Hildegard to the Abbess
The Letters
Furthermore, for the mercy of God and of your maternal love, we ask you to send us a letter of consolation right away. May Christ our Lord deign to gather us along with you into His kingdom.
117r Hildegard to the Abbess Before 1173 Hildegard offers a general letter of admonition, warning especially against lack of stability.
Take care not to have a wandering, instable mind, in which the sapphirecolored cloud cannot be seen, for such instability frequently blocks out the light of the sun. Be zealous to stand steadfast, therefore, and do not foolishly inquire into useless matters, for those who do so often fall deceived from the love of Christ, just as the sapphire cloud is obscured by instability of mind. Keep your mind on the embraces of Christ, and seek all good things from Him. Offer up all your works to Him, and He will bless you, for, without Him, there is no salvation for mankind, since grace and salvation is obtained not through man, but through God. Also, Holy Scriptures, which flow from the divine fountain, are the breasts from which mankind sucks sustenance.
Learn, therefore, to flee the vanity that covers the light of the sun, that is to say, separates mankind from Christ And you will live forever, and be crowned by Christ.
Himmerod(?)
Hildegard to an Abbot About 1171(?) Hildegard writes in answer to questions the abbot had addressed to her in a letter that has not come down to us. Tt is clear from the response, however, that the abbot had asked her to predict something about the state of a certain woman, and, apparently, also something about his own administrative situation. Hildegard answers that she can report only those things she sees in her visions, and does not ordinarily address the future lives of men and women. She does, however, instruct the abbot to rule his flock with discretion and mercy.