R99: Nikolaus von Heilsbronn an Hildegard von Rupertsberg

Greeting and Goodwill

Nicholas, abbot of Heilsbronn, greets Hildegard warmly and expresses confidence that she will receive his letter with her usual goodwill.

Nicholas, abbot in Heilsbronn. To Hildegard. To the venerable and greatly beloved in Christ mother, Lady Hildegard. From Saint Robert! Brother Nicholas, called abbot in Heilsbronn. Whatever could be wished for more happily! Or hoped for better. I am certain about you, that you will always have found it pleasant to provide more useful things to all.

Desire Hindered by Weakness

Nicholas confesses his long absence from Hildegard, acknowledging his heartfelt desire to visit while admitting his inability to act on it.

I beg you more earnestly that you also look after me with your usual goodwill. But why have I not visited your holiness for so long? I don't believe this is hidden from you. Since I have desired this from the very depths of my heart. But the fact is, I cannot do it in practice. In my mind I carry it out. Is it really so? There is no need for any witness besides you.

Petition for Consolation and Prayer

Nicholas humbly asks Hildegard for divine consolation through her letters and prayers, trusting in God's power and her intercession.

Now then, I ask you as a humble suppliant. I seek this: I'm knocking so that through you divine consolation may be given to me!^✦¹ Namely, so that I may be forewarned by your letters.² And by your holy prayers may I be snatched away from evil. For nothing is impossible with God!^✦ And we know this will not be denied to you. Farewell.

Read the original Latin

Nicolaus abbas in halelbrunnun. hildegardi. Venerabili et in christo multum dilectę matri dominę hildegardi. de sancto Roberto! frater nicolaus dictus abbas in halesbrunnun. quicquid optari potest felicius! uel sperari melius. Certus de uobis quod uniuersis utiliora prouidere iocundum semper habueritis!

precor attentius ut et mihi solito affectu consulatis. Cur autem tamdiu sanctitatem uestram non uisitauerim. credo uos non latere! cum medullitus id desiderauerim. Uerum quod nequeo opere! mente perago. Vtrum ne hoc ita sit! non opus est preter uos alio teste.

Nunc uero supplex peto. quero. pulso ut mihi per uos detur diuina consolatio! scilicet ut litteris uestris premoniar. et sanctis orationibus a malo eripiar. Nam deo nichil esse impossibile! nec uobis hoc denegari scimus. Valete.

Scripture echoes

↩Matt.7.7;Luke.11.9 — Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Luke.11.9 — And I tell you: ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.
↩Luke.1.37 — For nothing will be impossible with God.

Notes

1 ↩pulso ('I knock') echoes the Gospel image of knocking at a door (cf. Matt 7:7, Luke 11:9); treated as candidate allusion below.
2 ↩premoniar is a rare/deponent form; the sense 'forewarned' or 'advised beforehand' is plausible but uncertain.

Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion

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