning this matter, through the same bearer [REDACTED] these present, with the letter containing it, let it not displease your charity to console our sadness. For we also thirst for your salvation, as we have said. And we pray that in the greatness of revelations the Lord may supply to you the necessary increase of humility!
Exhortation to Guard the Heavenly Light
The abbot urges Hildegard to keep her God-given light burning with the oil of Christ so she may be ready to meet him in glory.
Think about how far the lamp you've received, lit from heaven, will carry you among people. Guard this light among people with unfailing oil—Christ, whom you await—so that when he comes in glory you'll be ready. …so that you can go out to meet him.
Read the original Latin
Hildegardi. Abbas sanctę Marię. Domine suę hildegardi. sanctę religionis honore prefulgenti! h. sanctę Marię inutiliter dictus abbas. qualiumcumque orationum precum officium. et sanctum debitę seruitutis affectum.
Mallemus presentię uestrę loqui quam absentię scribere. si aut tempus nobis uacaret. aut uię longinquitas nostrę non obsisteret uoluntati. Siquidem uestrę sanctitatis alloquium licet breuissimum aliquando nacti sumus. et idcirco crebro uos audire uellemus. quia tunc placebat quicquid audiuimus. Hac uero occasione nunc scribendi uobis fiduciam concepimus. quod utrisque nobis in christo dilectus lator presentium sicut in plerisque cenobijs fecit.
sic etiam pauperculis nostris orationibus cum apud nos moraretur uestram beatitudinem commendauit! et se internuncio id nos flagitare asseruit. Memoriam igitur uestri quamuis nichil simus et facimus et faciemus. nosque cum nostris omnibus uestras intercessiones mereri. humiliato corde et corpore supplicamus. Per ipsum autem cui deuote uiuitis a quo et arram spiritus accepistis. hoc singulare ac secretum munus a uobis expetimus. quatenus familiaritate impetrandi obtinere studeatis a domino ut inter cetera reuelationum karismata nostre conditionem humilitatis uobis insinuare dignetur.
uidelicet utrum in hoc officio honoris et oneris. prelationis et periculi animę salutem mereri me prouiderit. uel ab hoc absolui utile mihi fore prospexerit! et si quid reuelationis super hac re acceperitis. per eundem presentium latorem scripto id continente. mesticiam nostram consolari uestram non pigeat caritatem. Nam et nos uestram salutem sitimus ut diximus. atque ut in reuelationum magnitudine necessarię humilitatis augmentum uobis dominus subministret exoptamus!
quatenus lampadem quam accensam accepistis celitus. tali ad homines custodiatis lumine ut indeficienti oleo christo quem expectatis cum uenerit in gloria. possitis occurrere.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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