A Provost to Hildegard
The Letters of Hildegard of Bingen Mainz (St. Victor)
A Provost to Hildegard Before 1173 In shame and confusion on account of his many abominable iniquities, the provost writes seeking Hildegard's intercession with the Lord. He wants to know whether he is predestined for life or eternal death.
To Hildegard, mirror of divine contemplation, G., "outcast of the people" [Ps 21.7] and provost of St. Victor in Mainz, if the sighs of a contrite, humbled heart are efficacious.
Attracted by the good aroma of your reputation and animated to the hope of salvation from the depths of sin, I request that you allow me, nurturing mother, to approach you, and lay bare my wretchedness with tears of compunction. Perhaps it is presumptuous of me—but presumptuous, I think, for the right reasons— to seek your aid and advice. I can scarcely find the words to express my misery, my confusion and shame, my tears of distress. And no wonder! For my body and spirit were sinfully polluted—worthy, it grieves me to confess, of divine chastisement by the just and merciful judgment of God, although even worse passions followed. For I have often fallen into abominable iniquity, both in thought and deed—which, however, you know well through the revelation of the Holy
Spirit. Therefore, it is hardly necessary for me to write that things are not well with my soul, for the Spirit teaches you everything.
So, saintly lady, I cast myself at your feet, since "I am dust and ashes" [Gen 18.27], and with humble devotion beseech you to pray for me to the Consoler and Liberator of our souls. And please inform me whether I have any hope for salvation: am I predestined for life or foreknown for death. Please do not regard my presumption as foolishness. May the Holy Spirit, who dwells in you, grant you to respond to all these things, in answer to my prayers, according to my faith and humility. Farewell.