Letter 27: Arnold, Archbishop of Trier, to Hildegard
The Letters
Arnold, Archbishop of Trier,1 to Hildegard
Arnold, Hildegard's nephew, writes to inform her of his recent election to the archbishopric of Trier, which office he held from 1169 to 1183. An intriguing personal note enters in with Arnold's criticism of his brother Wezelinus, whom he considers a mere flatterer of Hildegard: are the two contentiously vying for the affection of the famous seer?
Arnold, by the grace of God humble archbishop-elect of Trier, sends greetings and love to his beloved kinswoman in Christ, Hildegard of St. Rupert, from Him who is salvation and love.
Friendship among relatives is a heavenly thing, because old age neither thwarts nor weakens it, and when it is true, it does not stagnate, but, rather, grows and improves daily. And so since we have embraced in the arms of true love from our earliest years, I am surprised that you have more regard for a flatterer than for a true friend, since the prophet says, "But let not the oil of the sinner fatten my head" [Ps 140.5]. We consider our brother, the prior of St. Andrew's, as your flatterer, but we wish to be considered your true friend.
But because we know our success is a source of joy for you, we thought that you, beloved, should be notified that through God's grace our situation has improved. Still, because that which one regards as a punishment is no blessing, we declare before God and you that the position to which we have been called (against our will, God knows) was never, as is usual in such cases, a source of temptation or comfort to us, because our ignorance, our fragility, laments our insufficiency and deplores our infirmity. And because we do not know who has called us to such an office, we are afflicted by great anxiety. If we knew it to be God, we would have faith that He who had begun a good work in us would also bring it to perfection [cf. Phil 1.6], since our promotion to this office resulted from necessity rather than any virtue of our own.
And we know that "God in his holy place" [Ps 67.6] has worked salvation among you by visiting his people [cf. Luke 7.16] to mercifully liberate a woman possessed by the devil.2 Thus we earnestly beseech you to give an account of the method by which that liberation was achieved. Moreover, whenever you look to the True Light, please impart to us some saving grace through your letters, and, after the example of Moses, intercede for us by lifting up your hands to the rock of refuge, while we fight against Amalech in the valley of worldly miseries [cf. Ex 17].
We are writing back to you in the presence of the abbot of St. Eucharius, our faithful and beloved friend, and he has helped us by seasoning our words
The Letters ofHildegard ofBmgen with his sweetness. Therefore, we also ask that you send your response back through him.
Notes 1. Arnold was archbishop of Trier from 1169 to 1183. He was Hildegard's nephew, the brother of Wezelinus.
2. Hildegard was called upon to help this woman—a noblewoman named Sigewize—because, it was reported, the demon himself crying out through the woman's voice declared that only a certain "old woman" on the upper Rhine could be of any assistance. Hildegard somewhat reluctantly took on the task, first by writing and sending to them a kind of mimetic scenario to be acted out, and later by working with her at Mount St. Rupert itself. See Letters 68-69. Also see Dronke, "Problemata Hildegardiana," pp. 117ff.
27r Hildegard to Arnold, Archbishop of Trier
In accordance with her usual theme, Hildegard exhorts Arnold to preserve justice in his new administrative position, and she, perhaps, warns him against jealousy of his brother, though, in truth, the admonition is so general that it is difficult to tell.
O, you are a tree planted by God, just as Paul says: All power is from God [cf.
Rom 13.1], because, according to the highest authority, every power has been named in the invocation of His name, and through that invocation a tree derives its viridity from the honor of His name." May you preserve yourself from that which is not of God and which is done with the left hand, lest you fall in the falling sickness of pride, like the first angel, Satan, who set himself in opposition to God to steal furtively that honor which many people today wilfully snatch for themselves, totally disregarding the means to that end. Such an attitude is nothing in God's eyes, because "without him was made nothing"
[John 1.3], and thus God destroys whatever stands apart from Him.
Therefore, as far as you are able though God's grace be solicitous to give testimony to the people through God's commandments, which are as luxuriant as the leaves of a tree. For the burden of your office has many tribulations, such as poverty, which binds you in, because riches and money do not love heavenly things. In this way, God reins in man's desires so that he will sigh for heaven, his homeland. Thus it is fitting that a poor man love a poor man and
The Letters
a rich man acknowledge a rich man, because wisdom gives a ring to the poor man, but denies an earring to the rich.1'
Wherefore, with regard to your office, keep this in mind: "I have not hid thy justice within my heart: I have declared thy truth and thy salvation" [Ps
39.11]. Here is the interpretation of this passage: God's Justice does not conceal herself, but makes her paths wide and is not ashamed to run on them. Justice also does not hide her wounds by preferring evil to good, but Injustice says that life is hell, and that one must run in both directions at once. Justice, on the other hand, does not steep herself in this fallacy, nor does she kiss Injustice with a multiplicity of words; rather she tramples it underfoot. Likewise, Truth does not praise those works which are done apart from God, but, like a brave knight, prepares herself to oppose them in battle.
Now let Justice be your shield, and dress yourself in her truth, as with a breastplate, so that you may appear well armed before God and not a fugitive in the company of vanity, and learn to suck the breasts of Justice. Also, learn to heal the wounds of penitent sinners with mercy, just as the great Physician has bequeathed to you a salutary example for restoring the people to health.
For through the instruction of His name, you have been placed in the viridity of that blessed man who did not listen to the wicked devil, wicked indeed because he did not love good. Beware of boasting in your treasure, for in the end money is deceitful, because it fails one as easily after one year as after thirty. But rejoice on Mount Zion, where the help of the Most High is eternal in eternity, and where every spirit praises the Lord [cf. Ps 150.6].
Be, also, an ivory mountain, from the windows of which spears fly in the upright judgment of justice against your adversaries. Run also to the heights of the law and justice of God, like a mountain goat, lest you fall unarmed through instability, and may your sons rise up from the side of the Church and cry out to you for the food of justice. And so learn good doctrine so that you may satisfy them.
As you asked, I have looked to the True Light, and I could scarcely see the beginning of good works. And so, now, be more zealous in doing good works so that, afterward, I may write more things to you by the grace of God.
And be a faithful friend to your soul, so that you may live forever.
Finally, concerning the possessed woman you inquired about, we have seen many miracles which are impossible to put into writing now. But we know that the breath of the devil grew weaker and weaker day after day until he came forth at last and the woman was freed from the weakness caused by the devil.
And during the time she was possessed, she suffered from an infirmity that, at that time, she was unaware of. But now she has recovered fully in both body and soul.
The Letters ofHildegard ofBingen
Hildegard to Arnold, Archbishop of Trier 1169-70 Hildegard exhorts Arnold to preserve humility in his high office.
0 servant and close friend of God, consider the example of a day which begins clear and beautiful and remains so until the evening, never clouded over by storms, as opposed to a day which dawns brightly but soon becomes a dangerous, stormy time, so that the foul ending destroys the promise of the beautiful beginning. Thus beware lest you attribute to yourself alone those good qualities which are yours in both your spirit and your works. Rather, attribute them to God, from whom all virtues proceed like sparks from a fire. Remember, too, that you are ashes and that you will return to ashes, and, therefore, give
God the honor which you owe Him for the gifts which you acknowledge in yourself. For whoever is aware that he has good qualities, but ascribes them to himself alone, that person is like an infidel who worships only the works of his own hands.
Therefore, dear son of God, gird yourself with true humility and cast off vainglory, and you will be like the bright day which is never clouded over by storms, with your good beginning being brought to perfection by a good end.
Thus you will not be like that day which has a bright beginning but a stormy ending. May the fire of the Holy Spirit never be extinguished in you, so that, persevering joyfully in His mystery, you may reach the height of blessedness.
Finally, O servant of God, with all the devotion of my heart I commend to your prayers my beloved son, the abbot of St. Eucharius, who calls me
Mother, unworthy though I am. On his behalf, please pray to almighty God to bring the good intentions of his heart to fruition, and to make him such a man in this present life that he may deserve to attain the joys of eternal life. I also will gladly pray for him, to the best of my ability with my God's help. And 1 beseech you through God's love to kindly remember me before the Lord.