A Provisor to Hildegard
The letters
But for all these things, Wisdom has established a healing truce, just as in the gospel the cultivator of the vineyard said to his lord concerning the fig: "Lord, let it alone this year also, until I dig about it, and dung it" [Luke 13.8]. For digging about it signifies that a person is to suppress his own will; otherwise, he will never be able to obey. But to spread dung means that he is subordinated to his prelate in humility and subjection. For when a person becomes obedient, he regards himself and all carnal desires as mud.
Now, I, a poor little weak form of a woman, say to you, the brothers of this monastery: Let the inextinguishable fire of life burn in you and so suffuse you with its light that you can remain in it, as you had begun. For when the fruitful
"time of correction" [Heb 9.10] and emendation comes to you, the stones of your tower will return to the brilliance they had before.
Note 1. See Vol. l,p.65,n. 23.
Hameln
A Provisor to Hildegard Before 1173 This writer implores Hildegard's help, with the hope that his illness will be cured by her prayers.
To Hildegard, gem of Bingen, true bride of Christ, grounded in the discipline of the Rule, H., unworthy provisor1 of the Augustinian Rule in Hameln, with unstinting and devoted prayer for her.
In the long interval of our spiritual love, I have often wished to be in your presence, especially since I have been burdened down by a chronic illness. Once when I was in your presence, as you will remember, daughter of Christ, I was suffering a terrible affliction of body, which still torments me day and night. And just as human frailty is incapable of comprehending the vengeance of God, I do not know whether I have fallen victim to a bodily disease or a spiritual trial because of an increase in benefits.* Yet "by the grace of God, I am what I am" [I Cor 15.10], because I do not cease to show almighty God the weight of my meagre labor both in vigils and in prayers.
I implore you, saintly lady, to pray for an end to my suffering, if you please.
Having faith in your piety, and your daughters', I beseech you to intercede with God for me. Asking your help, saintly lady, I pray that my disease will be rooted out through your prayers. Although "the continual prayer of a just man availeth