R87: Abt G. von Salem an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Salutation and Humble Prayer
The abbot identifies himself and greets Hildegard with affection, then introduces his humble prayer and desire to approach her in love.
Abbot in Salem. To Hildegard. Most beloved in Christ, lady and mother of her, Hildegard. The useless one, G., servant of the brothers in Salem. If a sinner's prayer can do anything — everyone who loves Christ.
The Spirit at Work Through Hildegard
He confesses Christ’s Spirit at work in believers and praises Hildegard as a unique vessel through whom God’s mysteries are revealed.
He too has the Spirit of Christ! And no one can say 'Lord Jesus' except in the Holy Spirit.✦ But you, sweetest mother! By a special gift of the Holy Spirit beyond the other members of Christ. You were sent to visit the end of this world. For the Holy Spirit, truly recognized most openly speaking through you and in you, just as through his own instrument. It is revealed. In short, I have seen and read the greatest sacraments, the mysteries of God!
Confession of Faith and Trust
He affirms his belief that God has unlocked true knowledge through Hildegard and asks humbly to receive her judgment.
The things written about you in the book written by you. The Lord of knowledge, opening it to unworthy people, has unlocked it. I believe, therefore, and I know most certainly. The Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, God, and the Son, against the spirit of falsehood, who from the father of the devil is about to come soon. To shine brightly through you as you speak! And to flash like lightning as it gleams! With you, therefore, just as with the bride and servant of Christ, and one who knows the secrets of God. For the anxiety of my heart, humbly and simply, I seek the will of your judgment.
Reluctant Burden of Leadership
He explains his unwilling election as abbot and his long, reluctant pastoral responsibility, asking Hildegard to disclose God’s will for him.
Yet if this feeling and this desire are not against his will— By the common counsel of the brothers from Salem— after the abbot of that house died, I was elected as father— since I had already administered that same pastoral care for a long time, though uselessly, at Reithehaslin. God, who is the knower of hidden things— he himself knows. For I have always and entirely undertaken both that responsibility and this one against my will, and I still do. So I ask you, in simplicity, to plainly tell me—one who comes in simplicity—what the will of the Holy Spirit is in this matter.
Request for Guidance and Farewell
He plainly asks whether he should lay aside his burden, requests a written reply, and closes with a reverent farewell.
That is to say, whether it is more cautious and healthier to set this burden aside. Deign to tell me. But if not— then may I deserve to know this through you. Whatever you wish, nevertheless. Let them carry a sealed letter from you to me and report back through the bearers of this present message. Farewell, my lady, in the Lord.
Read the original Latin
Abbas in salem. hildegardi. Dilectissimę in christo dominę et matri suę hildegardi. inutilis. G. minister fratrum in salem! si quid potest peccatoris oracio. Omnis qui amat christum.
hic etiam spiritum christi habet! et nemo potest dicere dominus iesus nisi in spiritu sancto. Tu uero mater dulcissima! speciali a ceteris christi membris dono sancti spiritus. finem huius mundi uisitare missa es. Sanctus enim ueraciter spiritus per te atque in te sicut in organo suo loquens apertissime agnitus. reuelatur. Denique uidi et legi maxima sacramenta misteriorum dei!
quę per te in libro a te scripto. dominus scientiarum indignis hominibus aperiens reserauit. Credo itaque et certissime scio. spiritum ueritatis qui a patre deo filioque procedit contra mendacij spiritum qui a patre diabolo in proximo uenturus est. per te loquendo coruscare! et choruscando fulgurare. Tecum igitur sicut cum sponsa et famula christi et conscia secretorum dei. pro anxietate cordis mei humiliter ac simpliciter uoluntatem opinionis requiro!
si tamen hic affectus et hoc desiderium non est contra ipsius uoluntatem. Communi fratrum de salem consilio. abbate ipsius domus defuncto in patrem electus sum. cum et ante per multa tempora eandem curam pastoralem licet inutiliter in reitheinhaselin administrassem. Deus qui occultorum cognitor est. ipse nouit. quoniam et istam et illam amministrationem semper omnino inuitus habui et habeo. Quapropter queso sancti spiritus uoluntatem simpliciter querenti mihi simpliciter ipsa de hac re insinues.
scilicet ut si cautius et salubrius est hoc onus abicere. digneris mihi dicere. sin autem. et hoc per te scire merear. Quicquid tamen uolueris. sigillatę litterę mihi a te per latores presentium transmissę referant. Vale mi domina in domino.
Scripture echoes
- ↩1Cor.12.3 — Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is accursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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