Hildegard to the Abbot Manegold
The Letters
administrative relationship with them will be a lot better than before. This is one of the snares that He predicted to you, but, all the same, God will not abandon you.
Now, regain your strength and become a stalwart knight, and God will assist you.
Hildegard to the Abbot Manegold 1156-65 This obscure message, as Hildegard herself calls it, breaks off before it is finished.
In my vision your community is like a tower with two windows. One of these windows has the radiant splendor of the dawn, although it is overshadowed by a cloud. The other is as bright as daylight. Yet from its base up to the very middle, that tower is exceedingly black; and this blackness seeks to cover over those two windows. But it will be incapable of affecting them. Also, I see that your spirit is like that kind of day when the sun shines in the morning, although the day itself is full of storms. Still, those storms are not very dangerous, and from time to time the sun shines through them.
I am giving you this obscure message at this time, but, later, when God wills it,...'
Note 1. The letter breaks off at this point in the MS.
Hildegard to the Abbot Manegold 1156-65 Hildegard gives an allegorical account of the monastery, and answers specific questions that Manegold had directed to her about particular individuals.
I looked to Wisdom, and I heard and saw these words: There was a tree in Lebanon, and winter, as usual, came upon it It is winter's nature to cause all things to
The Letters of Hildegard of Bingen wither and lose their moisture, but the root of that tree was so firmly planted in the ground that the winter was not able to destroy it. Still, the trunk of the tree was damaged somewhat by the weather. Its leaves, however, did not lose their viridity, and did not fall.
Now, father, understand that this imagery is directed to you. The monastery you ask about is like a valley set next to a field that is only slightly warm and fertile when the seed is planted, but which is yet magnificent in the part where the sun shines frequently. And the grace of God does not despise it, for it is caught up in the treadle winepress1 that constantly churns until the people are cleansed from their present error. And the people will become better after not too long a time.
Also, concerning that soul you asked about, it now has great merit among the saints, but, earlier, it made a serious error in judgment, which it did not recognize as such. And so in attempting to justify itself, it sought out things that were none of its business. For this reason it suffered heavy punishments. When human beings who are predestined for sanctity do not do the good works they know and understand through divine grace, God does not show the signs of his saints to them.
The death of that individual about whom you asked is not yet at hand.
Moreover, your own death is also not immediately imminent. And that person you ask about had a generosity that ascended to God, and God loved him.
These are the words of Wisdom that I, poor little woman that I am, have written to you. Now I admonish you not to greatly fear the gloom that appears on the trunk of that tree I mentioned earlier, the gloom that results from the filthy, vile character of human instability. And do not withdraw from your salutary way of life, nor from your good works. Then you will live forever, and your heavenly Father will receive you in joy.
Note 1. Cf. Isaiah 63.2-3: "Why then is thy apparel red, and thy garments like theirs that tread in the winepress? I have trodden the winepress alone, and of the Gentiles there is not a man with me; I have trampled on them in my indignation, and have trodden them down in my wrath, and their blood is sprinkled upon my garments, and I have stained all my apparel." For the Middle Ages, this verse is a figure of the crucifixion, and therefore of redemption.