An Abbess to Hildegard
The Letters of Hildegard of Bingen Lord, you may overcome ail these things. And you will not be wounded, but will live forever.
Note 1. That is, other administrators. See Letter 144r, n. 1. Hildegard's point here seems to be, as throughout the letter, that an administrator should govern with discernment and with mercy.
Cologne (St. Agatha?} /Bonn
An Abbess to Hildegard 1163(?)-73 The abbess beseeches Hildegard to send her the advice and admonition that she sees in her visions. She also reminds Hildegard of the letter she had promised on her recent visit to her community.
To Hildegard, mistress of St. Rupert, illumined by the grace of the divine light,
N., abbess (although unworthy) of Didenkirch near Bonn. Insignificant and unworthy though I am, I send an earnest request for prayer, along with the perseverance of service owed to you, great and worthy lady.
Trusting in your great sanctity and humility, I have sent this messenger to you with a letter, in the hope, holy lady, that if it does not offend your eyes, you will send me a brief response with some words of admonition, loving mother, to edify my spirit and bring confidence in God to me. Indeed, when you were here with us, you promised that, when you could find the time, you would write to offer me support and strength.
Moreover (if I dare to ask more), I will employ the prayers of the Canaanite woman who in the Gospel responded to the Lord by saying, "the whelps also eat of the crumbs that fall from the table of their masters" [Matt 15.27], With that same devoted faith, therefore, I ask you to set before me briefly some of those crumbs from your table, that is to say, from that vision in which you often see many miracles, for I greatly desire them.
Indeed, as you will recall, I recently sent you the parchment to be used for this very purpose.a To our utmost ability, we implore that God, by His everlasting goodness freely given, complete the good that He began in you [cf. Phil 1.6].