An Abbess to Hildegard
The Letters of Hildegard of Bingen to you, be obedient to the High Judge, and remember Jacob who switched his blessing from the one son of Joseph to the other [cf. Gen 48.15ff].
Now, look to the beginning of your good desire so that you may finish in faith, and receive eternal rewards from the High Judge.
Cologne (St. Ursula)
An Abbess to Hildegard Before 1173 The abbess beseeches Hildegard to send her some consolation for her overwhelming grief.
To her lady and mother Hildegard, who dwells in the tower of Jerusalem, N., abbess (in name only) of the monastery of the holy virgins of the church at Cologne,1 with her most devoted prayer and due service.
I cannot express in words how much I rejoice in your blessedness. Although I am physically separated from you, I am all the same bound to you by a deep feeling of love. I long to see you and to unfold to you the grief I bear in my heart, a grief that finds no human consolation, and I desire to regard you, who are full of all love, as my mother. I place all my hope in you, after God, and I desire to be consoled and made joyous by you from this point forward. Therefore, let the tears and sighs of a grieving daughter move you. Be mindful of me and ask God, Who became poor for our sake, to deign to free me from everlasting poverty, and to gather me to the final abode of eternal bliss.
Farewell, and greet all your congregation for me.
Note 1. The abbess's monastery was dedicated to St. Ursula and the 11,000 virgins, who, according to legend, were martyred at Cologne. Hildegard was especially devoted to St. Ursula, for whom she wrote a number of musical compositions.