Hildegard to the
The Letters ofHildegard ofBingen 206r Hildegard to the Congregation of Monks 1164(?)-70 Hildegard encourages the monks about the state of their community, encouragement accompanied, however, by the warning that some grow weary in the good fight. She stresses discipline and stability in the governance of the monastery.
In a spiritual vision by which I frequently see, I saw and understood these things.
I see this monastery like a cloud suffused with the kind of light that occurs when day becomes dusk, and night approaches. And I see that there are some among you who shine like stars in their good intent, but that there are others who grow weary, overshadowed by fatigue. Arise, therefore, and "embrace discipline, lest at any time the Lord be angry, and you perish from the just way" [Ps 2.12].
I also saw something like a crown with two circles, one above and one below, both filled with angels. And in the middle of this crown the archangel Michael stood like a tower so that these two circles clung to him like two walls. On his breast shone the image of the Son of man, and around it was written, "The Lord will send forth the rod of thy power out of Sion: rule thou in the midst of thy enemies" [Ps 109.2]. With his right arm stretched out, he held a shield in his hand.
And next to him was a cloud like golden smoke arising from a censer, in which the meritorious prayers and holy works of this congregation shone. And I heard him saying to this congregation: As long as I see the radiance of holiness in you,
I will fight for you against the black, flaming spears that I have seen hurled by impious tyrants against your monastery.
Then I knew that this rod of power was the rod of Aaron that blossomed [cf.
Heb 9.4] with those branches of power which God had set in the angel on the first day. But through his pride, that angel cut himself off from felicity. But God saw the rod of his inheritance on Mount Sion [cf. Ps 73.2], for it blossomed like the power of greatness in mankind when God almighty arose in virginity. And this flower came forth from Sion, from which many waters flow, exhaling a sweet breeze. These waters are the powerful works of holiness flowing into the hearts of mankind so that man sees God in all things. Wherefore God's countenance radiates among them when they renounce the devil's deception. Thus, equipped with two wings, they wage war against the devil as if in the midst of their power so that they love God more than themselves and do holy works. And then they stand like pillars of cloud [cf. Ex 13.2 If] "in the midst of their enemies," striking them down on all sides, that is, by loving God and doing holy works, for He shines like the sun "in the brightness of the saints" [Ps 109.3].
The first angel, however, longed to overcome God and to assume His honors rather than to love Him and do good works. But man is different, for, de-