A Certain Priest to Hildegard
The Letters
penitence our sweet mother, you look to the sun like the eagle. And, therefore, God loves you very much.
Now, live forever.
Lutter
A Certain Priest to Hildegard Before 1173 The writer praises God for giving a manly spirit to one of the "frail sex," and asks for advice about the state of his soul and of those who live with him.
To the lady Hildegard, radiant with the radiance of the divine light, N., unworthy priest and instructor of the poor in Lutter, that is, in the hospice here, with a prayer that when the glory of the Lord appears, she will be satisfied, along with the elect [cf. Ps 16.15].
Frequently recalling your grace and kindness which many have experienced, we give thanks to God almighty, who deigned to confer a manly spirit (and so many virtues) on so frail a sex, especially on a woman who has lacked bodily strength from childhood. May the Lord increase His grace in you and all who dwell with you. And in His benevolence may He cause you to be mindful of us
(and of the many who have put their hope in you) before the Lord.
We hope to hear wholesome examples of your sanctity, and to learn the state of our lives from you. And so whatever God reveals to you concerning this matter, please deign to send it to us in writing, resting assured that we have determined to obey your advice and admonitions to the best of our ability. For we have been enjoined to serve the poor—a task we cannot complete without our spirits being troubled and burdened down by a heavy weight.
Therefore, we desire to know from you whether it would be better for us to lock ourselves away in our cloister, or to persevere in this turmoil. May God reveal to you which course of action pleases Him better in this matter.