A Provisor to Hildegard
The Letters
nation. They stand before My throne, and see Me, not in misery, but eye to eye, face-to-face, in great brightness and majesty. Blessed is the one who reads and hears the words of this text, and keeps them, because they are true. They have been sent from My throne by way of My angel for the edification of many.
As I thought of the meaning of the judgment I had made earlier, that they utter flaming words from their sulfurous tongues, the Lord set the following words in my mouth: Sulfur has such a nature that its flame does not rise up, but burns underneath with a kind of bitter darkness. It stands for the heresies that darkly bring forth poisonous words, from which comes forth a black flame igniting the hearts of the faithful. Such a flame causes them to waver in the Catholic faith.
Notes 1. Van Acker indicates two separate letters from Elisabeth at this point, but Anne
Clark (who is currently engaged in editing Elisabeth's letters for the Corpus Christianorum series) has informed us in personal correspondence that the evidence of the MSS strongly suggests that these are not two but one single letter.
2. That is, "guardian of battle."
Selbod
A Provisor to Hildegard Before 1173 The writer seeks advice about the state of his soul, for he is assured that Hildegard knows about his past, present, and future condition.
To Hildegard, the venerable handmaid of God almighty, H., humble and lowly provisor at Selbod, with his prayer that she abound with all the grace of God's bounty and that, after this life, she be united with Jesus Christ, Lord of all kings, in the heavenly bridal chamber.
Blessed be the compassion of almighty God, which in these times of iniquity has given you as a light shining in the darkness to console His faithful. I have heard of your fame for a long time now, blessed lady, and for some time I have been aware that everything said about you is true. And so I take such delight and joy in your blessedness that I always have you in my prayers—even though, because of my foolishness and stupidity, my petition has little weight in God's sight. I hope, and I pray, that the Lord will always oversee the blessings He has bestowed upon you in His mercy, and that He will increase them more and more, and make you the companion of His saints in eternal glory.