An Abbess to Hildegard
The Letters
gladly, with the kiss of love. The grace of God suffuses all things through the sun of justice [cf. Mai 4.2], both the harsh and the benevolent, and it hears all those who cry out to Him with the sighs of their hearts in order to know Him.
For just as God established the sun to give light to the whole earth and to dispel darkness, so through His grace does He reject harshness so that He will not respond to the hard-hearted man who calls out to Him.
So do not fear those things that torment you, for I do not see that your monastery will be destroyed. God wishes you to fulfill the obligation of your burden. And so gather to you those sheep who run willingly to you, and, mercifully, tolerate those who will not, until they call out to you. And so, live forever!
Kaufungen
An Abbess to Hildegard Before 1173 The abbess writes praising Hildegard for her prophetic gifts, and asks for a letter of consolation from her.
To the lady and sister Hildegard, N., a sinner, and abbess (in name only) in Kaufungen, with a prayer that she not hide the light of her knowledge under a bushel [cf Matt 5.15; Mark 4.21; Luke 11.33].
Forestalled by the unexpected haste of this messenger, I was unable to write anything very polished to you, lady and mother, but could only manage very common language as to a beloved sister. So please receive it as such. It is widely reported that that flying scroll which was given to the prophet to eat [cf. Ezech
3.1 ff; Zach 5.1 f] now rests in your mouth, because of your wisdom. Oh, how precious is that treasure! Beware, therefore, not to foolishly gulp it down. But "run about, make haste, stir up" [Prov 6.3] the Church, or rather the leaders of the Church, to whom it is said as it was to Peter: Simon, "could you not watch one hour with me" [Matt 26.40], We rejoice and tremble because you have seen the rod that keeps watch from the north over iniquity [cf.Jer 1.1 Iff]. Therefore, we desire to receive a letter of consolation from you.
Farewell in Christ, Remember me whenever you call upon Him so that I may merit to partake of the grace He has bestowed upon you.