SR
Chapter 10LiVM.4.10

XII. Responsum Compunctionis cordis.

XII. Responsum Compunctionis cordis.

And again, I heard a voice from the troubled cloud speaking to this image, saying, "Who are you, O bitterness, that says that in your life it does not provide for you to work, while they know that God is the essence?" And why are you arguing against God? I drink from the dew of His blessing, and I laugh with compunction of heart as I turn to Him, and with a joyful yet tearful voice I say to Him: God, help me. And the angels respond to me with a sounding organ, and they praise him, because I call upon him. Then the dawn of His grace shines upon me, and He gives me the food of life, because I asked Him, so that I may not fail. But since you ask nothing from Him, nothing will be given to you. But the seventh image was being assimilated to the woman down to her legs, but her legs and feet were so fixed in the aforementioned darkness that I could not see them because of that same darkness. But she covered her head in a womanly manner, and was dressed in a white garment.

Read the original Latin

Et iterum de praefata turbida nube vocem audivi huic imagini sic responsum dantem « Quae es tu, o acerbitas, quae dicis quod in vita tua laborare non praebet, ipsum esse Deum cognoscunt.

Et quare tu contra Deum rixaris?

Ego namque de rore benedictionis ejus bibo, et de compunctione cordis ad eum rideo, et cum gaudente lacrimabili voce ad ipsum dico: Deus, adjuva me.

Et Angeli cura sonante organo mihi respondent, ac i)eum laudant, quoniam ipsum invoco.

Tunc etiam aurora gratiae suae mihi lucet, ac cibum vitae mihi dat, quia ab ipso petivi, ne deficiam.

Sed quoniam tu ab ipso nihil quaeris, nihil tibi dabitur.» Sed septima imago mulieri usque ad crura sua assimilabatur, sed crura et pedes suos praedictis tenebris ita infixerat, quod eos prae eisdem tenebris videre non poteram.

Caput autem suum muliebri more velaverat, et candida veste induebatur.

Liber Vitae Meritorum (Book of the Rewards of Life) companion

Examination is a habit, not an event

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Hildegard's rhythm of naming a vice and answering it with virtue continues as short daily examen-style devotionals in the Chosen Portion app

  • A weekly examen you can complete in 15 minutes using Hildegard's 35 pairs
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Chosen Portion — Daily Prayer (free iOS app)