SR
Chapter 52LiVM.5.52

LXV. Verba David *).

LXV. Verba David *).

The fire is kindled in my desire to steal, and it will burn until the very depths of hell. This must also be understood in this way. I, who created the sun and the moon and all other creatures, made man rational so that he might know me, and by knowing, love me, and that he would not fight against me through disbelief, because what is good for him is more useful than what is evil; yet he neglects me, as if he had no salvation from me. Therefore, the fire of examination is kindled in the zeal of my judgments, in which I justly discern all things; it will burn to the depths of the most recent iniquities that are to be examined by fire, because everything is perfectly examined. For there is no creature that can surpass Him or extinguish Him, since those things that resist God He will search out. For when I show salvation to a person, and he neglects it through disbelief, my zeal will justly examine him, because he has despised the good that was offered to him.

Read the original Latin

Ignis succensus est in furare meo, et ardebit usque ad inferni novissima.

Quod etiam sic intelligendum est.

Ego qui solem et lunam et omnes alias creaturas creavi, hominem rationalem feci, quatenus me cognosceret, et cognoscendo amaret, et quod per incredulitatem contra me non pugnaret, quia bonum sibi utilius est quam malum, sed ipse me negligit, quasi nuUam saiutem de me bar beat.

Unde ignis examinationis succensus est in zelo judiciorum meorum, in quir bus omnia juste dijudico, qui ardebit ad profunditatem novissimarum iniquitatum, quae in igne examinanda sunt, quoniam omnia perfecte examinat; quia non est creatura quae eum exsuperet, aut quae eum extinguere possit, quoniam ea quae Deo resistunt, perquirit.

Nam cum homini salvationem ostendo, et cum ille eam per incredulitatem negligit, justo judicio zelus meus illum examinabit, quia bonum quod ei demonstratum est, suscipere contempsit.

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

Examination is a habit, not an event

The free Chosen Portion app pairs daily readings from Hildegard with a fixed prayer rhythm

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
  • Daily readings from the full Book of the Rewards of Life, free in the app
  • All six parts, translated into modern English, at no cost
Chosen Portion — Daily Prayer (free iOS app)