A Certain Provost to Hildegard
The Letters of Hildegard of Bingen Erfurt
A Certain Provost to Hildegard Before 1173 The provost testifies to the widespread fame of Hildegard's sanctity, and expresses the desire to see her in person.
To the lady Hildegard, beloved bride of Christ, A., provost of Erfurt, although unworthy, sends all his devout prayers and devoted obedience.
We never cease lifting up our thanks to you, because your sanctity has spread far and wide, and because you greet so many with the sweet salutation of your letters.
With our whole heart we long to see you, and we hope and pray to take delight some day in the kindly words of your consolation, and, enflamed by seeing you face-to-face, to be made joyous through you. May divine mercy, which has begun so holy and so magnificent a work in you, fulfill this our desire, and, in response to your assiduous prayer, make us participants in that goodness of yours.
Now, therefore, blessed lady, we faithfully commend to your love the bearer of this letter, our friend who has made this trip for God's love and yours. May he be mercifully received by you, and merit to hear the words of the Holy Spirit speaking through your mouth.
Erfurt (St. Cyriacus)
An Abbess to Hildegard Before 1173 The abbess entrusts herself and her nuns to the prayers of Hildegard, who, she believes, has been specially anointed by the Lord.
To Hildegard, the mirror of sanctity, N., unworthy abbess of Christ's handmaidens dwelling on Mount St Cyriacus in Erfurt, with our prayers that she may partake of the joys of eternal brightness.
"Glorious things are said of thee" [Ps 86.3], servant of God. Therefore, although I am heavily burdened with sin, I ask you to reach out the hand of your prayer to me, imitating in this way your Beloved, who stretched out His hand to the leper [cf. Mark 1.40–42]. I know that you have been anointed "with the oil of