The Abbess Hazzecha to Hildegard
The Litters of Hildegard of Bingen eyes, you could excuse yourself, but since you do have them, why do you not use them to look all about yourself. You use high-sounding words in your sophistry, for frequently you judge others for the very things you yourself would not want to be judged for. But then, sometimes, you do speak with wisdom.
Take care to carry your burden properly, and gather good work in the sack of your heart, lest you fall by the wayside. For you could not find quiet in the solitary life that you ask about because of your unstable character. And then your last days would be worse than the first [cf. Luke 11.26], and as heavy as a stone.
But emulate the chastity of the turtledove, and diligently watch over the choice vineyard, so that you might look to God with a pure and righteous face.
The Abbess Hazzecha to Hildegard About 1161(?) The abbess pleads with Hildegard for consolation and advice, for she is terrified at the burden of her office.
To the most loving lady Hildegard, effulgent with the sacred gift of divine and true visions, Hazzecha of Krauftal, abbess (in name only), with a prayer that she receive the overflowing gift of perfect love.
My lady, the eloquence of your most holy soul flows down from the height of your contemplation as from the tops of the eternal hills, down into the deepest valley of other souls. And like "a shower upon the herb, and as drops upon the grass" [Deut 32.2], it permeates them, and causes them to bring forth flowers without thorns, and to put forth living shoots of celestial desire bursting forth with a wondrous aroma that reaches to the very throne of the glory of almighty
God.
Therefore, I, your handmaiden, hope to see a letter from you, saintly lady, and to be refreshed by your sweet words of consolation as if by a light breeze.
For, my mother and lady, all my hope and security, all my refuge and safety depends, after God, on you. And so I run back to you alone, and, after Christ, I entrust myself to your advice and aid.
Therefore, I humbly entreat you again, and implore you, in your compassion, to pray to God on my behalf. May you please also let me know what I must do for my many excesses, for because of them and because of other transgressions, as I mentioned earlier, I am remiss in the burden of the title that has been imposed on me. For I am afraid—indeed terrified—that I am incurring God's wrath. Farewell.