The Monk Guibert to Hildegard
The Letters
gins [cf Matt 25.1ff], etc. Did these events actually happen, or are they used only as a simile to make a point about something else?
33. Since in terms of the soul alone, Abraham and Lazarus are at rest, and the rich man is in hell [cf Luke 16.19ff], what do the "bosom" of Abraham, the "finger" of Lazarus, and the "tongue" of the rich man signify?
34. What special significance is there that, according to the writings of Bishop Gregory of Tours, St Martin was shown so many times in the midst of fire?
35. If the blessed Nicholas did not appear in his own body to the sailors, some sleeping, some waking, as well as to both Constantine and the prefect,5 then in what sort of body did he appear? Also, when Peter and Paul and other saints, whose bodies have been interred, are seen by people, some sleeping, some waking, in what kinds of bodies do they come?
Notes 1. Homiliae in Hiezecbibelem Propbttam, I.i. 304-7.
2. February 2.
3. Actually, Volmar died some three years earlier, in 1173. The reference here is apparently a mistake for Gottfried, Volmar's successor as Hildegard's provost and secretary, who died early in 1176.
4. With these difficult and sometimes seemingly frivolous questions, one might compare the Problemata Heloise sends to Abelard for answers. The questions are quite similar, especially with respect to seeming contradictions in the Scripture.
5. For the Nicholas legends, see Jones, SaintNicholas.
The Monk Guibert to Hildegard
Guibert writes to inform Hildegard that his anticipated visit with her during the Lenten season has been interrupted—by the devil, as he supposes. Nevertheless, he has, he hastens to add, sent along by messenger the questions posed by the monks of Villers, and they all hope for a speedy answer
To the most holy mother Hildegard, Guibert, The joy of seeing and visiting with you during Lent in the company of my abbot has been taken away from me, at least temporarily—by the envy of the devil, as I believe—a joy that I thought had been bestowed upon me from heaven.
For when we had traveled as far as Cologne, Satan and the sinful deceits of his carnal disciples put an obstacle in our intended path, and we were prevented from