Hildegard to the Prelate
The Letters of Hildegard of Bingen the entire Church, and fearful of events and afraid for my person, I was detained and could not come.
Yet, still, I ask in the name of Christ, Who dwells within you [cf. Rom 8.9ff], that you listen to our beloved brother, the bearer of this letter, as if I were there in person. I sent him to you to consult the Spirit of God, Who dwells within you, about the present condition of our Church. Do not disdain to impart to us what comes of God, of love, of devotion, so that, consoled, we may breathe again through Him, Who consoles so many through you.
Sweet lady, we do not wish to exasperate you1 with our uncouth language, but we earnestly implore you to give the present messenger, our brother, some indications, and to respond in a few words on the margin of this piece of paper.a Farewell, in Christ's name, to you and all those entrusted to you by Christ.
And, in His name, remember me to Him.
Note 1. The translation here does not adequately convey the wordplay that the writer indulges in. Translated literally, this part of the sentence would read, "we do not wish to bitter your sweetness ..."
146r Hildegard to the Prelate 1159-73 Hildegard admonishes the prelate to put aside all fears and doubts, and shoulder the responsibilities of his office, as God wishes.
I see that there is darkness in some part of you. Why do I say this? Because your heart is bound up in that sadness which is encircled by doubt, like a millstone, questioning, What is my purpose? What sort of purpose do I have?
Now, you should take note of the day which arises in the morning with a bright dawn, but which, afterward, is racked by shifting storms. Such is your life.
For if you always had prosperity, you would be like the crab that cannot walk straight. This is the reason that God allows you to be worn down, for the father strikes the son whom he loves with a rod in this way [cf. Prov 13.24].
"Truth is sprung out of the earth: and justice hath looked down from heaven"
[Ps 84.12]. Here is the meaning of this passage: God proves all truth through man, whom he formed from the slime of the earth. Hard and rocky farmland is plowed with great difficulty, but that which is good and yielding is cultivated with joy.
Yet God is true in each: He breaks the hard and bitter man with labor, but He embraces the kind and compassionate man, the one who performs all good works