Two Songs by Abbess Hildegard von Bingen (1098 - 1179)

O quam mirabilis est
Antiphona
 
O quam mirabilis est praescientia 
        divini pectoris, 
quae prescivit omnem creaturam. 
Nam cum Deus insprexit faciem 
        hominis, 
quem formavit, 
omnia opera sua 
in eadem forma hominis integra aspexit. 
O quam mirabilis est inspiratio, 
quae hominem sic suscitavit.
How wondrous is the prescience of the 
        divine Heart, 
that foreknew every creature! 
For when God gazed into the face of the 
        human being 
whom he formed, 
he beheld all his works, 
in that same human form, entire. 
How wondrous is the informing breath 
that awoke mankind in this way!
--  translated by Peter Dronke

 
 

O virtus sapientiae
Antiphona
 
O virtus sapientiae, 
quae circuiens circuisti
comprehendendo omnia 
in una via, quae habet vitam, 
tres alas habens, 
quarum una in altum volat, 
et altera de terra sudat, 
et tertia undique volat. 
Laus tibi sit, sicut te decet, o sapientia.
You power of Wisdom 
that circled circling 
and embracing all 
in a course that is filled with life -- 
you have three wings: 
one soars into the heights, 
another has moisture from the earth, 
the third flies all around. 
All praise to you, Wisdom, as is your due!
-- translated by Peter Dronke


© The Augustine Club at Columbia University, 2000
www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/
augustine@columbia.edu
Last update: February 18, 2000