XXVIII. O dulce electe (De sancto Iohanne evangelista)
The Burning Root in the Golden City
Hildegard addresses Saint John as the chosen one who blazed with divine fire, revealed the Father's mysteries, and entered the chamber of chastity in the heavenly Jerusalem, pleading for his aid for travelers.
Response: O sweet chosen one, who blazed out in the fire of the Burning One, O root, and who in the Father's radiance revealed the mysteries, and who entered the chamber of chastity in the golden city that the king built when he took the scepter of the nations: Give help to those on a journey.✦✦
The Rain of the Forerunners
In verse, Hildegard recalls how John, together with the prophets before him, increased the spiritual rain that refreshed the fragrant greenness of holy living, again asking for his help for those on a journey.
Verse: For you increased the rain with your forerunners, who sent it into the greenness of the spice-sellers: Give help to those on a journey.✦
Read the original Latin
Responsum: O dulce electe, qui in ardore ardentis effulsisti, radix, et qui in splendore patris elucidasti mistica et qui intrasti cubiculum castitatis in aurea civitate, quam construxit rex, cum accepit sceptrum regionum: Prebe adiutorium peregrinis. Versus: Tu enim auxisti pluviam cum precessoribus tuis, qui miserunt illam in viriditatem pigmentariorum: Prebe adiutorium peregrinis.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Rev.21.2 — And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
- ↩Rev.19.16 — And on his robe and on his thigh he has a name written: King of kings and Lord of lords.
- ↩Joel.2.23 — Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God; for he has given you the early rain for righteousness, and he has sent down for you the rain, the early and the latter rain, in the first.
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