R95: Abt A. von St. Martin in Köln an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Salutation
The abbot greets Hildegard with honor, blessing, and confidence in her God-given power.
The abbot of Saint Martin's in Cologne. To Hildegard. To the lady Hildegard, beloved of God! A. Whatever sort of minister of Saint Martin's in Cologne. After the course of this present life, to possess the paradise of eternal delight. Lady, lady — as is truly believed — beloved by God and blessed! All things that divine power works through you.
Confident Petition
The abbot expresses his certainty that Hildegard can obtain from God what she asks, and humbly asks her prayerful help in his misery.
It is truly right that new and holy things should be. Nor am I mistaken in the least that whatever you ask of God, you can obtain. As faithful people affirm, those who have proven this in truth. And so I too am certain. As much as I dare, I ask your holiness to implore God's mercy for me, a sinner. So that to me, who waver so much and toil in miseries. Whatever comfort of consolation you may deign to bestow. Since my spirit has been unexpectedly troubled within me.
Hidden Anguish
He confesses his long-standing inner suffering and secrecy, known only to God, and appeals to Hildegard through the Holy Spirit.
And my heart is troubled within me.✦ For these things — alas, my sins demanding it — I have suffered through many years, and now especially.1 And no one but God will be able to know it. In whose eyes all things are laid bare and open.✦2 And because what I feel directed toward me is found only in the knowledge of God alone.3 Nor would they certainly be believed by any mortal, if they were reported. Indeed, who would hear things untried and beyond what faith establishes!4 For this reason, through the grace of your Holy Spirit — my coworker and protector — I beseech you.
Entrusted to Writing
The abbot explains that his situation is committed to writing and sent through a trusted intermediary, expressing his longing to see Hildegard.
so that whatever comes to your knowledge through his revealing it may be reported to you. or whether he has deigned to show any hope concerning me. The whole matter has been handed over to writing, just as it stands. Let it be reported through this most reverend lord abbot. just as he himself promised. Venerable lady in Christ. If only I could have come into the presence of your holiness, which I have so longed for. and to be with you face to face.
Hope in God's Mercy
He reflects that these things were hidden until now, affirms that no one should despair of God's mercy, and states his reason for writing.
Without a doubt, these things have been hidden from the knowledge of all people until now. I would have thought that all of this needed to be explained to you point by point. So what then? I know — Scripture teaches this, and the Christian faith holds firmly to it! No one living in the flesh should ever despair of God's mercy. It is by this hope that I have been led forward. And I say this knowing full well that God is clearly present with you. It is for these reasons that I have presumed to bring the causes of my miseries before you in writing.
Final Prayer for Hildegard
The abbot asks to be comforted through Hildegard and prays that Christ may hold her perseveringly.
I'm not holding back. To be consoled through you in some way. And this I especially pray, if it's possible. Christ your Bridegroom! May he hold you perseveringly in his embraces.
Read the original Latin
Abbas sancti Martini in Colonia. hildegardi. Deo amabili dominę hildegardi! A. qualiscumque minister sancti martini in colonia. post cursum uitę presentis paradysum possidere eternę amenitatis. Domina domina ut uere creditur a deo dilecta et benedicta! omnia quę per uos uirtus operatur diuina.
uera profecto esse noui et sancta. Nec etiam fallor quin quęcumque a deo pecieritis impetrare possitis. uti fideles homines astruunt qui hoc in ueritate probauerunt. Vnde et ego certus. quantum audeo sanctitatem uestram rogo dei pro me peccatore clementiam implorare. quatenus mihi nimium fluctuanti et in miserijs laboranti. quodlibet solacium consolationis impendere dignetur. Siquidem anxiatus est in me inopinabiliter spiritus meus.
et in me turbatum est cor meum. pro his quę heu peccatis meis exigentibus multis annis et nunc maxime pacior. et nemo preter deum nosse poterit. cuius oculis omnia nuda sunt et aperta. Et quia tantum in solius dei cognitione sunt quę erga me sentio. nec certe cuilibet mortalium si referrentur essent credenda. quippe qui inexperta audiret ac extra fidem constituta! idcirco per gratiam cooperatoris et protectoris uestri spiritus sancti obsecro.
ut quicquid eo reuelante uobis innotuerit. uel spei de me ostendere dignatus fuerit. per omnia sicut se res habet scriptis tradita. per hunc reuerentissimum domnum abbatem renuncientur! uti idem ipse repromisit. Domina in christo uenerabilis. utinam ad presentiam sanctitatis uestrę quod optauiuum haberem uenire potuissem. et agere uobiscum facie ad faciem.
procul dubio quę hactenus a scientia omminum abscondi. per singula uobis explananda crederem. Quid ergo? Noui docente scriptura et fide christiana tenente! nemini in carne constituto de dei misericordia desperandum esse. Qua spe ductus. et presertim deum manifeste uobiscum esse sciens. his scriptis causas miseriarum mearum uobis suggerere presumpsi.
non incertum habens. per uos quodammodo consolari. quod et summopere precor si possibile est. Sponsus uester christus! in suis uos perseueranter teneat amplexibus.
Scripture echoes
Notes
- 1 ↩quę (abbreviated quae) taken as neuter plural referring to the preceding situation; peccatis meis exigentibus rendered as an ablative absolute ('my sins demanding it').
- 2 ↩Echoes Hebrews 4:13 — omnia nuda et aperta sunt oculis eius.
- 3 ↩quę (abbreviated quae) taken as neuter plural subject of sunt, referring to the things the writer senses erga me; solius dei cognitione rendered as 'the knowledge of God alone.'
- 4 ↩inexperta rendered as 'untried' (i.e., unexperienced, untested); extra fidem constituta as 'beyond what faith establishes.'
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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