Hildegard to the Monk Guibert
The Letters of Hildegard of Bingen traveling further. But I hope that, once the obstacles have been removed, divine grace will restore to me at a more opportune time that which, to my sorrow, has been taken away.
In the meantime, since my journey was interrupted, I entrusted the questions of the brothers at Villers to Baldwin, a young man very dear to me, with instructions to carry them to you, and now I am anxious to know whether or not you have received them. If so, all of your friends in our region cast ourselves at your feet in the Spirit, and pray you to faithfully embark on the sea of the solution of those questions, not fearing to entrust your sails to the breeze of the Holy
Spirit. Relying on such a guide, you will soon glide into a safe harbor without any difficulty. With regard to those questions, when you write with answers to them in response to my letter and the brothers', I pray that some will be made the more pleasing through the others, and will shine the more brightly.
Since you are learning of our affairs from the present messengers, inform us also of yours so that we may either sympathize with you in your grief or rejoice with you in your jubilation. After all, friends should have all things in common.
Farewell in Christ. Please pray for us.
106r Hildegard to the Monk Guibert
After an allegorical opening on the virtues and an admonition for the monk to live humbly, avoiding pride of spirit, Hildegard informs him that she has had to delay answering the questions sent her on account of ill health and administrative duties. But she assures him that she is indeed still working on them.
Love, which, in concert with Abstinence, establishes Faith, and which, along with Patience, builds up Chastity, is like the columns that sustain the four corners of a house. For it was that same Love which planted a glorious garden redolent with precious herbs and noble flowers—roses and lilies—which breathed forth a wondrous fragrance, that garden on which the true Solomon was accustomed to feast his eyes.
This garden designates those virtues that God Who is true Love [cf. I John 4.8] established in the rod of Jesse [cf. Is 11.1], that is to say, in Mary, who flowered in chastity and brought forth that most noble flower. And from that flower
"the voice of the turtledove is heard" [Cant 2.12], which called forth virginal nature. The lily signifies this nature, for it puts forth white flowers with magnificent fragrance from its stalk, just as virginity itself is honored in the world on
The Letters
account of the sweet fragrance of its good reputation. Hermits and monks, who have renounced the world for Christ's sake, ought to live without contact with worldly pomp, just as a virgin, after her vow, ought to live without thought of a man. For virgins and monks are alike among the angelic orders: just as the angels desire nothing other than to gaze upon the face of God [cf. Matt 18.10], so also these, having cast off all earthly pomp, follow the Lamb of God (that is,
Christ), bearing His cross [cf Luke 14.27]. And in these the crimson flowers of the Lord's Passion flourish because of their true contempt for the world.
Now, O son of God, set in the valley of true humility, walk in peace without pride of spirit, which, like a precipitous mountain, offers a difficult, or nearimpossible, ascent or descent to those who attempt to scale it, and on its summit no building can be built. For a person who tries to climb higher than he can achieve possesses the name of sanctity without the substance, because, in name alone without a structure of good works, he glories in a kind of vain joy of the mind.
But, now, look to that glorious garden which love planted, and gather to yourself every virtue in true humility and simplicity of heart. And although you find yourself among men of various states of mind, learn how patient and how long-suffering divine goodness has been to us all. Flee also the inconstancy of the slothful servant who serves one master today, another tomorrow; and gird yourself manfully with the sword of God's word by the example of those bold knights who, standing round about, guard the bed of the true Solomon [cf. Cant
3.7-8], And, with vigilant eyes, commend the sincerity of your mind again and again to the omnipotent God, lest you begin to sleep in doubt; and be an upright and beloved knight of the true Solomon, who loves and crowns you for the victory of the daily battle.
May the Holy Spirit enkindle you with the fire of His love so that you may persevere, unfailing, in the love of His service. Thus you may merit to become, at last, a living stone in the celestial Jerusalem [cf. I Pet 2.4–5; Heb 12.22].
But concerning the questions you sent me to answer, I looked to the True Light praying that I might be given a drink of that river flowing from the living fountain [John 4.10ff) so that I could write back to you providing some answers.
Nevertheless, I was suffering from an infirmity of the body—and still am—and I cannot yet refrain from tears, for I do not have the staff of my consolation [cf.
Ps 22.4]. And yet I still have great joy of spirit in the Lord, for I am sure of His reward. Still, deprived as I am of such a great consolation, as I have said, and thoroughly taken up with governing our monastery, as much as I can through the grace of God, I am working to answer your questions.