Hildegard to the Abbess
The Letters
156r Hildegard to the Abbess 1163(?)-73 Hildegard advises the abbess to use moderation in her administrative duties, and, by use of a parable, teaches her to set an example of labor for her subordinates.
Your mind is unsettled because of muddy places and because of anxiety over many waters that run dry. "Muddy places" means those who are unstable in character, and "waters that run dry" means those who are hard and rocky in disposition, and who are not softened by the streams of doctrine flowing from the Holy
Scripture. But you say in your heart, "Who, or what, am I? How can I endure such things?"
Listen now to a wise man's parable: A certain man wanted to dig a cave, but while he was working with wood and iron, fire burst forth from a rock he had dug into. And the result was that this place could in no way be penetrated. Nevertheless, he took note of the location of the place, and with great exertion he dug other tunnels into it. And then the man said in his heart: "I have toiled strenuously, but he who comes after me will have easier labor, because he will find everything already prepared for him." Surely, this man will be praised by his lord, because in length and breadth his work is much more useful than work done in arable land that is turned by the plow. And so his master will consider him a mighty knight competent to be in charge of his army, and so he puts him in charge of the other farmers who present him fruit in their due season. For whoever has labored first is preeminent over the one who succeeds him. Indeed, the Maker of the world undertook creation first, and thus set the example for His servants to labor after His fashion.
O daughter of God, keep a close watch over the plot of land within you so that it will not wither, deprived of fruitful utility for your children. Also, be firm of purpose, and avoid the intemperance of unsettled morals, for otherwise you will cause your daughters to flee from you. Be like fertile earth that is watered often with seasonable rain, so that you may produce good and delectable herbs.
How can you do this? When a person feeds his flesh moderately, he has a mild and gentle character, but when he lives on an overabundance of food and high living, he causes all kinds of noxious vices to sprout in himself. On the other hand, a person who afflicts his body with immoderate abstinence always walks in anger.
In all these matters, be fertile soil so that you may console your daughters when they weep, and reproach them when they rise up in wrath. And when they become savage, you may lead them to submit to the discipline of the Rule. Moreover, summon into your presence, and the presence of two others, those who have thoughtlessly turned away from you, and call them back with lessons drawn from history and lessons from the Gospel. And then if they still are disobedient