O nobilissima viriditas (Symphonia 56)

For the Feast of St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr,
A Responsory for Virgins by St. Hildegard of Bingen ^[1]

Scivias II.5: Virginitas
& the Orders of the Church.
Rupertsberg MS, fol. 66r
(detail)

V. O nobilissima viriditas, que radicas in sole et que in candida serenitate luces in rota quam nulla terrene excellentia     comprehendit: R. Tu circumdata es amplexibus divinorum ministeriorum. V. Tu rubes ut aurora et ardes ut solis flamma. R. Tu circumdata es amplexibus divinorum ministeriorum.

V. O noblest, freshest green, viridity you are, deep rooted in the sun and shining bright in clearest calm within a wheel no earthly excellence can comprehend: R. You are contained within the embraces of the service, the ministries divine. V. As morning’s dawn you blush, as sunny flame you burn. R. You are contained within the embraces of the service, the ministries divine.

O speculum columbe (Symphonia 35)

An Antiphon for the Feast of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist
by St. Hildegard of Bingen^[1]

St. John, the beloved disciple,
resting with Jesus.
Andachtsbild, carved and
painted wood, ca. 1320.
From the Dominican convent
in Sankt-Katharinenthal
(Switzerland).
Museum Mayer van den Bergh,
Antwerp / Web Gallery of Art.

O speculum columbe castissime forme, qui inspexisti misticam      largitatem in purissimo fonte: O mira floriditas que numquam arescens cecidisti,   quia altissimus plantator      misit te: O suavissima quies amplexuum solis: tu es specialis filius Agni in electa amicicia nove sobolis.

O mirror of the dove— the perfect form of chastity— you gazed upon the mystic      bounty within the clearest font: O wondrous, flourished bloom that never withered, never fell— the Gardener on high      has sent you forth: O sweet repose of sunshine’s warm embrace: the Lamb’s especial son you are within that privileged friendship of a new posterity.