Hildegard to the Prioress
The Letters of Hildegard of Bingen made your name sweet to the hearts and ears of all, so that everyone everywhere commends the signs of your humility and kindliness, and because of you, they
"glorify your Father who is in heaven" [Matt 5.16].
Therefore, blessed mother, forgive me, and bear with my folly [cf. II Cor 11.1], nay, rather, my great foolishness, so that I may open up the grief of my heart to you. And when you have heard, console, I beseech, your humble servant. For I bear an intolerable burden, since it is my duty to correct the waywardness of my sisters—and this despite the fact that I can scarce fight off the dangers that surround me on every side.
When, therefore, you have gone forth to see King Solomon in his glory [cf.
Cant 3.11], bear in mind those things I have asked of you with my whole heart.
Farewell.
140r Hildegard to the Prioress Before 1173 Hildegard offers consolation to the prioress, but, once again, as in previous letters, feels it necessary to advise against excessive flagellation of the body.
O daughter of God, as long as you have the ability, labor among the daughters of God, and let your labor cry out and pray to God. But, still, sigh in fear to God, and observe your oath.
When a person labors in the caverns of God's justice and in the narrow way, but still acknowledges the fall of Adam, and seeks the scourges of penitence for it, there is no doubt that, after the scourges of penitence, the gate of heaven will open for him.
A sudden premonition of death will not harm the one who afflicts the field of the body with proper discretion, for the symphony of the Holy Spirit and the joyous life will receive her. But one should beware lest she kill her body through excessive afflictions. Let her, rather, conquer sin through reasonable means.
Daughter, remember that you do not have the ability to create a person.
Therefore, meekly pray God to give you a better life. For this is more acceptable to God than to beseech Him with too much sadness. May God make you the temple of life.