Letter 37: Heinrich, Bishop of Liege, to Hildegard
The Letters of Hildegard of Bingen
Hildegard to Hermann, Bishop of Constance 1148-66 In this second letter to Hermann, Hildegard exhorts him, once again, to be faithful to his duties.
The Living Light which reveals miracles says: You who in your calling are a father and shepherd in charge of souls, stretch out your arms, lest your enemy plant tares in your fields [cf. Matt 13.25].
Watch over that garden which the divine gift has planted, and take care that its herbs do not wither. Rather, cut the rottenness out of them, and cast it out, for it chokes off their usefulness. In this way, you will cause them to flourish. For when the sun hides its rays, the earth ceases to rejoice.
And I say: Do not overshadow your garden with the weariness of silence, but in the True Light weed out those things which must be weeded out with discretion. Illuminate your temple with benevolence, and burn incense in your censer, so that its smoke may ascend to the palace of the living God. And you will live forever.
Heinrich, Bishop of Liege, to Hildegard 1148-53 There are problems of ascription with respect to this letter, but it seems to have been written by Heinrich of Liege. He is most notable because his name appears in the document of 1163 by which Barbarossa granted imperial protection to Mount St. Rupert. Prominent among the prelates of the Church, he was extraordinarily favored by Barbarossa. Heinrich writes as a grievous sinner requesting
Hildegard's prayers.
Heinrich, by the grace of God bishop of Liege, sends greetings to the servant of Christ, Hildegard of St. Rupert in Bingen, with prayers that you serve the King of kings ceaselessly, and that you receive the prize of eternal blessedness
[cf. I Cor 9.24].
The Letters
Plagued by great instability of mind and body, I have determined to write to you, because I greatly need the mercy of God, which, I will not deny, I have offended and provoked by my countless sins. Therefore, beloved sister, because
I know for a certainty that God is with you, I urge and beseech you, in the name of His mercy, saintly lady, to stretch out your hand to me as I founder and run to you for refuge. Please let it be your concern to remain vigilant with devoted prayers so that my negligence may be cast from me, and please write back to inform me what the unfailing Living Light reveals that 1 must do to arouse myself from this somnolence of soul.
May the most merciful God grant that 1 receive full consolation through your writings, and, through your intercession, that I may, at last, be granted the dwelling place of eternal rest.
37r Hildegard to Heinrich, Bishop of Liege 1148-53 Hildegard laments die slothfulness and sin that are now in the world, and prays
Heinrich to perform his duties well so as to bring back the "lost pearls" to the mountain of God.
The Living Light says: the Scriptures are a path which lead to the lofty mountain where flowers and precious herbs grow, with a fragrant breeze blowing over them, bringing forth their sweet aroma, and where roses and lilies show their bright faces. Yet because of the shadows of dark living air, that mountain was not visible until the Son of the Most High had illuminated the world. For the Sun itself came from the dawn to illumine this mountain, and all the people saw its herbs. The day was very beautiful, and good news came into the world.
But, O shepherds, now is the time for wailing and mourning, because in our day that mountain has been overshadowed by such dark clouds that its sweet fragrance no longer is wafted down to us. But you, O Heinrich, be a shepherd good and noble in your character. And just as the eagle looks to the sun, so you give thought and consider how you can restore the slothful and the prodigal to their homeland and how you can bestow some light on that mountain so that your soul may live. Thus you will hear the beloved voice of the high judge exclaim: "Well done, good and faithful servant" [Matt 25.21,
23], and your soul will radiate light: like a knight who is refulgent in battle when his comrades rejoice with him because he has emerged victorious.