Hildegard to the
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For the Spirit gives what instruction He will and "breatheth where he will" [John
3.8]. And so here we see the principle fulfilled that God, according to the Scripture, has chosen the foolish and weak things of this world in order to confound the wise and strong [cf. I Cor 1.27].
We say such things, sweet mother, not to put down your simple nature as if we were enflamed with the torch of envy for such a gift, a gift bestowed upon you that you might use it zealously. Nor do we speak this way so that we may boast vaingloriously, since we are the ones who are especially yours, who are with you most often, and who sedulously hear your voice. No, we do so in order to show that, compared with chaste goodness and piety, the determined exertions of such men1 are not sufficient for investigating and comprehending the heights of true doctrine, for a teacher moves his lips, outwardly, in vain, unless, inwardly, the Spirit informs the hearts of those listening to him. In you, however, there are more signs of the virtues and more evidence of the miracles of God and the Holy Spirit than we could possibly say. Or want to say, for it is the task of others to praise you and spread your fame; it is ours to marvel at you, venerate you, and love you.
Because you know all this by your experience better than we, and because a few words are sufficient to understand many things, we refrain from saying more to the wise. We give thanks to God, for Whom all things are possible, Who gave you to us, and Who illumined you by His spirit for the glory of His name and for the salvation of many. We humbly and sincerely pray that He will bestow health of body and strength of mind upon you, so that He may abundantly spread His gift, which He has poured out upon you, for the edification of the whole Church.
Note 1. That is, the scholastics.
195r Hildegard to the Congregation of Nuns About 1170 Hildegard describes her confrontation with the brothers of St. Disibod over property rights. She also contemplates her own death.
O daughters, you who have followed in Christ's footsteps [cf. I Pet 2.21] in your love for chastity, and who have chosen me, poor little woman that I am, as a mother for yourselves—a choice made in the humility of obedience in order to exalt God—I say these things not on my own accord but according to a divine
/ 70 The Letters of Hildegard of Bingen revelation speaking through my motherly affection for you. I have found this monastery—this resting place of the relics of St. Rupert the Confessor, to whose refuge you have fled—resplendent with miracles, by God's will, offering up a sacrifice of praise [cf. Ps 49.14]. I came to this place with the permission of my superiors and with God's assistance I gladly made it a home for myself and my followers.
Later, however, at God's admonition I paid a visit to Mount St. Disibod (which I had left with permission), where I presented the following petition to all who dwelt there: I requested that our monastery, as well as the alms accruing therefrom, be free and clear from their jurisdiction, for the sake of the salvation of our souls and our concern for the strict observance of the Rule.1 They granted me this freedom and even promised me a written charter. Everyone—from the highest to the lowest—who saw, heard, and perceived these things displayed the greatest benevolence regarding these matters so that they were confirmed in writing, in accordance with God's will. Let all who cling to God heed and learn this and affirm this matter with goodwill, and perfect it and stand by it so that they may receive the same blessing that God gave Jacob and Israel [cf. Gen 32.26ff].
O how loudly these daughters of mine will lament when their mother dies, for they will no longer suckle her breasts. And so for a long time with groans and wails and tears they will say. Alas, alas! Gladly would we suck our mother's breasts if we but had her here with us now! Therefore, O daughters of God, I admonish you to love one another, just as from my youth I, your mother, have admonished you, so that in this goodwill you might be a bright light with the angels, and strong in your spirits, just as Benedict, your father, instructed you. May the Holy Spirit send you His gifts, because after my death you will no longer hear my voice. But never forget the sound of my voice among you, for it has so often resounded in love among you.
Now, my daughters are grieved in their hearts out of the sadness they feel for their mother, and they sigh and look to heaven. Later, they will shine with a bright, radiant light through the grace of God, and they will become valiant warriors in God's house. Therefore, if any one of my daughters seeks to cause discord and dissension in the spiritual discipline of this monastery, may the gift of the Holy Spirit root this desire out of her heart. Yet if she should do this out of total contempt for God, may the hand of the Lord strike her down in the presence of all the people, for such a one has deserved to be confounded.
Therefore, O my daughters, dwell in this place with all devotion and steadfastness, for you have chosen it as a place in which to serve in the army of God
[cf. II Tim 2.4]. Do this so that, in Him, you may receive the rewards of heaven.
Appendix And according to the true vision I received, I said this to the father, that is, the abbot, of that monastery: The Serene Light says: You should be a father to this community for the salvation of the souls of my daughters abiding in my mystic planting. The alms bestowed upon them have nothing to do with you or your broth-