An Abbess to Hildegard
The Letters of Hildegard of Bingen Lubolzberg(?)
An Abbess to Hildegard Before 1173 Having learned that Hildegard has consoled many others through her letters, the abbess writes for help in her own time of trouble.
To Hildegard, bride of Christ in Mount St. Rupert, N., humble superior of the sisters in Lubolzberg, with a devout prayer in Christ.
God, Who searches the heart and reins [cf. Ps 7.10], knows how much I have longed, and still long, to see your face and to enjoy conversation with you. But because my sins stand in my way, I have never been able to achieve my desire.
Still, since I have often heard that many have been consoled by your writings (although it has not been granted them to see your face), with the same hope, I, sinner that I am, have dared to seek your advice through the present missive, if by chance God's mercy will grant that my affliction be consoled by your goodness. Complex indeed is the sorrow of my heart, but I hope with all my being that it can be relieved by you.
163r Hildegard to the Abbess Before 1173 A letter of encouragement to the abbess, stressing that God still loves the person who wanders astray.
Day brightens light, and night darkens darkness. Even if the night wishes to fight against the day, however, it cannot extinguish it. But if the day wishes to overcome the night, it has the ability to vanquish it May the true light, which God foresaw for man on the first day, be with you. For a father loves his son even when he leaves home, because he is aware that the son is not looking for an opportunity to sin as if there were no God. Just so, God sees that your spirit is wandering, but still your mind mocks sin's forbidden fruits, which destroy the spirit.
Therefore, I see you like the radiance of the sun glowing through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, totally avoiding the exile of perdition. For, through