Page "Hildegard of Bingen" Paragraph 8

But I, though I saw and heard these things, refused to write for a long time through doubt and bad opinion and the diversity of human words, not with stubbornness but in the exercise of humility, until, laid low by the scourge of God, I fell upon a bed of sickness ; then, compelled at last by many illnesses, and by the witness of a certain noble maiden of good conduct nun Richardis von Stade and of that man whom I had secretly sought and found, as mentioned above, I set my hand to the writing.

While I was doing it, I sensed, as I mentioned before, the deep profundity of scriptural exposition ; and, raising myself from illness by the strength I received, I brought this work to a close – though just barely – in ten years.

[...] And I spoke and wrote these things not by the invention of my heart or that of any other person, but as by the secret mysteries of God I heard and received them in the heavenly places.

And again I heard a voice from Heaven saying to me, ' Cry out therefore, and write thus!