R81: Abt H. von Maulbronn an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Greeting to a Spiritual Mother
The abbot identifies himself and Hildegard, offers a blessing, and gives thanks for her good reputation.
Heb, abbot of Maulbronn. To Hildegard. To Hildegard, spiritual mother and venerable sister. H. Abbot by name of Maulbronn. If only, by merit, [grant us] perpetual salvation from the Lord. We've heard good things about you, O servant of Christ. And we've given thanks to the Giver of all good things.
A Humble Request for Prayer
The abbot humbly asks Hildegard for the support of her prayers, citing the heavy burden of caring for souls.
And so, such as I am, I'm sending my writings to you, not without hope of being heard. And I ask for some special support from your prayers. For I've been entrusted with a difficult and anxious charge — namely, the care of souls. I ask. I seek. I knock. Through you, may I be helped by the Lord — in possibility and in happy effect. But may it not be burdensome or unworthy for you to send your letter-writings back to me!1
Desire for Comfort and Farewell
He asks that her letter may instruct, strengthen, and comfort both body and soul, then bids farewell.
by which it may be instructed, may it be strengthened, may my body and my soul be comforted. Farewell.
Read the original Latin
Heb Abbas de Mulenbrunnun. hildegardi. Hildigardi spiritali matri et sorori uenerandę. h. abbas nomine de mulenbrunnen. utinam merito perpetuam salutem a domino. Audiuimus de te bona o christi famula. audiuimus et bonorum omnium largitori grates exsoluimus.
Ego igitur qualiscumque non sine spe exauditionis ad te scripta dirigo. et orationum tuarum aliquod singulare suffragium deposco. Commissum enim habens arduum et anxium regimen uidelicet animarum. peto. quero. pulso. per te a domino adiuuari possibilitate et effectu felici. Non autem tibi sit onerosum et indignum epistolę tuę scripta mihi remittere!
quibus instruatur. confortetur. consoletur corpus meum et anima. Valete.
Notes
- 1 ↩The phrase 'et indignum' could carry a double sense: 'unworthy of you' (beneath your dignity) or 'unworthy' in the sense of 'inappropriate.' The translation preserves the ambiguity by using 'unworthy for you,' which can be read both ways.
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