Letter 34: Amalricus, Bishop of Jerusalem, to Hildegard
The Letters
In a true vision I saw and heard these words spoken by Wisdom for the people's scrutiny: As a result of God's benevolence, as well as that just man's own merits, he is now numbered among the blessed and the just, that is, the saints.
And Wisdom says again about him: Let the winds be lifted through the four elements, and let them sound this forth with praises among the people: that he has gone before with voice raised in prayer. For when the just have completed their woeful pilgrimage and come at last to blessedness, God's grace should, justly and rightly, be praised in them, for they have been found without trace of wicked deeds committed against God's justice through infidelity or deception. That just man indeed breathed forth sighs which ascended through the mirrored eye of the cherubim to the throne of God.a
Amalricus, Bishop of Jerusalem, to Hildegard 1157-73(?) With this request for prayers from the bishop of Jerusalem, it is clear that Hildegard's reputation has spread afar.
Amalricus, by the grace and appointment of God servant and bishop of Jerusalem, though ineffective, sends his very humble prayer and greetings in Christ to Hildegard, beloved daughter and mistress of Mount St. Rupert in Bingen, in the bishopric of Mainz.
From those many people who come from far distant places into our land to bend their knees at the sepulchre of the Lord, we have frequently heard that divine power is at work through you and in you, for which we ourselves offer unceasing thanks as humbly as we can.
We have long desired to correspond with you, beloved daughter, but because an intermediary has been unavailable so far, our desire has been completely frustrated. But now after a long time, an opportunity has arisen, and therefore we thought it appropriate to address you and all your sisters (who, as I hear, are under your supervision in Christ) in the present letter. And so it is that although we are oppressed constantly by overwhelming difficulties— attacked on the one side by the treachery of malignant spirits and on the other by the sword of the pagans—we would, if we had pleasing words at our command, extoll you as the bride of Christ and as a woman always (ocused on the mysteries of Christ. But it is not necessary to praise with human words one who, by divine grace, has been granted participation in angelic praise. We call those happy who are accounted worthy to converse with you day after day to