Hildegard to the Abbot Bertolf
The Letters of Hildegard of Bingen
Hildegard to the Abbot Bertolf 1161-62 Hildegard gives advice to the abbot on the election of his son—spiritual son?—as abbot.
O father and consoler, I looked to the True Light about the burden soon to be imposed on your son, and I saw that this is something neither hot nor cold [cf.
Apoc 3.15f], but rather lukewarm with no beneficial consequences. For I saw in the vision that that burden—if he were to take it on—would be like a withered tree with only one or two half-dead branches, which could never bring viridity back to the full tree again.
This tree represents the calling and life of those very few who can be found verdant in the love of the holy way of life and good counsel. Therefore, that burden would not be productive for him or for others, because he would falter altogether since he would get no help or wholesome guidance from them.
God does not embrace the election to that office with His love, but neither does He direct His anger against it. He merely allows it, just as He allows many other things that are done by His permission. Therefore, it would be much better for that man if he could refuse the office.
Hildegard to the Monk Gerwin 1161–62 A brief letter of admonition to the monk.
God in His wisdom seeks the sacrifice of your heart offered up in simplicity, for He is true [cf.John 3.33; Rom 3.4], and He will not tolerate duplicity on the one path that is faith among one's neighbors. For the eye of God looks upon the felicity of mankind in simplicity.
May God grant you this, and free you from the storms of flagrant sins. Therefore, purify the eye of your heart.