The Revelations of Saint Gertrude

Book 4
Compiled by the Religious of Her Monastery.

Chapter 1. With what devotion we ought to prepare ourselves for festivals.

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As the Saint was watching during the greater part of the night which preceded the Vigil of Christmas, before Matins, and had occupied herself entirely in meditating on the Response De illa occulta, in which she took great pleasure, she was suddenly ravished in spirit, and in her rapture she beheld Jesus Christ reposing sweetly and peacefully in the bosom of His Father; and the desires which were addressed to Him by those who wished to spend this feast with great devotion appeared under the figure of a certain vapor. Then this beautiful and gentle Jesus sent forth from His Divine Heart a light which spread itself over this vapor, which showed them the way in which they should come to Him. As each approached to God, she perceived that those who had recommended themselves humbly to the prayers of the others were led by the hand by persons who surrounded them, and thus they went direct to God in the splendor of this light, which came forth from His Heart: whereas, those who had confided merely in their own efforts and prayers wandered from this path, but arrived at last at the term by a light which came to them from God.

As the Saint desired to know with what special grace it had pleased God to communicate Himself to each of her sisters, she immediately beheld them all responding in the bosom of the Son of God, where each was filled with joy according to her capacity and desires. She observed that none hindered the other, but that each enjoyed God as fully as if He had given Himself to each individually; that some embraced Him lovingly, as a Child about to be born for us; that others regarded Him as a faithful Friend to Whom they could therefore disclose every secret of their hearts; while others, pouring forth the whole joy of their souls, caressed Him as a Spouse chosen among a thousand, and more beloved than all, so that each found in Him, in a most pure and holy manner, the accomplishment of her individual desires.

Then the Saint came forward, according to her usual custom, and cast herself at the feet of her Lord, saying to Him "O most loving Lord, what should my dispositions be, and what devotion can I offer to Thy most Blessed Mother at this Divine birth, since my bodily infirmity prevents me even from reciting the Hours to which my profession obliges me?" It appeared to her then, Our Lord, moved by compassion for her poverty, gathered together all that she had said for the glory of God or the good of souls during Advent, and offered it lovingly to His sweetest Mother, who was seated in glory at His Side; and to this He joined all the fruits which her words might have produced, even to the end of ages, to supply for any negligence which she might have committed in her service. The Mother of God, having received this offering, appeared as if adorned by it: and Gertrude approached her, beseeching Her to intercede for her with Her Son. Then the Blessed Virgin turned toward Him with a loving countenance, and, after embracing Him, addressed Him thus: "My Beloved Son, I beseech Thee to join Thy affection to mine, and to grant to the prayers of this soul, who loves Thee with so much fervor, all she asks of Thee. Then the Saint addressed Our Lord thus: "O Sweetness of my soul! O Jesus, most loving and most desirable! O Dearest of all who are dear"! After having said these and many similar words, she exclaimed: "What fruit can there be in these words, uttered by one so vile?" Our Lord replied: What does it matter what kind of wood is used to stir up perfumes and vases of incense, they always emit the same odour? Thus whenever says to Me 'My sweetest Lord.' etc., what does it matter if they think themselves vile, since My goodness, like perfume stirred up, exhales an odour in which I take extreme pleasure, and which gives to those who move it by their words a sweetness which is to them a foretaste of eternal life?

Chapter 2

The next day, the Saint watched for some time before Matins, and occupied herself with reflecting, in the bitterness of her heart, on some impatience to which she had been given way on the preceding evening, in consequence of a negligence of those who attended her. As she heard the first signal for Matins, she was filled with joy, praising God for the announcement that the Feast of the most sweet Nativity of her Lord was so, near at hand. Then the Eternal Father addressed Himself lovingly to her, saying : Behold, I am going to send into your soul the affection which I sent before the face of My only Son to purify the world from in its sins, and I will enkindle it in your soul, that you also may be purified from all the sinful stains of your past negligence, and thus you may be prepared to celebrate the approaching feasts worthily. After this favour, she reflected bitterly on the faults which she had committed, and considered herself a creature altogether unworthy of the graces of God, since a trifling negligence in one of His servants had caused her to give way to such great impatience.

But the Divine Mercy instructed her that all the reflections which men made with sorrow for their faults, after they had done penance for them, will serve to prepare them for receiving the grace of God, as scripture teaches: "If the wicked do penance for all his sins... he shall live, and shall not die" (Ezech 18:21).

At the second bell for Matins, the Saint again began to praise God; and God the Father spoke thus to her: Behold I will again place in your soul that which I sent before My Son to correct the defects and weaknesses of man, that those defects may be amended which are not for your perfection; for their are certain faults in men, the knowledge of which serves to humble them, and causes holy compunction, and these faults further their salvation; and I permit these defects even in those whom I love most, in order to exercise their virtue. But there are other faults of which they think little, and, what is still worse, they defend them as if they were virtues, and will not be corrected for them. These faults place the soul in great peril of eternal damnation; but from these your soul is now purified.

At the third toll of the bell, as she continued to praise God, the Eternal Father filled her soul with all the virtues which had been found in the souls of the Patriarchies, Prophets and the Faithful before the advent of His Son - such as humility, desire, knowledge, love, hope, etc., - that she might celebrate so great a feast worthily. The Lord then adorned her with these virtues as so many brilliant stars, and stood before her saying: My daughter, which would you prefer - that I should serve you, or that you should serve Me? For she enjoyed God in two ways - first by rapture which absorbed her entirely in God, so that she could not explain much of what she learned therein for the edification of others; and secondly; by a grace which God conferred on her of instructing her in Holy Scripture, of what He imparted to her the spirit and meaning, so that it seemed to her as if she conversed with God familiarly, as a friend would with his friend; and this enabled her to be extremely useful to others. God then asked her which she preferred - that He should serve her in the first manner, or that she should serve Him in the second? But as she sought not only her own things, but those of the Lord Jesus, she preferred having the labour of instructing her neighbour for the glory of God, to seeking her own satisfaction by tasting His sweetness; and God appeared well pleased with her choice.

As matins commenced, she implored the Divine assistance by the words 'Deus in adjutorium; by the Domine labia mea aperiis, which is repeated three times, she saluted and adored, with her whole heart, her whole soul and all her strength, the infinite power of the Father, the impenetrable wisdom of the Son, and the ineffable goodness of the Holy Ghost - adoring the Blessed Trinity in Unity, and the Unity in Trinity; then at least the first five verses of the Psalm 'Domine quid multiplicati sunt' she approached in spirit to the holy Wounds of Jesus Christ, and embraced them lovingly; at the sixth verse of this Psalm, she prostrated at the Feet of Our Lord, to adore and thank Him for the remission of all her sins; at the seventh, she approached His sacred Hands, and thanked Him for all the favours which she had received during her whole life from His goodness; at the eighth she inclined profoundly before the loving Wounds of His Sacred Side; at the ninth (the Gloria Patri), she united with all creatures in adoring the effulgent and ever peaceful Trinity, and approaching the Heart of Jesus, she saluted it with the deepest affection, extolling it for having hidden within it all the incomprehensible riches of the Divinity.

At the first verse of the Psalm Venite, having prostrated once more to adore the Wound of the Lord's Left Foot, she obtained through it a full remission of all the sins which she had committed by thoughts or words. Then she adored the Right Foot at the second verse, and obtained pardon of all the sins of omission by which she had failed in the perfection of her thoughts and words; at the third verse, she turned to the Blessed Wound of the Left Hand and received the remission of all the sins she had committed by act; at the fourth, she received from the Right Hand of the Lord what supplied for all the omissions in her good works; lastly, at the fifth verse she approached the most holy Wound of the Side of her Beloved (which abounds and superabounds in all good), and having kissed it very devoutly in the place from whence the Precious Water sprang forth at the touch of the soldiers lance, she was purged from every stain, made whiter than snow, and adorned with every virtue by His Precious Blood; then chanting the Gloria Patri, and honouring the adorable Trinity as at the preceding Psalm, when singing the Sicut erat, she concluded all in the Heart of Jesus, which contains all that is Divine and satisfying. During the Invitatory Hodie scietis, which is repeated five times in the Venite and twice after it, God purified seven affections in her, which became marvellously ennobled by being united with the affections of Jesus Christ.

While they sang the other Psalms, she remained in the presence of the Lord clothed with virtues, as with so many brilliant stars. At this moment, as all her desires tended towards God, she prayed that all which she might do whether exteriorly or spiritually, on the day of the Nativity of her sweet Jesus, might be done to the honour and the glory of the most Holy and Adorable Trinity. When the bell rang for Lauds, Our Lord said to her: As the sound of these bells announce the Feast of My Nativity, I will grant that all which you do on this festival - whether by chanting, reading, praying, meditating, or even by exterior exercises, such as eating and sleeping - shall resound to the praises of the Most Holy Trinity, by union with My desires and love, which were ever in harmony with the Will of God the Father.

When they lit the seven candles, she received from God the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit, as far as she was capable, and in proportion even as Jesus Christ was filled with them Himself. As she besought Our Lord, by the condescension with which He willed to be born in a stable, to prepare her heart for His birth, this most clement Lord compiled with her desire, and made a stable in her heart, giving her His omnipotence, wisdom and benignity for a roof and walls.

She now beheld with great joy and admiration all the good works which God enables men to perform by His goodness and power; and in which He allowed her to share as a preparation for this feast, attached to these walls like little bells. Then she beheld the Lord Jesus, who imparted new joys and gifts to her, while he was attended by the princes of Heaven

After this as the Saint repeated, two hundred and twenty times, "I adore Thee, I love Thee", etc., it seemed to her that at each prayer His members were presented to her to use as instruments of Divine praise; and that afterwards Jesus Christ purified, in a marvellous manner, all her senses, exterior and interior, and renewed them in purifying them, so that they became sanctified by union with His. As the bell rang for Chapter, she again praised God for His Goodness in assisting thereat in person, as had been revealed to Mechtilde her sister; and she knew that He was present by the devotion which she observed in the sisters who assisted at Chapter, and who burned with ardour to see this revelation accomplished, because it seemed as if Our Lord waited with extreme joy until all the community were assembled, being seated in the place of the Lady Abbess, in whose person He appeared to pre- side, but with a marvellous glory, and accompanied by a great number of blessed spirits, who surrounded the throne of His Majesty.

When the religious were seated, Our Lord said, as if in a transport of joy: Behold My friends who have assembled here! One of the religious then having said the Jube Domine, and another replying: 'In viam mandatorum suorum,', Our Lord extended His venerable Hand and blessed the convent, saying: I consent to all which shall be done or enacted, reposing on the omnipotence of My Father. Then the religious commenced the words, JESUS CHRISTUS, FILIUS DEI VIVI, IN BETHLEHEM JUDA NASCITUR, all choirs of Angels, hearing the announcement of the birth of their Lord and King were filled with ineffable joy, and fell prostrate on the ground to adore Him. The sisters then commenced the Miserere, according to custom. The Angel Guardian of each religious presented her heart with joy to God; and it seemed as if Our Lord received from each a certain kind of knot or twisted cord, which He placed in His bosom. When those who loved God with the greatest fervour offered Him their hearts, the Angels of the choir of Seraphim, who attended Our Lord and supported Him, disposed those religious for their offering. When the hearts of those who were most enlightened in the knowledge of God were offered, the angels of the Choir of Cherubim came to present their homage. When the hearts of those who exercised themselves most in virtue were offered, the Angel of the Choir of Virtues came to their assistance; and thus also the outer Angels exercised their ministry, according as those whose corresponded to their nature came to offer their hearts to Our Lord. But as for those in whom this revelation excited no more devotion than usual, they were offered to God by the Angels; but their bodies appeared at the same time as if prostate on the ground.

Then Gertrude approached her Spouse, and offered Him the first Miserere, which was said for her, exclaiming "O my Loving Spouse, I renounce my own interest in this and I offer it to Thee for Thy eternal praise, that it may please Thee to grant some grace to Thy special friends or mine, as it shall please Thy mercy." Our Lord then received this Miserere as a brilliant and beautiful pearl, placing it in a ring which He had before Him, which was marvellously embellished with precious stones and flowers of gold, saying: Behold, I have placed this pearl which you have offered Me in the center of this ring, that all those who recommend themselves to your prayers or who merely implore your assistance by a look, may derive the same advantage from it as the Jews drew from looking at the brazen serpent, which I caused to be lifted up in the wilderness by Moses.

When the Psalms were finished, and the sisters had accused themselves of their faults, two princes appeared, who bore a tablet of gold, which they held before Our Lord. He then opened the knots, which had been hidden in His bosom; and all the words of the Psalms and prayers which had been said were seen under the form of a brilliant and beautiful pearls, each of which shone marvellously, and gave forth a sweet and melodious sound. This brilliancy was an indication of the zeal and love with which these souls endeavoured to please Our Lord and the melodious sound a prediction that the fruit which the whole Church will gather from their prayers would be rendered to them twofold.

Gertrude perceived that the Lord effected all these marvels in consequence of the particular devotion which the community had, expecting that He would preside that day at the Chapter. While the names were read from the tablet of those who were to chant of read at Matins, Our Lord looked at them with pleasure, and inclined His Head to those who listened attentively to what was prescribed them with such sensible marks of tenderness, that the tongue of man would fail to describe it; and He consoled those who were grieved that nothing was given them to chant in an ineffable manner. Gertrude who beheld all this in spirit, said to Our Lord: "O Lord, if this community only knew what extreme tenderness Thou hast for them, how those sisters would be grieved whose names were not read out". Our Lord replied: All those who have the desire of singing or reading, although they do not do so, will be treated by Me with the same goodness as if they did; for their will pleases Me as much as their action, and it will be equally rewarded. And all those who listened to what was prescribed them, and received it with an inclination of the head, desiring to accomplish it for My glory, and beseeching Me to aid them to perform it worthily, will so draw down the sweetness of My love upon them, that I will not defer bestowing on them new graces on them as a mark of My approbation.

When the Prioress, according to the rules of the Order, accused herself if negligence in the name the Community, before the Lady Abbess, Our Lord spoke thus: I absolve you, by the power of My Divinity, from all the negligence of which you have accused yourself before Me; and whenever you fall again through human frailty, I will pardon you and show you mercy.

As they read the seven Penitential Psalms as a penance for their sins of negligence and inattention, each word appeared on the same tablet in the form of pearls; but they were of a dark colour, and arranged near the brilliant ones of which we have already spoken; because these Psalms were repeated through custom, not from special devotion: from whence we may learn, that what is done through custom contributes in some degree to our merit. through custom contributes in some degree to our merit, though God regards as infinitely more excellent and agreeable what is done through devotion.

As the verse Gloria tibi, Domine, was chanted at Vespers, the Saint beheld a multitude of Angels flying around the convent, and singing the same words in loud and joyful accents. She then inquired of Our Lord what advantage men gained when the Angels joined thus in their Psalmody. As He did not reply, and she continued to desire this information, she was interiorly told, by Divine inspiration that when Angels are present at our solemnities, they pray to God that those who imitate them in their devotion may imitate them in purity of body and soul.

Then she begun to be doubtful, as often happens, whether this thought had come from God, or whether it preceded merely from her own imagination. But Our Lord consoled her by this reply: Do not fear; for your will is so perfectly united to Mine, that you can only will what I do, and consequently you desire only My glory. Be assured the holy Angels are so submissive to your good desires, that if until now they have not prayed for you as you wish, they will henceforth do so with the greatest fervour. And because I, as their King, have made you in some sort a queen they are so supposed to obey you, that if you anything from them, they will endeavour to accomplish it the moment you desire it.

After Vespers, as the relics of the convent and the image of the Blessed Virgin were carried in procession as usual, the Saint felt grieved that her illness had prevented her from reciting a number of prayers and performing some acts of devotion which she wished to offer to the Mother of God on this solemn Feast; but she found herself at the same time filled with an unction of the Holy Spirit, so that she offered her the sweetest and most noble Heart of Jesus Christ to supply for all her negligence. The Blessed Virgin received this offering with great satisfaction and pleasure, because she considered this Heart as the most honourable gift which could be offered her, as it contained every good.

Chapter 3

On the night of the Nativity, at Matins, as the Saint continued these exercises, Our Lord, to correspond with her movements of fidelity and devotion, drew her entirely to Himself, so that, by a sweet influence of His Divinity in her soul, and by a reflux of knowledge which passed from her soul to God, she knew all that was chanted at Matins, whether Responsories or Psalms; and this knowledge gave her ineffable and incomprehensible joy. While this continued, she beheld all the Saints standing before the throne of the King of kings, reciting Matins with great devotion, for His Divine honour and glory.

Remembering several persons who had been recommended to her prayers, she said, with great humility "How can I, who am so unworthy, pray for persons who stand praising Thee with such labour and devotion, since my infirmity prevents me from following their example?" Our Lord replied: You can very well pray for these persons, for I have hidden you in the bosom of My Paternal goodness that you may ask and obtain from Me, whatever you will. "But my Lord" replied the Saint, since it pleases Thee that I should pray for them, I beseech Thee to appoint a time in which I nay do so with fidelity, in a manner worthy of Thee, and with utility to them without losing the happiness with which Thou dost honour me in partaking of Thy celestial joys". To this Our Lord replied: Recommend each to My Divine Kindness and Love, since it is this Love that has made Me descend from the bosom of My Father to serve men. When she had named each individually, Our Lord won by His tender love, supplied the needs of each by a most loving compassion.

After this, the Blessed Virgin appeared to her seated honourably near her Divine Son; and while the Descendit de caelis was chanted, Our Lord appeared to recall the extreme goodness which had made Him descend from the bosom of the Father into that of the Virgin, and He looked so lovingly upon His Mother as to mover her very heart; and by His embrace He renewed all the joys which she had when in the world in His holy Humanity.

She also beheld the sacred and virginal womb of the Mother of God, which was clear as crystal, and in which Our Lord appeared in the form of an Infant, and flew promptly and lovingly to her heart; by this she understood that, as the Humanity of Christ fed upon her virginal milk, so did His Divinity feed on the purity and love of her heart. At the response, Verbum caro factum est, the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, she heard Him saying Whenever anyone inclines at these words, from gratitude and devotion, giving Me thanks for having become Man for his sake, I also incline to him, by a pure movement of My goodness; and I offer, from My inmost Heart, al the fruit and merit of My Humanity to God the Father, that the eternal beatitude of this person may be doubled.

At the words et veritatis, the Blessed Virgin came forth with the double ornament of her virginity and her maternity, and accosting the first sister on the right side of the choir, She embraced her closely, presenting Her Divine Son, whom She held in Her arms; and in this manner She proceeded to each sister, allowing each to embrace this incomparably amiable Child. Amongst those who were thus favoured, some held Him in their arms most carefully appearing very anxious that He should suffer no inconvenience; others on the contrary, neglected these precautions and permitted His head to hang down in a very painful manner. By this she understood that those who had no will but that of God rested the Head of the loving Jesus on a soft pillow, that supported Him, by their goodwill; while those whose wills were inflexible and imperfect allowed the Head of the Infant Jesus to hang down inconveniently. Therefore , my beloved let us empty our hearts and consciences of all self-will, and offer our hearts to Our Lord with full and entire obedience to His good pleasure, since He only seeks our spiritual advancement; why should we, even by the merest trifle, the repose and consolation of so delicate and tender an Infant, who comes to us with such goodness and love?

At the Mass Dominus dixit, Our Lord again imparted to her a knowledge of all that was said, which gave her ineffable joy.

Then from the Gloria in excelsis to the words Primogenitus Mariae viginis matris, she began to think that the title of only Son was more suitable than that of first born, because the Immaculate had only brought forth this Son, whom she merited to conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost; but the Blessed Virgin said to her sweetly: Call My Beloved Jesus My first born rather than My only begotten, for I brought Him forth first; but after him, or rather by Him I have you His brethren and My children when I adopted you as such by the maternal affection which I have for you.

At the Offertory, the Saint, in spirit beheld the sisters offering to Our Lord all the devotions which they had performed during Advent. Some placed them in the bosom of the Divine Infant, whose image had been impressed on their souls; and the Blessed Virgin inclined toward each with unparalleled condescension, placing her Divine Son so that He could receive His Hands what they offered: others appeared to advance toward the altar, and remained in the center of the choir, where they offered their prayers to the Blessed Virgin and to Her Son; but He was not placed so that He could receive them, and made signs to that effect. She understood from this, that those who placed their offerings in the bosom of the Child Jesus, were they who were united to the Lord with their whole hearts, wherein He was spiritually born, and that the Blessed Virgin assisted them in this with all Her power, rejoicing with them in their devotion and spiritual advancement; but those persons who had offered their gifts in the center of the choir were they who only thought of the Birth of Our Lord on the Festival, and because they were reminded of it by the special devotion of the Church.

Then this blessed soul approached the King of Glory, to present Him the good will of those who would have accomplished many things had they not been hindered by a lawful cause. And she was instructed in spirit that all the prayers which had been made with devotion were placed as pearls in the tablet, and that the goodwill of those who would have performed the same devotions, had they not been occupied, and who grieved and consequently humbled themselves for this omission, should be placed in the chain with which Our Lord's bosom was adorned, and that they would obtain such advantage from this nearness to the Heart of Jesus, that they would be as if they had the key of a treasure which contained all they could desire.

Chapter 4 For the Feast of St. John the Evangelist

The Apostles and Evangelist St. John appeared to this virgin as she prayed one day during Advent. He was clothed in a gold collared habit, covered in golden eagles, which signified that, though this Saint was elevated to the highest contemplation, even while in the body, he always sought to humble himself by the consideration of his own unworthiness. As Gertrude began to consider these ornaments, she perceived a red light shining from under the golden eagles, from which she learned that St. John always commenced his contemplation by the remembrance of the Passion of the Lord, which he has beheld with his own eyes, and which he had never ceased to mourn in his inmost heart; and thus by degrees to the sublimity of the Divine Majesty, which he contemplated without pain by the eyes of the soul, as far as it is possible for man to do. He had also two golden lilies on his two shoulders - on the right was written, in marvellous characters, the words of the Gospel: Discipulus quem diligebat Jesus; and on the left: Iste custos Virgin; to mark the singular advantage which he enjoyed of being called, and of being the disciple whom Jesus loved above the rest of His Apostles, and of having been found worthy by Christ Himself to receive from Him the charge of His Mother before He expired, on account of his surpassing purity.

The Apostle had a magnificent rational on his breast, to indicate his prerogative of having reposed on the bosom of Jesus during the last Supper. The words: In principio erat verbum (In the beginning was the Word) were written in letters of living gold, to show the marvellous virtue of the words contained in his Gospel. Then St. Gertrude said to Our Lord: "O most loving Lord, why is Thy beloved one manifested to a creature so unworthy as I am?" Our Lord answered: If any person says a Paster noster daily in honour of this Apostle, reminding him of the sweet fidelity with which his heart was filled when I taught him this prayer, he will not fail to obtain for whoever prays thus the grace of persevering faithfully in virtue, even to the end of his life.

This Apostle also appeared to the Saint as she assisted at Matins, on His Feast, when she applied with special fervour to her usual exercises. Gertrude then recommended some of the religious of whom she had charge very fervently to him; he received her prayer very lovingly, and said. "I am like my Master in this - that I love those who love me" The Saint inquired: "What grace, then and what benefit can I hope for, who am so unworthy on your dear Feast?" "Come" he replied: "come with me, thou elect one of my Lord. and let us repose together on the sweetest bosom of the Lord, in which all the treasures of beatitude lie hidden". Then taking her up in spirit, he presented her to our living Saviour; and having placed her on His right, he placed himself on the left, and reposed there. Then he exclaimed, pointing reverently to the bosom of Jesus: "Behold, this the Saints of saints, who draws to Himself all that is good in Heaven and on earth!"

Then she inquired of St.John why he had placed himself on the left hand, and had given the right to her. He replied: "It is because I have become one spirit with God and am able to penetrate where flesh cannot enter; but you are not yet able to penetrate into such high things, because you are still in the flesh. I have therefore placed you at the opening of the Divine Heart, from whence you may drink in all the sweet consolations which flow from it with such impetuous abundance, that is capable of satisfying all who desire to taste thereof. " Then, as she felt the constant pulsations of the Divine Heart, and rejoiced exceedingly thereat, she said to St. John: "Beloved of God, didst thou feel those pulsations when you wert lying on the Lord's breast at the Last Super?" "Yes" he replied; "and this with such plenitude, that liquid does not enter so rapidly into bread than the sweetness of those pleasures penetrated my soul, so that my spirit became more ardent than water under the action of a glowing fire."

"And why" she inquired: "have you neither said nor written anything of this for our edification?" He replied: "Because I was charged with instructing the newly formed Church concerning the mysteries of the uncreated Word, that those truths might be transmitted to future ages, as far as they would be capable of comprehending them, for no one can comprehend them entirely; and I deferred speaking of these Divine pulsations until later ages, that the world might be aroused from its torpor, and animated when it had grown cold, by hearing of these things". Then as she contemplated St. John reposing on the bosom of Our Lord, he said to her: "I now appear to you in the same form as when I lay on the bosom of My beloved Lord and only Friend at the Last Supper; but if you wish it, I will obtain for you the favour of beholding me in the form in which I now enjoy the delights of Heaven". And as she desired this favour very ardently, she beheld an immense ocean within the Heart of Jesus, in which St John appeared to float with ineffable joy and perfect freedom; and she learned that the Saint became so filled and inebriated with the torrent of pleasure which he tasted in God that a vein came from his heart, whereby he poured forth the sweet waters of the Divinity - that is to say, his instructions, and above all, his Gospel - over the face of the earth.

On another occasion during the same feast, as the Saint took great satisfaction in the frequent praises which were given to the Apostle for his perfect virginity, she asked this special friend of God to obtain by his prayers that we might preserve our chastity with such care as to merit a share in his praises.

St John replied:"He who would participate in the beatitude which my victories have won, must run as I ran when on earth" Then he added: "I frequently reflected on the sweet familiarity and friendship with which I was favoured by Jesus, my most Loving Lord and Master, in reward for my chastity, and for having watched so carefully over my words and actions that I never tarnished this virtue in the slightest degree. The Apostles separated themselves from such company as they considered doubtful, but mixed freely with what was not (as it is remembered in the Acts, that they were with the women, and Mary the Mother of Jesus); I never avoided women when there was an opportunity of rendering them any service, either of body or soul; but I still watched over myself with extreme vigilance, and always implored the assistance of God when charity obliged me to assist them in any way. Therefore these words are chanted of me: In tribulatione invocasti me et exaudivi te (Psalm 80:8). For God never permitted my affection to render anyone less pure; wherefore I received this recompense from My beloved Master, that my chastity is more praised than any other Saint; and I have obtained a more eminent rank in Heaven, where, by a special privilege, I receive with extreme pleasure the rays of this love, which is as a mirror without spot and the brightness of eternal light. So that, being placed before this Divine love, whose brightness I receive each time that my chastity is commemorated in the Church my loving Master salutes me in a most sweet and affable manner, filling my inmost soul with such joy, that it penetrates into all its powers and sentiments like a delicious beverage. And thus the words, Ponan te sicut signaculum in conspectu meo, are sung of me; that is, I am placed as a receptacle for the effusions of the sweetest and most ardent charity."

Then St. Gertrude, being raised to a higher degree of knowledge, understood by these words of Our Lord in the Gospel, "In My Father's house there are many mansions" (John 14:2); that there are three mansions in the heavenly kingdom, which correspond with three classes of persons who have preserved their virginity.

The first mansion is for those who like the Apostles, fly from what is doubtful, but associate freely with others, who vigorously resist all temptations, and if they fall perform worthy fruits of penance.

The second mansion is for those who avoid alike the doubtful and that which appears safe; carefully shunning what might prove an occasion even of temptation; and chastise their flesh, subduing it so that it can no longer rebel against the spirit; to this rank belong St. John the Baptist and other spiritual persons, who are also placed in the second mansion after they have been prevented gratuitously by the mercy of God and have cooperated faithfully with His graces, so as to avoid evil and to exercise themselves in the practice of good.

The third mansion is for those who, prevented by the sweetness of the benedictions and grace of God, have a natural horror of all evil; but who nevertheless, in the different accidents of life, find themselves sometimes with the wicked, but always detest evil and adhere to good, endeavoring to render both their own conduct and that of others perfectly irreproachable. Such persons draw marvellous fruit from the human affections, which they have in common with others, since they fear because of their affections, and humble themselves, watching over their hearts with greater diligence; as St Gregory says: "It shows a good conscience to fear a fault where there is none." In this class St John obtained the first rank.

Hence these words are chanted on his Feast: 'Qui vicerit, faciam illum columnam in templo meo,' (Apoc. 3:12) for whoever conquers nature - that is, his affections - becomes as a pillar whereon God can repose while pouring forth the abundance of His sweetness, Et scribam super eum nomen meum; that is, to imprint him upon the visible marks of His Divine friendship. Et nomen civitatis novae Jerusalem; that is, he shall receive, both exteriorly and interiorly, a particular recompense for each person whose spiritual welfare he has procured on earth.

St Gertrude was favoured also with another vision, referring to the same subject; for as she began to consider why the Church extolled the virginity of St John the Evangelist more than that of St John the Baptist, God who knows the thoughts of men, caused her to see the two Saints in a vision. St. John the Baptist was seated on the elevated throne, in the middle of the sea, separated from all the world; St John he Evangelist stood in the midst of a furnace, surrounded on all sides by flames. As the Saint beheld this, and marvelled thereat, Our Lord said to her, for her instruction: Which do you consider most wonderful to see - the Evangelist not burning, or the Baptist not consumed? From this she learned that there will be a great difference between the reward of these whose virtue has been assaulted and of those who have preserved it in peace.

One night, also when the Saint was engaged in prayer with great devotion, she beheld St John approaching Our Lord, resting upon Him, and embracing Him very lovingly and ardently. Then, as she cast herself humbly at the feet of Our Lord, to implore pardon for her sins, St John said to her with great condescension: "Do not let my presence trouble you; behold one whose love will suffice for thousands; behold a mouth in which each will find a special sweetness; behold an ear which will guard inviolably all the secrets confided to it."

As they chanted the words, Mulier ecce filius tuus, Gertrude beheld a marvellous light, which came forth from the Heart of God, and shone upon St John, obtaining for him the respect and veneration of all the Saints. She also saw the Blessed Virgin manifesting a special joy toward him when she was called his mother; and the beloved disciple saluted her also with the deepest respect and affection. Also, when the words were chanted which referred to the particular privileges of friendship which the Saint had received from His Divine Master, such as these: Iste est Joannes, qui supra pectus Domini in caena recbuit, and Iste est discipulus quem diligebat Jesus, as he appeared surrounded with a new light of glory, which distinguished him from the other Saints; and for this they praised God with their whole souls, which caused the blessed John to rejoice greatly.

At the words Apparuit caro suo, she understood that by the form under which Our Lord visited St. John He renewed in him all the sweetness of that mutual friendship which he had enjoyed during his mortal life. Therefore the Apostle, changed as it were into a new man, tasted in some degrees the joys of eternity; and this principally in in three things, for which he thanked God when he was dying. For he said first: "I have seen Thy face, and I am renewed thereby." Secondly: "The sweetness of Thy perfumes, Lord Jesus, has enkindled eternal desires within me". And thirdly: "Thy voice is full of sweetness". For the virtue of His presence had imparted the vigour of immortality; the strength of His Divine vocation had replenished him with the sweetest hope; and his gentle words had filled his soul with surpassing gladness. Again as they read that he rose up to follow Jesus, he appeared to dispose himself to follow Him in Heaven; and she knew that St John had such a full and entire confidence in the goodness of his beloved Lord and Master, that he hoped that he would die without feeling the pains of death; and he merited to obtain this favour because it was the greatness of his love, and not the fear of death, which had caused him to desire it.

Then the Saint began to marvel how it could be, when it was inferred from Scripture, St John had not tasted the pains of death, because he had suffered so deeply in spirit at the foot of the Cross, that is should be said now, this privilege had been granted to him for his confidence. But Our Lord replied: I have rewarded My elect in Heaven with a special glory for his virginity, and for the compassion which he had at My death; but I have also recompensed his lively hope, which made him believe that I would refuse him nothing, by withdrawing him from the world without permitting him to experience the pains of death, and by having preserved his body from corruption.

Chapter 5

On the Feast of the Circumcision, St Gertrude offered certain salutations of the sweet name of Jesus, which had been compiled by devout persons; and these salutations appeared before God with the brilliancy of stars, and in the form of white roses; from each of which hung a little golden bell, which gave forth the sweetest melody, and caused ineffable pleasure to the Divine Heart of Jesus. As she uttered the words: "Hail Jesus, most loving, most benign, most desirable!" ect., she desired very ardently to find other expressions to add to the name of Jesus, that His Heart might be still more touched thereby; but the earnest love with which she sought to accomplish this exhausted her strength, and Our Lord moved with pity, as it were vanquished by her love inclined toward her, and embraced her with exceeding love, saying: Behold, I have imprinted My name upon your lips, that you may bear it before the whole world; and whenever your lips move to utter it, it will surround before Me as a most harmonious melody.

After this she found the name of Jesus written on the upper part of her soul, in characters of living gold, which appeared which appeared like shining stars emitting a soft light. The word JUSTICE was written in the same manner on the lower part. By the inscription "Jesus", which signifies Saviour, she understood that she was to manifest Him to all as the source of life and salvation; by the inscription "Justice", she understood that she was to represent all the rigors of Divine justice to those whose minds were hardened, that the fear of God's judgments might serve to deter them from evil, if they would not be won by His mercies.

Then she said to Our Lord: "O sweetest Love! I beseech Thee to give our congregation, which always belongs entirely to Thee, a new year's gift, even as a bridegroom does to his bride". Our Lord replied: Be renewed in the spirit of your mind (Eph 4:32). She answered: "O Father of Mercies, do not forget to circumcise all our imperfections on this blessed festival of Thy holy Circumcision!" To this Our Lord answered: Circumcise yourself by meditating on your Rule. "O loving Lord" she replied, "Why dost Thou reply to me so seriously, since Thou knowest that if Thou dost not assist us with Thy grace, we shall fail in our endeavours; for Thou hast Thyself said that it is not possible for us to do any good without Thee". Then Our Lord, s if won and carried away by the words of the Saint, placed her soul in His bosom, and said to her with great sweetness: Yes I desire that you should cooperate with Me in this; and all those amongst you who, at the commencement of this year; repent with all their hearts, for My love of the faults which they have committed against their Rule, and resolve to avoid them for the future, shall obtain this favour -that I will be to them as a kind master, who holds the child whom he teaches in his arms, to point out his letters to him, to efface his imperfections, or to supply his defects; and thus My Mercy will amend their defects, and My paternal love will supply their negligence. And if they forget any duty through dissipation of mind, I will supply it to them by the reflections which I will cause them to make on it. He added: Those who endeavour to turn their minds from all which they know to be displeasing to Me, and who endeavour to please Me in all things, shall receive the light of My Divine Heart to direct their thoughts; and I will so dispose their works, that they shall be able each year to offer Me a new gift, which will not be unworthy of My acceptance, and which will be salutary for them.

As the Saint prayed for a person who had asked that she would obtain from God for her, as a New Year's gift, that her heart might always remain faithful to him in prosperity and adversity, Our Lord replied sweetly: I accept the desire of this person for whom you pray as a most acceptable New Year's gift; but as it is right that I should give her what she asks in return, I wish that this gift should be shared between us; that is should be advantageous to her, and agreeable to Me; that it should be redouned to My glory on the one hand, and that it should continually impart new ornaments of virtue to her on the other. For, as a mother, when she is teaching her child to work, guides her hand by her own knowledge, so also I use My eternal wisdom in teaching this person to prepare these gifts.

Then the Saint understood that the pearls with which these gifts were to be embellished were the holy desires and good sentiments which drew the soul to God, such as fear, love, hope and joy such -like, the least of which is not overlooked by God when He labours for the salvation of our souls.

As she prayed then for many other persons, and especially for one whose soul had lately become troubled, and as Gertrude believed, through her, Our Lord said to her: I am using her very affliction and trouble to expand her heart and to open her hands, that she may receive more abundantly and suitably the gifts which I have prepared for her. "Alas Lord!" exclaimed the Saint, "was it necessary that I should be the scourge with which Thou didst purify this soul? Our Lord answered: Why say Alas! when those who thus purify My elect, without any intention of afflicting them, but on the contrary, compassionating their sufferings with all their hearts, are as a gentle rod in My hands, and their merit increases in proportion as the souls are purified?

Chapter 6

On the Feast of the Epiphany this holy soul offered to God, in imitation of the Three Kings for myrrh, the Body of Jesus Christ, with all merits of His Passion, for the remission of all the sins of men, from the first to the last of the human race; for incense, the Soul of Jesus Christ, with all His holy actions, for the negligence of the whole world; for gold, His Divinity, with all its perfections and joys, in satisfaction for the defects of all creatures. Then Our Lord appeared and presented her offering as a most worthy New Year's gift to the most Holy and august Trinity. As He passed through the midst of Heaven, all the celestial court inclined profoundly before Him to honour this gift, as men prostrate before the Holy Sacrament when it is present.

As she prayed devoutly for a certain person who had asked her to offer the oblation which she had made before the Epiphany for her, Our Lord appeared to her, bearing this offering through the midst of Heaven, to present it to God the Father; and she saw that all the celestial court considered the offering of great value. From this she learned that when we offer our prayers, or any other gift to God, the celestial court praises and extols Him for our devotion; and when a soul, not satisfied with its own actions and prayers, offers with them those of Jesus Christ - which are infinitely more perfect - the value of his offering cannot be increased, and is worthy to be presented to the Most Holy Trinity.

On another occasion, on the same feast, as the words of the Gospel were read, "And falling down they adored Him; and opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts" (Matt: 2:11), the Saint, animated by the example of the Magi, and transported with zeal, rose to prostrate herself devoutly and humbly at the feet of Our Lord Jesus Christ; adoring Him for all in Heaven, on earth and under the earth; and finding nothing worthy to offer Him, she sought anxiously and eagerly amongst all creatures to find something which she could present to her only Love. And as she thus searched, she beheld some vile and miserable creatures, who contributed nothing to the glory of the Saviour, and these she endeavoured to bring back to Him Whom all creatures are bound to serve. Then, in the fervour of her desires, she gathered up in her heart all the fears, griefs, pains and inquietudes which had been suffered by creatures, not for the Divine glory, but because of human infirmity; and these she offered to the Lord as myrrh. Then she charged herself with all the pretended sanctity of hypocrites, Pharisees, heretics and other such persons, and offered this to God as incense. Then she took all of the falsehood and impurity which had been in the hearts of men, and offered it to God as gold, while her heart burned with desire to reproduce all the insubordination of creatures into a profound subjection to their Creator. And as she offered these things to God they appeared like shinning gold purified in the furnace.

As Our Lord accepted all of this with great satisfaction, and collected these New Year gifts as if they were precious gems for His diadem, He said to the Saint: Behold the gems that you have offered Me; I consider them of great value, and I will always bear them on the diadem which adorns My Head in memory of your singular affection for Me, that they may increase My glory in My celestial court even as an early monarch adorns himself with the rarest and most precious jewel in his kingdom.

Then the Saint remembered a person who had often asked her to make some offering for her in that day; and she asked the Lord what He would wish her to offer. He replied: Offer Me her feet, her hands and her heart. The feet indicate the desires; and this person desires to make a return to Me for My Passion, let her endeavor to suffer patiently all pains of body and mind, in union with My Passion, for the glory of My Name, and the benefit of My Spouse, the Church; and I will accept this as Myrrh. As the hands indicate action, let her endeavour to unite all her actions, whether corporal or spiritual, to the perfect actions of My most Holy Humanity, and all her actions will obtain thereby a most marvellous excellence; and I will reserve them as an incense of the most fragrant odour. As the heart indicates the will, let her always humble herself to all and be guided by a prudent counsellor, that she may know My Will, and then let her accomplish it freely and cheerfully; I will accept this union of her will with My Divine Will as an amalgam of pure gold, which can never be separated.

Then as the Saint prayed for certain persons who had been specially recommended to her, she beheld our Divine Lord, with a kind of bag under his left arm, so arranged that He could easily put His right hand therein; and here He placed the prayers which she had offered, to reserve them for the benefit of His special friends. And as she offered for each what they had requested, she beheld these petitions arranged before Our Lord as so many beautiful New Years gifts with which He adorned the souls of those who approached Him with less perfect dispositions, She knew that the fidelity, or rather the confidence, of these persons in recommending themselves to her prayers, had merited this special favour from God, inasmuch as they were not concerned whether she offered these prayers from herself or from them, provided that they were acceptable to God.

Chapter 7

For the Second Sunday after Epiphany.

On the Sunday Omnis terra, St. Gertrude prepared herself, by a spiritual confession, to behold the Sacred Face of the Lord, as the faithful do on this day at Rome; and she presented this Face to herself as all disfigured by her sins, and cast at the feet of the Lord, to ask pardon for all her transgressions. Then He lifted up His venerable Hand, and blessed her thus: I grant you, by the bowels of My Mercy, the pardon and remission of all your sins; and that you may truly amend your life, I enjoin you this satisfaction - that each day during this year you will perform this action in union with, and in memory of, the mercy by which I grant you this indulgence. The Saint accepted the satisfaction with great thanksgiving; but fearing her frailty, she said: "But what should I do, O Lord if I should fail in this, through my negligence?" Why should you fail in so easy a matter? He replied; for I will accept the least thing which you do with this intention, if it be only a pebble or a straw from the ground, to utter a single word, to show kindness to anyone, to say the Requiem aeternam for the faithful departed, or to pray for sinners or the just.

The Saint was exceedingly consoled by this, and began to pray for her particular friends, beseeching Our Lord to grant them the same favour. He granted her petition, and said: All who wish to share with you in the satisfaction which I have imposed on you, will also receive a similar indulgence and remission of their sins. And then extending His sacred Hand, He gave her His benediction a second time. After this He said: Oh, what an abundant benedictions I will pour forth on him who returns to Me at the end of this year with works of charity exceeding the number of his sins! But the Saint exclaimed distrustfully: "how can this be, since the heart of man is so prone to evil. that scarcely an hour passes in which he does not sin in many ways?" Our Lord replied: Why should you think this so difficult, where there are so many that please Me, and there is nothing, however difficult, which My graces cannot accomplish. "Lord" inquired Gertrude, "what will you give who accomplishes this in Thy strength?" I can give you no better answer than this, He replied, That I will give 'what eye has not seen nor ear heard, neither had it entered into the heart of man to conceive.' (Cf. 1 Cor: 2:9). How happy will he be who has practiced this devotion for a year, or even for a single month, since he may expect the same reward from the liberality of His God!

On the following day, as she prayed for those who communicated according to her advice, but could not approach the Sacrament of Penance, on account of the absence of their confessor; it appeared that Our Lord clothed them with a white robe, as a sign of their innocence, adorned with precious stones which had the form and the scent of violets, as a type of the humility with which they had followed her advice. A rose colored mantle was also given them, covered with flowers of gold, which signified the loving Passion of Our Lord, in virtue of which they obtained a worthy preparation for Communion. Let them be seated near me, said Our Lord, that it may be known that it is not by accident, but on purpose, that the first place is kept for them; because from all eternity it has been ordained that those who have followed your advice shall receive extraordinary favours from me today; and those who have communicated without confessing and without asking your advice, resting on the goodness and grace of God, shall receive a rose colored mantle with gold flowers, and shall also be seated at the table of the Lord.

Those who, through humility and compunction, had abstained from Communion, appeared as if standing before the table, and rejoicing in its delights. Then the Lord moved by His own mercy, blessed them with His Hand saying these words: All those who meditate frequently on the vision of My Divine Face, attracted by the desires of love, shall receive with in them, by the virtue of My Humanity, a bright ray of My Divinity which shall enlighten their in most souls, so that they shall reflect the light of My countenance in a special manner in eternity.

Chapter 8

On the night of the Feast of St. Agnes, the beloved of God, as Gertrude rejoiced greatly for the glory which the love of this Saint had given to Our Lord, and for the words she had uttered which gave such joy to the heavenly court, she exclaimed: "Alas, Lord, what joy and consolation would I not have experienced at hearing these words chanted, if my infirmity had not prevented me"! Our Lord replied: I reserve this for you in myself; and either in this life, or in the next you shall taste other consolations, which will be all the sweeter to you because they will have less of the insipidity of your own will.

From this she understood that nothing can diminish the spiritual welfare of the elect, unless through their own fault. As they read the sixth Lesson (which related with St Agnes was accused of being a Christian from her child, and so bewitched by magic that she called Jesus Christ her Spouse), St. Gertrude exclaimed sorrowfully: "Alas, my Lord and my God, what does not Thy Divine Majesty suffer from men" Our Lord replied: The perfect love that unites Me and Agnes satisfies Me for all these indignities. "O Lord" replied the Saint, "grant to all they elect the grace to attach themselves so inviolably to Thee, that Thou mayest no longer think of the injuries by which men outrage Thee."

On the Feast of St. Augustine, as God showed Gertrude the merits of many Saints, she desired to know something of the merits of St. Agnes, whom she had loved from her very infancy with the greatest tenderness and devotion. Our Lord yielded to her desire and prayer, and showed her that great Saint, so united to His Heart as to indicate her extraordinary innocence, and to manifest the truth of what has been said by the Wise Man, that Incorruption bringeth near to God(Wis 6:20); for she seemed so near God, that it appeared as if no one in Heaven could equal her innocence and love.

From this she learned that there is not an instant in which God does not place before Him the devotion and joy which the holy souls either have felt or will yet feel from the sweet words of St. Agnes which are recited by the Church, and that He causes the pleasure which He finds therein to pour forth from His Heart into that of this holy virgin, which is so intimately united to His, while she becomes marvellously adorned thereby with new jewels, casting rays of light every moment into those souls who rejoice into her devotion.

Chapter 9 For the Feast of the Purification

On the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, as the Saint rejoiced in spirit at the first sound of the bell for Matins, and said to Our Lord,: "My heart and my soul salute Thee, O loving Saviour, at the sound of the bell which announces the Feast of the Purification of Thy most holy Mother, " He replied condescendingly: And the bowels of My pity knock at the gates of Divine Mercy for you, to obtain the full remission of all your sins. As the bell for Matins ceased to ring, Our Lord wished to recompense her salutation a thousand fold, and said to her: O joy of My Heart, My Divinity salutes Thee; and I send you all the merits of My holy Humanity, to enable you to pass this festival in a manner pleasing to Me.

Some months after, as she desired to hear what was chanted in choir, and grieved for the infirmity which detained her in bed, she said complainingly: "O Lord, if distance did not prevent me from hearing, how my heart would rejoice for each word chanted at Matins!" But Our Lord answered: My spouse, if you know what is chanted in choir, turn to Me, and contemplate attentively what passes within Me, and you will not fail to find what will satisfy you. Then she knew in spirit that the Lord took unto Himself all the good that holy souls were doing in the Church, and that, having purified and perfected it in Himself, He offered it in eternal praise to the Most Holy Trinity; and that, drawing into His Divine Heart the good works which were done for the glory of God, He ennobled and perfected them; and she perceived that while the works united to the members of Jesus Christ operated in the soul a good of inestimable value, those which He drew into His Heart surpassed the others in perfection and excellence, even as a living man exceeds in dignity one who is dead.

After this, as she heard the second Response,a and grieved that she had not heard the first, which was Adorna thalamum, she said to Our Lord: "Teach me, I implore Thee my Beloved, how I can adorn the couch of my heart, so that it may please Thee. "Our Lord replied: Open your heart to Me, and let Me see therein the images which you know to be most pleasing to Me. From this the Saint understood that Our Lord is exceedingly pleased when we open our hearts by remembering His sufferings, and thanking Him for His benefits. As they sang Post partum virgo, St. Gertrude saw the Blessed Virgin wiping away all stains from the religious of the convent; and hiding them in a corner, she placed herself before them, so as to conceal them from the eyes of Divine justice. During the Antiphon Beata mater, at the word Intercede she saw the Blessed Virgin, elevated and radiant with glory, offering to her Son, Who is the King of kings, after a gentle embrace, all the devotions of the sisters in union with her own.

But as Gertrude still complained of the obstacles which were caused by her infirmities, Our Lord said to her: If Simeon and Anna - I mean the effects of your infirmity - still hinder you from attending the Divine Office, come forth with Me on Mount Calvary, where you will find a young man full of beauty and affection to place you upon a cross.

She therefore followed Him there in spirit, and the memory of the Passion caused a marvellous delight in her soul. Then she went forth by a gate on the northern side, and entered into a magnificent temple, where she beheld the blessed old man Simeon standing near the altar, and uttering these words as he prayed: "When will He come? When shall I behold Him? Shall I live until He comes?" And, as he repeated the same and similar words, he felt his soul thrilled within him, and turning round suddenly, he beheld the Blessed Virgin before the altar, holding in her arms the Infant Jesus, the most beautiful of the children of men. As soon as he beheld Him, he was enlightened by the Holy Ghost, and recognized the Redeemer of the world; and then taking Him into his arms with great joy he exclaimed: Nunc dimittis servum tuum, DSomine; at the words quia viderunt oculi mei. he kissed Him lovingly; and at the words quod parasti, he lifted Him before the Ark, to offer Him to God the Father as the salvation of His people. The Ark then became brilliant with light, and the image of the Infant Jesus appeared therein resplendent with beauty, which signified that He was the consummation of all the sacrifices of the old and new covenants. Then Simeon exclaimed, in the fervour of his love; Lumen ad revelationem gentium, and returned the Child to His Mother, saying: Et tuum ipsius animam pertransibit gladius. The the Blessed Virgin offered two young doves for Her Divine Son, which indicated the innocent lives of the faithful, who, like doves, reply in sweet murmurs to all evil, and collect pure grain - that is, endeavour to follow the example of the Saints; and those who act thus redeem the Lord Jesus, when they fill up and accomplish what Our Lord has left for them to do.

At the eighth Response, Ora pro nobis, ect., the Queen of Virgins knelt before God as the mediatrix between Him and the religious, praying for each individually; but her Divine Son raised her up respectfully, and placed her bear Him on the throne of His glory, granting her full authority to command what she would. Then she desired the Choir of Powers to surround the convent, and to defend it mightily against the wiles of the ancient enemy. The Angels immediately obeyed the orders of the Queen of Heaven, and joining their shields together, encompassed the convent on all sides.

Then St Gertrude said to the Blessed Virgin: "O Mother of Mercy, will not those who have not assisted in choir have a share in this mighty defence?" The Holy Virgin replied: They have a share in it, and so will all those who, here or elsewhere, preserve the true spirit of religion; but if any fail in religious observance, and are not earnestly seeking to attain perfection, they will not merit to be under the protection of the Angels. To this Our Lord added: Let those who desire to live under so powerful a protection make shields for themselves - in this manner; narrow below that is, toward themselves - by humility, and large above - that is, toward Me - by a full and perfect confidence in My goodness.

When the Versicle Ora pro nobis was sung at the procession, the Blessed Virgin appeared to place her Son gently on the altar, and then prostrating devoutly before Him, She interceded for all the congregation; and this Royal Child inclined toward her, to signify that He not only heard Her prayers, but that He would also accomplish all that His beloved Mother desired

Chapter 10 For Septuagesima Sunday

On the Sunday Circumdederunt, St Gertrude, though still very weak, desired ardently to receive the Sacrament; but although she had prepared herself with great fervour; she abstained by the advise of her spiritual mother, through discretion. As she offered this privation to God, she found herself standing before the Lord; and He inclined sweetly toward her, placing her in the bosom of His paternal goodness, saying to her, with the caresses and affability of a mother to her child: Since you abstain from receiving Me purely for Me, I will keep you in My bosom, so that no exterior labour may trouble you. The Saint, being overwhelmed with delight on the bosom of Our Lord, said to Him "O most loving Spouse, since the whole world is seated in wickedness (1 John:5:19), and opposes Thy glory at this time more than at any other by the excesses into which it plunges, I desire with all my heart that my congregation should be employed in making reparation to Thee. Therefore, if Thou wilt deign to acknowledge me as Thy servant, so alas so unworthy, and accept me as Thine ambassador, I will gladly announce some special exercise fro Thy love to all who are devoutly disposed, in order to honour Thee in reparation for the sins now committed". Our Lord replied: Whoever will be My Ambassador on this occasion will have this reward - that all which He gains for Me will be acquired and gained for himself.

From this she learned that all who labour to instruct others, either by their words or their writings, for the honour of God and the advancement of their neighbour's salvation, will receive a reward even to endless ages from the fruit which has been drawn from their books or their instructions. He then added: Whoever offers Me the satisfaction of his corporal necessities, such as eating, drinking, sleeping and saying in his heart or with his lips: Lord I take this food (or whatever it may be) in union with the love with which Thou didst perform the like action when on earth, for the glory of Thy Father and the salvation of men: praying that in union with My Divine love, it may serve for the salvation of all in Heaven, on earth and or in Purgatory - each time he makes this offering, he presents Me with a strong shield to protect Me against the insults and outrages of sinners.

Then as the sisters communicated at the Mass, Our Lord placed Gertrude tenderly at the loving Wound of His Side, and said to her: Since discretion obliges you to abstain from receiving Me corporally in the Sacrament, drink now from My Heart the sweet influences of My Divinity. Having drunk of this torrent of sweetness and delight, as she thanked Our Lord devoutly for it, she saw all those who had communicated that day standing in the presence of the Lord, Who gave to each a marvellous beautiful habit, and a special gift, which enabled them to prepare themselves worthily for Communion. As they obtained these great favours through the merits of Gertrude, they also offered to Our Lord in their turn the advantages which they had received through her, for the increase of her glory and merit. From this she understood that those who dispose themselves for Holy Communion by particular prayers and devotions, and who nevertheless abstain for good reasons, as through obedience or humility, are replenished by God with the torrent of Divine delights, while their preparation for Communion contributes to prepare others, and the fruit which others derive thereby returns to their advantage. Then St Gertrude exclaimed: "O Lord, if it true that those who abstain from Communicating receive such great fruit, is it then more advantageous to abstain?" Our Lord replied: By no means; for those who approach the Sacrament for love of My glory as the delicious nectar of the Divinity, and are adorned with the incomparable splendour of My Divine Virtues. "Lord" inquired the Saint "what will happen to to those who abstain from Communion on account of their negligence, and yet pass the day in the same negligence?" He replied: They render themselves still more unworthy of Communion, and they deprive themselves of the fruit of the Communions made on that day throughout the Church. Then the Saint continued: "Tell me, I beseech Thee, O Lord, why it happens that certain souls, who judge themselves unworthy of Communion, and apply themselves less earnestly to prepare for it, are nevertheless pressed by a so ardent desire to receive Thy sacred Body, that it grieves them exceedingly to abstain on the days appointed for receiving It?" Our Lord replied: This happens to them by a special grace of My Sweet Spirit; as a king, who is always accustomed to the court, naturally prefers the pleasure which he always enjoys there, to the satisfaction which others find in roaming through the streets and squares.

Chapter 11 For Sexagesima

On the Sunday Exurge, as she was still confined to bed, she heard the words Benedicens ergo, chanted at Matins: and reflected on the sentiments of joy and devotion which she had so often experienced in listening to this Response, she exclaimed: "O Lord, Thou knowest with what fervent love I have often chanted this Response and many others when I carried up before Thy Throne of glory, and there intoned each note and word in Thy Heart, as on a most sweet organ. But alas now that I am infirm, I neglect many things."

My beloved one replied Our Lord: I can testify to the truth of what you say, and I know that you have often chanted these words most sweetly on the organ of my Divine Heart; therefore I am now going to chant for you in return, Then He added: Even as I swore to My servant Noe (Noah) that I would no more destroy the earth with a flood, so do I swear to you also, by My Divinity; that all those who listen to your advice with humility and avail themselves of it to regulate their lives, shall never perish, but shall assuredly attain to Me safely and without wandering, Who am the Way, the Truth and the Life; and I confirm this oath to you by the seal of My Most Holy Humanity.

"O Eternal Wisdom" replied Gertrude, "since Thou forseest all the excesses and crimes into which men will again precipitate themselves, why didst Thou make so solemn a promise in their favor that Thou wouldst not again destroy the world by a deluge?" Our Lord replied: I made it to strengthen them in their good resolutions during the calm of prosperity, so that in the storm of affliction they may be bound in honor to keep their promise. Then she said: "O Lord God, wilt Thou teach Thy handmaid how to build an ark for Thee during this week?" Our Lord replied: You can build an ark in your heart, which will be very pleasing to Me; but observe carefully that there were three chambers in Noe's ark; the birds were in the highest, men in the middle, and beasts in the lowest. Thus you should divide the day into three parts; from early morning until Noon, (None) return to Me thanks, on the part of the whole Church and from the very bottom of your heart, for all the benefits which I have bestowed on men from the creation of the world to the present time, and especially for the signal benefit which I confer on them by immolating Myself to God the Father daily, from day break until Noon, on the Altar for their salvation, while men employ themselves in feasting and debaucheries, without a thought of gratitude. If you therefore study to repair their faults, and supply for their lack of thanksgivings, you will gather birds into the first stage of your ark. From Noon (None) , until Vespers, by attaching yourself firmly to the exercise of good works, and by uniting them to those performed by My sacred Humanity, in satisfaction for the negligence and ingratitude of men, who refuse to correspond with My benefits, you will enclose men in the center of the ark. From Vespers you may reflect and consider in the bitterness of your heart how men have the impiety to add to their ingratitude an infinity of crimes which excite My anger, and by offering in atonement all the bitterness and pains which I suffered in My Passion and Death, though I was innocent; and thus you may enclose beasts in the lowest part of the ark.

Then she said to the Lord: "As I have asked this instruction of Thee so earnestly, I cannot feel certain that Thou O best of Teachers, hast taught it to me." He replied: You ought not to esteem it less because I have given it to you on account of the earnest desire you expressed; for I have created your senses for my service. Was it not a more wonderful thing to say, 'Let us make man to Our own image and likeness,' when I created him with deliberation and counsel, than to say, when I created other things: 'Let there be light? She replied: "If I availed myself of this authority to introduce this exercise for the benefit of others, someone else might introduce other things, which might not be an effect of Thy Divine grace". Our Lord replied: Add this caution: whoever knows in his heart that his will is so united to Mine as never to dissent from it, either in prosperity or adversity and who acts and suffers in all things purely for My glory, may certainly affirm that whatever he learns interiorly is from Me, if it is useful to others, and not contradictory to Scripture.

Then the Lord stood before this soul, and said: Now queen and lady, console Me as I have consoled thee; and having said this, He inclined lovingly towards her. But this soul being overwhelmed with amazement at such unheard of condescension, exclaimed, with the deepest humility, from her inmost heart: "Ah Lord, Thou art the Creator, and I am but a creature!" As she uttered these words, her soul was drawn and united to God in a marvelous manner, and enjoyed with Him the sublimest beatitude. Then she said to the Lord: "Vouchsafe, O Father of Mercy, to give a little rest to Thy servant, who is weakened by the remedies she has used, that I may communicate worthily today." He replied: Then union with Me, which you now enjoy, will render you stronger than any bodily repose which you could take. While Mass was being celebrated, as she complained in the presence of God that her infirmity prevented her from hearing it. Our Lord said to her: Repeat the Confiteor. When she had concluded, He pronounced these words: May My Divinity have mercy on you, and pardon you all your sins! and extending His venerable Hand, He gave her His benediction. Then the Lord took her into His arms and said: And God created man to His own image. Then He signed her eyes and ears, her mouth and her heart and her hands and her feet; and sweetly repeating these words each time, He renewed His image and resemblance in her soul.

On the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, a day on which people in the world commit the greatest excesses in eating and drinking, St Gertrude heard the bell ringing for the workmen's breakfast, and exclaimed with a sigh: "Alas my Lord, how early in the day men begin to offend Thee by their gourmandising!" But Our Lord replied: Do not grieve my beloved; those who are now summoned to the meal are not of the number of those who offend Me by greediness, since this reflection is a warning to them to apply to work; and I take as much satisfaction in seeing them eat, as a man would seeing his horse refreshed when he needed its labor.

Chapter 12 For the Saturday before Quinquagesima

On the Saturday before Quinquagesima Sunday, as St Gertrude disengaged herself from all exterior cares, and recollected herself in prayer, she was received into the bosom of the Divine goodness, where she enjoyed the sweet influences of His delights with such perfect power, that it appeared to her as if she was disposed of the kingdom of Heaven and earth with her Spouse. The day passed in these spiritual delights; but toward evening she began to be troubled about a trifling matter, so that she no longer enjoyed them. At last, before Matins, as she passed the greater part of the night in disquiet, which prevented her from sleeping, she besought Our Lord that He would remove this obstacle to her enjoyment of His Divine delights, if it was for His glory. The Lord replied: If you desire to soothe My pains, you must bear your own, and stand at My left, so that I may recline upon you, and look into your heart, where the sweet concert of your holy desires, your perfect confidence in Me and the ardor of your zeal for the eternal salvation of all mankind, may move Me powerfully. appeasing My justice. Further: as the rich treasures of your heart will be open to Me, I may impart them to those who are in need, and whose wants and necessities you would desire to relieve as far as you could. For if you stood on My right hand, that is in prosperity, you would deprive Me of those delights.

Then the Saint asked Our Lord to prescribe some exercise by which she might serve Him lovingly during these three days, on which men commit so many crimes and excesses. Our Lord replied: You could not please Me better than by suffering patiently all that grieves or tires you, whether interior or exterior, in memory of My Passion, and by doing whatever you find most difficult; and you would do most effectually by controlling and restraining your senses. Whoever acts thus in memory of My Passion may hope for a great reward from Me. "But" continued the Saint, "I desire ardently to know from Thee, O most loving Teacher, what sufferings are most capable of appeasing the just anger which Thou feelest during these three days of excess". Our Lord replied: You can do nothing more acceptable to Me than to say the Pater nester three times, or the Psalm Laudate Dominum, omnes gentes (Praise the Lord all ye peoples); and at the first repetition, offer to God all the weariness and labors of My Heart for the salvation of men; and suffer or labour, praise or give thanks, in reparation for all the unlawful pleasures in which the human heart indulges at this time. At the second repetition, offer to God My Father all the abstinences and mortifications of My lips, whether in eating, speaking, preaching, or praying, in satisfaction for all the sin of the tongue now committed. At the third repetition, offer to God My Father all the actions and movements of My most holy Body, and of each member thereof, with all the bitterness of My Passion and Death, in satisfaction for all the sins which men commit now against their own salvation.

At the hour of Terce, Our Lord appeared to St. Gertrude in the position in which He was when tied to the pillar between two executioners, one of whom tore Him with thorns, and the other bruised Him with a whip full of large knots; both striking His Face, which seemed so disfigured, that her very heart melted away with compassion; nor could she restrain her tears whenever she recalled that mournful spectacle during the day, since it appeared to her that none upon the earth had ever been so cruelly used as her sweet Lord Jesus. Even the very pupil of the eye was torn and inflamed, both by the thorns and the blows from the scourge. It appeared also to her that her Lord turned His blessed Face from side to side; but when he turned it from one executioner, the other struck it still more furiously; then He turned to her, and exclaimed: Have you not read what is written of Me: Vidimus eum tanquam leprosum?" - We thought Him a leper. (Is, 53;4). The Saint replied: "Alas, Lord, what remedy can we find to soothe the agonizing pains of Thy Divine Face!" Our Lord replied: The most efficacious and the tenderest remedy which you can prepare for Me is to meditate lovingly on My Passion, and to pray charitably for the conversion of sinners. These two executioners represent the laity, who offend God openly, striking Him with thorns, and the religious, who strike Him still more unpitiably with the knotted cords of secret sins. But both offend Him to the face, and outrage the very God of Heaven.

She then understood that the Passion of Our Lord is read in the Gospel that it may be re-called to mind by His special friends, for His glory and for the good of the Church; that the scourging is mentioned therein twice according to the vision which she beheld; and that charity is recommended in the Epistle to exercise us in the love of God and our neighbor; suffering with God all the opprobriums which men made Him suffer, and pitying the neighbors for the misery to which they reduce themselves by offending God in this manner.

At Mass the Saint began to invoke the Divine assistance in the words of the Introit; but Our Lord appeared to use the same words in addressing her as if He needed her assistance against the evils and cruelties then exercised against Him saying to her: You are My beloved one; be My protector, by your resolution of being My defense against all those who injure Me and treat Me with contempt; for I come to you to hide Me. Then the Saint embraced her Lord, striving with all her power to draw Him into her very soul; but she became so ravished in God, that she did not know whether the sisters stood or sat in the choir. When she was told that she was not conforming to the accustomed usage, she besought Our Lord that nothing might be observed of what was passing within her. He replied: Let your love keep your place near Me; and as for yourself, you can attend to your exterior deportment. "O must loving Lord", she replied "if it is true that my love can keep my place near Thee, I hope that reason will suffice to guide my exterior conduct, that I may love Thee more freely". And she obtained this gift from God, she still followed exactly the common exercises of the other religious.

Chapter 13

On the night of Quinquagesima Sunday of the Lord Jesus appeared to Gertrude, seated on a throne, and attended by John the Evangelist, who sat at His feet, writing. As she inquired what he wrote, Our Lord replied: I have desired him to note carefully on this paper the service which the community rendered Me yesterday, and I will also have those noted down which they will render Me on the two following days; so when I am enthroned as Judge by My Father, I may render to each, after her death, god measure for what she had done; that the fruit of My Passion, which is the source of all the merit and excellence the actions of men can have, may render this measure pressed down; and that this parchment, which I will bring to My Father may render the measure so heaped up, that it will pour forth abundantly: and this is for the services which they render Me at a time when men overwhelm Me with injuries by their debaucheries; for as I never fail in fidelity, I cannot be wanting in justice to those who serve Me. Furthermore, although King David acknowledged during his life the services which his friends had rendered to him, still he recommended Solomon to show favor after his death to the children of Berzellai the Galaadite, and to admit them to his table, because they came to meet him when he fled from Absolom. For as the services which we render in adversity are far more esteemed than those which are rendered in prosperity, so I esteem far more the services which are offered to Me now, when the world offends Me so much more than at any other time.

As St John sat and wrote, she saw him dipping his red into the horn which he held in his hand, and then the writing appeared black; but when he dipped his reed into the loving Wound of the Side of Jesus, the writing appeared rose colored; in some places it was diversified with black and gold. She understood by this, that the black writing signified the works which were done by the religious through the custom, such as fasting, ect; which all religious communities commence now; that the red letters, diversified with black and gold, indicated the works which were done in memory of our Lord's Passion, to obtain grace or other similar intentions. But these works which were done purely for the glory of God and in union with the Passion of Christ, for the salvation of all mankind, without any view of self-interest, of grace, or merit, were written in letters of pure gold; and these works would obtain the greatest reward from God, since what is done purely for the love and glory of God is the highest merit and value, and increases beyond all measure the recompense of eternal life.

The Saint also perceived spaces between the writing; and as she inquired what this signified, Our Lord replied: As your community is accustomed to remain with Me at this time, and to offer your petitions in honor of My Passion, I have caused each thought and word to be inscribed here; in the vacant places all that you have done in memory of My Passion, and not from mere custom, is inscribed. But how could all our actions be thus acceptable?" inquired Gertrude. They would be so replied Our Lord if your fasts, vigils and regular discipline were performed in memory of My Passion, and were offered to Me in union with the mortification of My senses which I practiced during My Passion. For although I could have silenced My accusers by a single word, I was as a sheep led to the slaughter; I inclined My Head humbly, and cast My eyes to the ground, never opening My lips before My Judge, or replying to even one of the false accusations which were brought against Me.

"Ah!" exclaimed Gertrude, "teach me, O best of teachers, how to perform even one action perfectly in memory of Thy Passion." Our Lord replied: When you are praying, extend your arms to represent the manner in which I extended Mine to God My Father in My Passion; and do this for the salvation of every member of the Church, in union with the love with which I stretched out My arms on the Cross. If I do this", she replied, "I must hide myself in a corner, for it is far from being customary." Our Lord replied: If anyone prays thus with his hands extended, without fear of contradiction, he pays me the same honor as one would do solemnly enthroned as a king.

St. Gertrude also observed in these writings, that the actions of those who, for the love of God, gave good advise to others, were noted down; from which we perceive the exceeding goodness of God, who not only delights in procuring our salvation, but even seeks to recompense doubly the least good that we do. Then the Saint said: "OLord, why is it that St John has been chosen to write these things rather than our holy father St. Benedict, who belongs to our own Order?" Our Lord replied: I have chosen My beloved disciple because he has written of the love of God and the neighbor, therefore is most fit for this office; for I have confidence in him that he will record what is most suitable to My power and My Divinity, as well as what will be most for your advantage.

On Ash Wednesday St Gertrude came to Our Lord, the person of the Church, and with the Church, offering to Him the penance of the fast for the Church; and she was received by Him with so many token of love, and in so favorable a manner, that she learned indubitably, and by experience, the strength and tenderness of the affection which Christ has for the Church His Spouse, in whose person she approached Him.

Chapter 14

On the Sunday Invocabit as Gertrude felt unable to receive the Body of Our Lord, she besought Him with her whole heart to supply, by His forty days' fast, for the dispensations which her infirmity obliged her to accept. Then the Son of God rose up and knelt before His Father, with a joyful countenance, saying: I, who am Thy only Son, co-eternal and consubstantial with Thee know, by My inscrutable wisdom, the defects of human weakness, as man could not know; therefore do I abundantly compassionate this weakness, and desiring to supply for it perfectly, I offer Thee, O holy Father, the restraints of My blessed Mouth, in atonement for all sins of omission and commission of which the tongues of men are guilty; I offer Thee O just Father, the restraints of My Ears for all their sins of hearing; I offer Thee the restraints of My Eyes for all their sins committed by seeing; I offer Thee the restraints of My Hands and Feet for all the sins of those members. Lastly, I offer to Thy Majesty, O most loving Father, My Divine Heart for all their sins of thought, desire or will.

Then the Saint stood before God the Father, clothed in a red and white garment, and adorned with many ornaments. The white robe indicated the innocence conferred on her soul by the mortifications of Christ; the red signified the merits of His fasts; and the diversity of ornaments, the many ways and exercises by which Our Lord labored for our eternal salvation. Then the Eternal Father took this soul thus adorned, and placed it at a banquet between Himself and His only Son. On the one side, the splendor of the Divine omnipotence overshadowed her, to enhance her apparel and her dignity; on the other side, she was illuminated by the light of the inscrutable wisdom of God the Son, which had adorned and embellished her with the treasures and perfections of His life. Between these two lights there was an opening, through which might be seen the humble sentiments which this soul had of her baseness and defects; and her humility pleased God so much, that it won for her the tenderest affection of this Almighty King.

Then Our Lord placed before St. Gertrude the three victories, which are mentioned in the Gospel of the day, under the form of different kinds of food, that they might serve her as an antidote against the three vices to which men are most subject - namely, delectation, consent and concupiscence. First, He manifested to her the signal victory which He had gained over the devil, who tempted Him to the pleasure of eating, when he asked Him to change the stones into bread, and Our Lord wisely answered him, that man doth not live by bread alone; and He desired her to offer it to God, in satisfaction for all the sins which she might have committed through love of pleasure, and to obtain strength to resist such temptations for the time to come. For the more we yield to temptations, the less capable we are of resisting them; and each may thus offer Our Lord's victory for their own needs. Our Lord then gave her His second victory for the remission of all the sins which she might have committed by consent, and to obtain grace for the future to resist these temptations efficaciously; and each may also offer this victory, for the same end, and with the same advantage, to obtain from God the pardon of all sins of thought, word or act, and grace to avoid falling for the time to come. Lastly Our Lord gave her His third victory as a remedy against avarice, which desires the goods and advantages of earth, and to obtain strength to resist this temptation.

During the Epistle at Mass, the Saint applied herself to noting the virtues mentioned therein, which she thought might be most useful to practice or to teach others; and as she felt she needed the gift of understanding, she said to the Lord "Teach me, O Beloved, which of these virtues will please Thee best; for, alas, I am not specially earnest in any! Our Lord replied: Observe that the words In Spiritu Sancto (in the Holy Ghost) occur in the middle of these victories. As, therefore, the Holy Spirit is a good will, study above all things to have this good will, for you will gain more by it than by any other virtue, and it will obtain for you the perfection of all virtue. For whoever has a perfect will to praise Me, if he could, more than all the world, or to love Me, thank Me, suffer with Me, or exercise himself in the most perfect manner in all kinds of virtue, will certainly be recompensed by Divine liberality more advantageously than one who has actually performed many other things. Then the Holy Spirit appeared before Gertrude, enlightened in a marvelous manner that place where the depravity and imperfection of her soul could be seen; so that, the virtue of this Divine light having entirely removed her defects, she found herself happily immersed in the Source of eternal light.

Chapter 15

The second feria after the Sunday Invocabit, as these words were read in the Gospel, "Come ye blessed of My Father; for I was hungry," ect., St Gertrude said to Our Lord: "O my Lord, since we cannot feed the hungry and give drink to the thirsty, because our Rule forbids us to possess anything of our won, teach me how we may participate in the sweet blessings with which Thou hast promised in this Gospel to reward works of mercy." Our lord replied: As I am the the Salvation and Life of the soul, and as I continually hunger and thirst for the salvation of men, if you endeavor to study some words of Scripture every day for the benefit of others, you will bestow on Me a most sweet reflection. If you read with the intention of obtaining the grace of compunction or devotion, you appease My thirst by giving Me an agreeable beverage to drink. If you employ yourself in recollection for an hour each day, you give Me hospitality; and if you apply yourself daily to acquire some new virtue, you clothe Me. You visit Me when sick, by striving to overcome temptation, and to conquer your evil inclinations; and you visit Me in prison, and solace My afflictions with the sweetest consolations, when you pray for sinners and for the souls in Purgatory. He added: Those who perform these devotions daily for My love, especially during the holy season of Lent, will most certainly receive the tenderest and most beautiful recompense which My incomprehensible omnipotence, My inscrutable wisdom, and My most loving benevolence, can bestow.

Chapter 16 On the Second Sunday of Lent

On the Sunday Reminiscere, St. Gertrude, being favored with singular marks of the love and tenderness of her Spouse, such as no human could describe, besought Our Lord to indicate some practice which might be profitable during this week. Our Lord replied: Bring Me two kids - I mean the souls and the bodies of all mankind.

The Saint understood from this that she was required to make satisfaction for all mankind; and then, impelled by the Holy Ghost, she said the Pater noster five times, in honor of the Five Wounds of Our Lord, in satisfaction for all the sins which men had committed by the five senses; and three times for the sins committed by the three powers of the soul -, namely by reason, temper, and concupiscence; and for all omissions or commissions: offering this prayer with the same intention, and for the same end, as Our Lord had formed it in His sweet Heart; that is to say, in satisfaction for all the sins of frailty, ignorance, or malice, which man had opposed to His omnipotent power, His inscrutable wisdom and His overflowing and gratuitous goodness.

When Gertrude offered this prayer, Our Lord appeared to take an incredible pleasure therein, and made the Sign of the Cross on her from her head to her feet; blessing her, and then embracing her, He led her to His Father to receive His benediction also. God the Father also received her with great condescension and magnificence, and blessed her in so ineffable a manner, that He gave her as many benedictions as He would have given to the whole world if it had been prepared to receive this favor and grace.

This prayer may be offered to God during this week to obtain the pardon of our sins and omissions, and in satisfaction for the sins of the Church, that we may obtain the effect of so salutary a benediction through the merits of Jesus Christ, Who with such condescension and goodness has deigned to be the Spouse and Head of His Church.

Chapter 17 Third Sunday in Lent

On the Sunday Oculi, as the Saint desired, as usual to conform her devotions to the Church's offices, she asked Our Lord to teach her how she should occupy herself during this week. He replied: As in chanting your Office during this week you record how Joseph was sold by his brethren for twenty pieces of silver, recite the Pater nester thirty-three times, and thus purchase the merit of My most holy Life, which lasted for thirty-three years, during which I labored for the salvation of men and acquire to the whole Church, for the salvation of men and My eternal Glory. As the Saint complied with this direction, she perceived in spirit that the whole Church was like a spouse adorned and embellished in a marvelous manner with the fruit of the perfect life of Jesus Christ.

Chapter 18 For the Fourth Sunday in Lent

On Laetare Sunday, as the Saint sought for some instruction from Our Lord how to spend this week, He replied to her: Bring those persons to Me whose souls you prepared seven days since, through the virtue of My Life; for they must eat of My table. She replied: "How can I do this? For myself, however unworthy I am, I will venture to say, that if I could bring to Thee all the children of men, in whom Thou dost take delight, I would willingly traverse the whole world with bare feet from this moment until the day of judgment, and carry them in my arms to Thee, to correspond, in some manner with Thy infinite love. And were it possible for me to do so, I would divide my heart into as many portions as there are men living in the world, to impart each a share in the good will which is most pleasing to Thy Divine Heart." Our Lord replied: Your goodwill suffices and satisfies Me perfectly. Then she beheld the whole Church marvelously adorned and presented to the Lord, Who said to her: You shall serve this multitude today.

Then St. Gertrude cast herself at the feet of her Spouse, being divinely inspired, and kissed the Wound of His Left Foot, in satisfaction for all the sins which had ever been committed in the Church, by thought, will or desire, beseeching Our Lord to give her for this purpose the perfect satisfaction which He had made by washing away the sins of all men. Our Lord then imparted this grace to her under the form of bread, which she immediately offered Him with thanksgiving, and which He received with great condescension, and raising His eyes to His eternal Father blessed it,a and gave it to her to distribute to His Church. The she kissed the Right Foot of Our Lord, in satisfaction for the omissions of the faithful in good thoughts and desires, and in good will, beseeching Our Lord to impart to them a share in that perfect satisfaction which He had made for the debts of all men. Then she kissed the Wound of the Left Hand, in satisfaction for the sins of the whole world, whether committed by word or deed, beseeching Our Lord to grant the merits of His words and actions for this intention. She then kissed the Wound of His Right Hand, in satisfaction for the omissions of good words and works, beseeching Our Lord to impart the plenitude and perfection of His action to supply what was deficient in His Church.

At each of these offerings she received bread, and returned each portion to Our Lord, who blessed it and gave it to her to distribute to the Church. Then she approached the loving Wound of the Side of Jesus and embracing it with her whole heart, besought Him to supply to His Spouse the Church what was wanting to her perfection and merits, even after He had so perfectly expiated her sins, and so fully supplied for her defects, so that His Divine Life - which is agreeable in the sight of God the Father, and shines with such surpassing brightness - might become her crown and everlasting beatitude. Then the Saint rejoiced for the grace which God had given her, and distributed these loaves as one would a dessert after a meal, and said to Our Lord: "Ah, Lord, what wilt Thou give me for Thy Spouse the Church, instead of the fish which are mentioned in today's Gospel?" Our Lord replied: I will give you all My most perfect actions to distribute to those who have neglected to serve Me as much as they ought to have done, and all the most noble actions of My Soul to atone for their coldness and want of fervor in praising Me for the benefits which they have received from Me.

By the loaves which Our Lord presented to the Saint she understood that when ever anyone performs a good action for God - even if it be only to say a Pater nester or Ave Maria, or any other prayer for the Church - that the Son of God receives it as if it were the fruit of His Holy Humanity, and offers it to God His Father, blessing it by this benediction, so that it may be distributed for the good and advancement of the whole Church.

This devotion may be performed by anyone who says five Pater noster in honor of Our Lord's Five Wounds, kissing them in spirit, and praying for all sinners who are in the bosom of the Church, to obtain the remission of their sins and negligence, if they hope firmly to receive this grace from the Divine goodness.

Chapter 19 For the Feast of St. Gregory, Pope.

As St Gertrude heard Mass on the Feast of St. Gregory, and offered him singular testimonies of veneration and devotion, he appeared to her full of majesty and glory; and she thought that he equaled all the Saints in merit. He was a Patriarch, by the careful and paternal diligence with which he watched, night and day over the Church which had been confided to him; a Prophet, since in his admirable writings he had discovered the snares and deceits of the ancient enemy, and had given advice and remedies against his wiles, so that he was more glorified than any of the Prophets. He equaled the Apostles from his inviolable and faithful attachment to God in prosperity and adversity; and by his zeal in the promotion of the Gospel. He resembled the martyrs and confessors by his great bodily austerities and the ardent love which he had for religion and holiness. Above all, he excelled in chastity; and as a recompense for every thought, word or work which had been accomplished to preserve the purity of his body and soul, or to teach others to preserve the same treasure.

Our Lord then said to Gertrude: Consider, now how suitable this Psalm is to this elect soul - According to the multitude of my sorrows in my heart, thy comforts have given joy to my soul (Ps 93:10) - since he has been recompensed by these inestimable delights for all the pain he suffered in word or works, or even in thought. At his death, which is commemorated today, his body did not rejoice because it had to pass through the torrent of death; and the whole Church, as well as those who stood round him on that day, were exceedingly afflicted at being deprived of so affectionate and thoughtful a father. But now on the same day, there is the greatest joy when his solemn Feast is observed.

Then St Gertrude said to her Lord: "What glory hast Thou gained by the writings of this Saint, which hast so enriched and enlightened the Church?" He replied: My Divinity and My Humanity find extreme delight therein and he himself enjoys the same delights with Me whenever the Church recites any of his writings, and whenever any one is moved by them to compunction, excited devotion, or influence by love. And for this he receives the same honor from the celestial court as a soldier or a prince whom the king clothed in his own garments and fed at his own table. He added: St. Augustine and St. Bernard whom you love so much, and the other Doctors of the Church, enjoy the same honor and the same prerogative, each according to the merit and the utility of his labors.

While the twelfth Response was chanted, which commences with the words, O Pastor, St Gregory knelt before God, and lifted up his hands interceding for the Church. Then the Lord opened His Divine Heart, that he might take what he would; and the Saint placing both hands therein, took from thence the grace of Divine consolation, and poured it forth for the necessities of the Church. Then she beheld the Lord encircling him with a magnificent cincture of the purest gold. This cincture indicated the justice of God, which withheld him from descending on the earth - suspending him in the air, to prevent him from bestowing these graces on the ungrateful and unworthy, but permitting him to give them freely to those who desired and merited them.

Chapter 20 The Feast of glorious St. Benedict

On the feast of the glorious father St Benedict, St. Gertrude assisted at Matins with special devotion to honor so excellent a father, and she beheld him in spirit, standing in the presence of the effulgent and ever-peaceful Trinity, radiant with glory. His countenance was full of majesty and beauty; his habit shone surpassingly; while bright and living roses seemed to spring forth from his limbs, each rose producing another, and these others, the last surpassing the first in fragrance and beauty, so that the holy father, blessed both by grace and by name, being thus adorned, gave the greatest pleasure to the adorable Trinity and the heavenly court, who rejoiced with him because of his beatitude. The roses which thus sprang forth from him signified the exercises which he had used to subjugate his flesh to his spirit, and all the holy actions which he had performed, and also those of all whom he had drawn by his persuasions or induced by his example to leave the world and live under regular discipline, who, following him in this royal road, had attained, or will yet attain, to the port of the celestial country and to life eternal, each of whom is a subject of particular glory to this great patriarch; and for which all the Saints praise God, and congratulate him continually.

St. Benedict also carried a scepter, which was marvelously embellished on each side with precious stones of great brilliancy. As he held it in his hand, the side which was turned toward him emitted a glorious light, which indicated the happiness of those who had embraced his Rule and amended their lives, and on their account God overwhelmed him with inconceivable joy. On the other side which was turned towards God, the Divine Justice shone forth which had been magnified in the condemnation of those who had been called to this holy Order, but who had rendered themselves unworthy of it, and therefore had been condemned to eternal flames; for it is just he whom God has called to the holiest of Orders should be most severely punished if he lives an evil life.

Now, as St Gertrude offered the blessed father the recital of the entire Psalter in his honor, on part of the community, he appeared exceedingly rejoiced, and he offered the verdure with which he was adorned for the welfare of those who sought his protection with pure hearts, and walked in his footsteps by faithful observance of his Rule.

While the Response, Grandi Pater fiducia morte stetit preciosa, was chanted, St Gertrude said to him: "Holy father, what special rewards have you received for your glorious death?" He replied: "Because I gave up my last breath while I was in prayer, I now emit a breath of such surpassing sweetness, that the Saints delight to be near me." The She besought him, by his glorious death, to assist each religious of that monastery in their last hour. The venerable father replied: "All who invoke me, remembering the glorious end which God honored me, shall be assisted by me at their death with such fidelity, that I will place myself where I see the enemy most disposed to attack them; thus being fortified by my presence, they will escape the snares which he lays for them, and depart happily and peacefully to the enjoyment of eternal beatitude."

Chapter 21

As St. Gertrude heard the bell for the Chapter on the Vigil of the Annunciation, and endeavored to recollect herself in God, she beheld the Lord Jesus and His Virgin Mother seated in the place of the Superior, and waiting with great tranquility until the sisters had assembled, receiving each as she entered with the tenderest marks of friendship and affection. When the Feast of Annunciation was read in the Martyrology, Jesus turned to His Mother and saluted her with such goodness and condescension, as to renew in her that sweet and inestimable joy which she had felt when His Divinity took flesh in Her womb, and united itself to our nature. When the community began to recite the Miserere, Our Lord placed each word in the hand of His Virgin Mother under the form of pearls of different colors. She saw that the Blessed Virgin had a quantity of sweet perfumes in her blossom, which she mixed with the pearls - that is, with the prayers of the religious - which Her Son had presented Her.

The Saint understood that these perfumes signified the crosses which the religious had suffered on the preceding day, without having given any occasion for them; and when she marveled why these crosses were represented as perfumes, Our Lord told her: As a delicate person is more pleased with perfumes than with any other present, so do I delight in the hearts of those who suffer their trials with humility, patience and thanksgiving, abandoning themselves entirely to My paternal goodness, which converts both prosperity and adversity to their good.

As Gertrude began to reflect why Our Lord had instructed her now and on many occasions by corporal visions, He recalled to her mind the words that had been chanted that day of the closed gate which the Prophet Ezekiel had seen, and said to her: As I have explained the manner and order of My Incarnation, Passion and Resurrection to the prophets by mystical figures and similitudes, so I use sensible things to make men comprehend what surpasses the apprehension of their senses. For this reason, no one should esteem spiritual things less because they are represented under corporal images, but rather should endeavor to render themselves capable thereby of tasting the sweetness contained therein.

While the Ave Maria was chanted at Matins, St. Gertrude beheld three streams, which flowed with a gentle impetuosity from the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost into the Heart of the Blessed Virgin, and flowed back again from Her Heart with the same impetuosity to its original source. The Saint understood by this that the Blessed Virgin is most powerful after the Father, most wise after the Son, and most benign after the Holy Ghost. She knew also, when anyone recited the Ave Maria with devotion, that these three streams sweetly encompassed the Blessed Virgin, and then returned to their source in the Heart of Jesus Christ, and from them little streams of joy and salvation flow forth on the Saints and Angels, and especially on those who recite the Angelic Salutation with devotion, which renews in them all the benefits which they acquire by the Incarnation of the Son of God.

Each time also that they recited any words referring to the chastity of the Blessed Virgin such as these: "Domus pudici pectoris; clausa parentis viscera," etc.; all the Saints rose up, and reverenced her as their Queen and Mistress, returning most fervent thanks to God for all the favors which He had granted to men through Her. The Archangel Gabriel appeared also, as if arrayed in a new brilliancy each time that the Annunciation was mentioned, which was effected by his ministry; at at the name of St Joseph, the spouse of the Virgin Mother, all the Saints made a profound inclination to him, testifying, by the serenity and sweetness of their looks, that they rejoiced with him for his exalted dignity.

During Mass, at which St. Gertrude communicated, she beheld the Mother of God, gloriously adorned with every virtue; and she prostrated humbly at her feet, beseeching her to dispose her to receive worthily the august Sacrament of the Body and Blood of her Divine Son. The Blessed Virgin then gave her a magnificent necklace, which had seven rays or points, to each of which a precious stone was attached, and these stones indicated the signal virtues which had pleased Our Lord most in His Blessed Mother. The first was Her exquisite purity; the second, Her faithful humility;the third, Her ardent desires; the fourth, Her clear knowledge; the fifth, Her unquenchable love; the sixth, sovereign pleasure which She took in God; the seventh, Her peaceful tranquility. When St Gertrude appeared before Our Lord with this collar, He was so won by the brilliancy of her virtues, that He inclined lovingly toward her; drawing her to Himself, and enclosing her as it were in His bosom, He honored her with His pure and holy caresses.

At the Antiphon for the Magnificat - Arte mirabili - the Holy Spirit appeared to come forth from the Heart of Our Lord like a soft wind, which gently moved the collar with which the Saint was adorned, chanting this Antiphon as on a musical instrument in honor of the Most Holy Trinity. Then, at the words of the Gospel Ecce ancilla (Behold the Handmaid), St Gertrude saluted the Mother of God with great devotion, recalling to her the ineffable joy which she had experienced when she abandoned herself and all that concerned her, with perfect confidence, to the Divine Will. The Blessed Virgin replied to her, with a look of serenity: When anyone reminds Me devoutly of this, I will truly be to them what they ask in the hymn Monstra te esse matrem, which is used on this Feast showing Myself in truth the Mother of the King of Glory and the advocate of men, using my power with the King to succor them, and assisting them with the tenderest compassion.

When the Antiphon Haec est dies was chanted at the words "Hodie Deus homo factus est," the community prostrated, to honor the glorious Incarnation of Our Lord, and the Son of God, remembering the love which had made Him become man, rose from His regal throne, and, standing before His Father, said to Him: Eternal Father, My brethren are come to Me. (CF. Gen. 46:31). And the Eternal Father was moved to compassionate and show grace to these brethren for whom His only and beloved Son interceded thus lovingly and tenderly, with infinitely more affection than Pharaoh felt for Joseph when he rejoiced with him at the arrival of his brothers.

As St Gertrude inquired what devotion would be most acceptable of the Blessed Virgin at this time, She taught her that anyone who recited the Ave Maria (Hail Mary) devoutly forty-five times each day during the Octave, in memory of the time Our Lord had remained in Her Holy Womb, they would render Her the same service as if they had attended Her with the greatest care from the moment of the conception to the time of the birth; and as she could have refused them nothing under such circumstances, so now she would be equally willing to give all they asked.

The Saint was then instructed to say the Ave Maria (Hail Mary) in this manner: at the words Ave Maria, to desire consolation of the afflicted; at the words "gratia plena" to ask grace for those who had it not; at "Dominus tecum," to pray for sinners; at "benedicta tu in mulierbus", to ask grace for those who had begun to live well; at "benedictus fructus ventris," to pray for the perfection of the elect; to repeat the words "Jesus splendor- paternae charitatis," that all may know Him; and "figura substantiae ejus" to obtain Divine love; for these words - "Jesus splendor of the Father's glory, and image of His substance" - should be repeated at the end of each Ave Maria.

Chapter 22

On the Sunday Judica, St. Gertrude having offered her body and soul to Our Lord, that she might suffer therein, in honor of His Passion, whatever affliction He might be pleased to send her, her offering was accepted graciously; and the Saint, impelled by Divine inspiration, commenced to salute and adore the different members of Our Lord's Body which had suffered for us during His Passion. As she saluted each member, a Divine splendor shone forth from each, which enlightened her soul, by means of which the innocence which Our Lord acquired for His Church was communicated to her. When she was thus enriched and adorned with the innocence of Jesus Christ, she said to Our Lord: "Teach me, O Lord I beseech Thee, how I can worthily honor Thy Divine Passion with the innocence with which Thy goodness has endowed me. Our Lord replied: Reflect frequently with gratitude and compassion on what I, your Lord and Creator, suffered in My long agony and prayer when the vehemence of My desires and My love caused Me to bedew the ground with sweat of blood; offer Me all your actions and all that concerns you, in union with the entire submission with which I said these words: 'My Father Thy Will be done', and so receive all that happens to you, whether painful or agreeable, with the same love with which I send it to you for your salvation. Be grateful in prosperity, uniting yourself with love which made Me send it to you, condescending your weakness, that temporal prosperity may lead you to think of spiritual joys, and to hope for them; receive adversity also in union with the charity with which My paternal love sends it to you to prepare you for eternal good.

Then St Gertrude resolved to say the following prayer during the remainder of the week, saluting the Sacred Limbs of the Son of God with these words: "I salute you, O precious Limbs", and she perceived that this pleased Our Lord; and if we desire the same grace, let us use the same prayer.

During the Mass which followed, as the words of the Gospel Daemonium habes were read, she was grieved in her inmost soul for the contempt offered to Our Lord; and as she could not endure to hear these words, she exclaimed in the depth of her heart, in the sweetest and loving manner; "Hail vivifying Gem of Divine nobility! Hail most loving Jesus! Unfading flower of human dignity. Thou art my Sovereign and my only Good". And this benign Lord, to reward these testimonies of affection, inclined tenderly toward her, and whispered to her: I am thy Creator, Redeemer and Lover. I left My beatitude to redeem thee by a bitter death. Then all the Saints, being rapt in admiration of the marvelous friendship which He manifested to her, praised God for it with the greatest joy.

Our Lord then said to her: Whoever salutes Me, as you have done, in reparation for the blasphemies and outrages which are poured forth on Me throughout the world, when he is tempted at the hour of his death and accused by the demon, will be consoled by Me with the same words with which I have consoled you and I will testify the same affection toward him; and if the Saints were thus amazed at the words I whispered into your ear, how astonished and amazed will be the enemies of his soul when they shall see him so marvelously consoled by My goodness!

Chapter 23

On the Feast of Palms, as Gertrude was filled with the delights of Divine consolation, she said to Our Lord: "Teach me, I beseech Thee, O Beloved, how I can go forth to meet Thee today, Who art approaching Thy Passion for my salvation". Our Lord replied: Give Me an ass to ride, a troop of people to precede Me with acclamations, another troop to follow Me with praises and another to minister to Me.

You will give Me an ass to ride, if you acknowledge with a contrite heart that you have failed to be guided by reason, and have had more understanding than a beast of all that I have done for your salvation. This negligence has caused you to lose My sweet tranquility, so that when I thought to find some consolation in you, it was necessary for Me to purify you by some exterior or interior suffering. And thus I was obliged to suffer in you; for my love, which could not restrain itself, obliged My goodness to compassionate you in all your adversities. But when you give Me the conveyance which I desire, I shall be satisfied.

You will given me a troop of people who will make acclamations before Me, when you receive Me with full affection in the name of all men, in union with the love which made Me your Lord and your Creator, enter Jerusalem for the salvation of the World, and in satisfaction for all those who have failed to thank Me worthily, and with perfect affection, for this great grace.

You will give Me another troop to follow Me with praises when you avow sincerely that you have never imitated the example of My perfect life as you should; and if you offer Me such a fervent will, that if you could you would urge all men to imitate what is most perfect in My Life and Passion, and this for My honor and glory and pray that you obtain the grace to imitate Me in true humility, patience and charity (the virtues which I exercised most during My Passion), desiring with the utmost ardor to follow My example.

You will give Me those who will attend Me, if you confess that you have never defended My truth and justice as you ought, resolving firmly to defend them for the future, both by your words and actions. He added Whoever presents himself to Me in these four ways will not fail to obtain life eternal as the reward for his piety.

Then, as she was about to communicate, and offered her whole heart to God with great fervor, she beheld it opening in its charity, as Jerusalem opened to receive Our Lord. He entered therein under the form of a young man bearing a scourge with three cords, which signified the work of our Redemption; the first cord indicated the labors of His Sacred Body; the second, the devout intentions of His most holy Soul; the third, the excellent and incomparable virtue of His Divinity, which always co-operated together in Jesus Christ. Our Lord then touched her gently with the scourge, to remove from her all the stains and dust of human frailty and negligence. After this, He placed the scourge in the center of her heart. The three cords appeared to form a throne for Our Lord to rest upon; as He seated Himself thereon, each of these little cords produced a green branch, which was covered with flowers. The first of these - that is, the virtue of His Divinity - grew up behind Him, and served as a shade for His Head; the others were on the right and left, and emitted a most agreeable fragrance.

As she chanted the words, "O Crux, ave, spes unica, at Terce, St Gertrude offered Our Lord the devotions of all those who would salute Him that day while reciting it at the Canonical Hours. Then Our Lord presented her devotion and zeal, in the form of a flower, to all those for whom she had made the offering; and this flower gave them great spiritual joy and beauty. "If this can be so advantageous to my sisters" said the Saint, "what wilt Thou give to those who apply themselves after the procession yet more fervently to serve Thee and adore Thee? Our Lord replied As your sisters present Me with three different kinds of devotion, I will place these three flowers before them. Some of them desire to have devotion which they find they have not, and they offer Me their exterior labors and exercises: to these I will present the flower that springs forth from the labors and exercises of My Body. Other abound in sweet devotion, and offer Me their fervent desires; and I will refresh them with the flower which proceeds from the pure intentions of My Divine Soul. Others again, whose will is so united to Mine that they are one spirit with Me, offer themselves entirely to Me, that I may do with them what I will; and to these I will present the noble flower of My Divinity.

After the procession, as the community made an inclination at the Gloria, laus and prostrated at the Fulgentibus palmis, Our Lord presented them with the flower of His Bodily exercise, to console, fortify and preserve them in His service, giving them to understand by this that He would ennoble their labors by the merit of His own. One of the sisters then came to St Gertrude to implore her to take some food, on account of her extreme weakness; but as she could not bear to take anything until she had heard the Passion, according to her usual custom, she besought Our Lord to tell her what she ought to do. He replied: Refresh yourself, My beloved, in union with the love with which I refused the wine mingled with myrrh and gall when I had tasted it. As she returned thanks for the favor, Our Lord presented His Heart to her, saying: I present you therein with the desire which made Me refuse to drink, that I might give you to drink. Drink then freely what I, a skillful Physician have prepared for you. This wine, mingled with gall and myrrh, was offered to Me that I might die more speedily; but the desire of suffering yet more for men prevented Me from drinking it. You, on the contrary, must take the food which is necessary for you, with the same love, that your life may be prolonged for My service. This wine and myrrh was mixed with gall; therefore you must also do three things in memory thereof. First you must perform all your actions cheerfully for My glory; this is indicated by the wine. Secondly, you must use the conveniences of life to enable you to suffer for My love; and this is indicated by the myrrh, which preserves from corruption. Thirdly: you must be very willing, for My love, to be deprived of the joys of Heaven, and to remain in this valley of misery; and this is indicated by the gall. Each time that you use the necessaries of life with these intentions, I will regard you as you would a friend who has taken a bitter potion in order to leave you one which is sweet and palatable.

St Gertrude, when eating, was always accustomed to repeat these words: "May the virtue of Thy Divine love incorporate me wholly unto Thee, O most loving Jesus!" And when drinking, she said: "O most amiable Jesus, pour forth and preserve in my inmost being that Divine charity which reigns so powerfully in Thee, that is may penetrate me entirely, distilling itself into all the powers of my body and soul".

The Saint having inquired of Our Lord how He would accept the same offering from others, He replied: Those who use the same words as I have taught you will receive the same testimonies of affection from Me as I have shown you. As the words of the Passion, Emisit spiritum (He yielded up the ghost) were read, St Gertrude prostrated on the ground saying "Behold me, O Lord, prostrate on the earth in honor of Thy Precious Death, beseeching Thee, by the excessive love which caused Thee to die, Who art the life of all, that Thou wouldst destroy in me all that displeases Thee." Our Lord replied: Cast from you all the vices which you desire should die in you, and draw into you, by the virtue of My Spirit, those perfections of Mine which you desire to possess; and be assured that your sins will be pardoned, and that you shall feel the salutary effects of what you have thus drawn from Me into yourself; and each time that you endeavor to combat the vices which you have cast out, or to obtain the virtues with which I have inspired you, you will gain the double advantage - of obtaining the victory, and of feeling the fruit of My Passion.

After the midday meal, St Gertrude retired to rest in a state of extreme lassitude and weakness - not to sleep, but rather to avoid the importunate visits with which she was overwhelmed, saying to Our Lord: "I withdraw myself from the conversation of creatures, in memory of the salutary instruction which Thou didst give me today, and to occupy myself with Thee, My Love and my All, beseeching Thee to speak to my soul." Our Lord replied: As My Divinity repose in your weariness. As the Saint perceived that those who came to her feared to interrupt her, thinking she slept, she asked Our Lord if she should tell them that she was not sleeping, that they might do as they wished; but He replied: No, let them merit by their exercises of charity the rewards which I desire and rejoice so much to give for it; for there is nothing more useful to men than such exercises. Then He added I will propose two subjects on which you may meditate; for there is nothing more useful in this life than for men to weary themselves in these labors, in which I take repose and delight, and to perform works of charity toward their neighbor.

On the evening of the day on which Our Lord went to Martha and Mary in Bethania, as St Gertrude ardently desired to entertain Our Lord, she addressed herself to a crucifix, and, having kissed the Wound of Our Lord's Side with the tenderest affection, she besought Him that He would vouchsafe to accept the hospitality of her heart, not withstanding her unworthiness. The Lord, who hears those why cry to Him, presented Himself to her, and said to her caressingly: Behold, here I am; what will you give Me? The Saint replied:" My only Salvation, my true, my true and only Good, alas! I have nothing to present to Thy Divine magnificence, but I offer my whole being to Thy Goodness beseeching Thee to prepare within me all that Thou knowest to be pleasing to Thee." Our Lord replied: If you desire that I should act as I will with you, give Me the key of your heart, that I may leave or take away whatever I please. "And what is this key?" inquired the Saint. He answered: It is your will.

She understood by these words that those who desire to entertain Our Lord should give Him the key of their own will, abandoning themselves entirely to His good pleasure, with perfect confidence that His goodness will order all things for their salvation. Then Our Lord entered into her heart, and enjoyed therein all the Divine delights which He desired.

After this, St Gertrude being inspired by God, saluted the precious Body of Our Lord by repeating these words three hundred and sixty five times: Non mea, sed tua voluntas fiat, amantissime Jesu (Not my will but Thine be done, O most loving Jesus") and she knew that He accepted this with great satisfaction. She then inquired if Our Lord would be pleased if certain persons, who desired to celebrate this Feast with devotion, should be guided by what she had written, taking Esther for her subject, and commencing with the words\; \egredimini, filiae Jerusalem, He replied: I have this Feast so much at heart, that if anyone takes pains to celebrate it with devotion, he shall have this honor - that, in the life eternal, besides the recompense of his other good works, I will prepare a feast for him which shall be worthy of the magnificence of My royal liberality.

Chapter 24 vOn Wednesday in Holy Week, at the words In nomine Jesu, St Gertrude bend her knees in honor of this most worthy Name, to repair all the negligence which she had committed in this matter, and, perceiving that Our Lord was pleased with this, she knelt a second time at the word 'caelestium' to supply of the negligence of the Saints when in this life, in regard to the honor which they owed to God. When she had done this the whole celestial court with great sentiments of gratitude, thanking God for having given this grace to her, and praying for her. At the word terrestrium, she made another genuflection, in satisfaction for the faithful in praising God; and then the Son of God imparting to her with singular joy the fruit of all the devotions which had been offered to Him through out the whole Church. At the word 'infernorum', she also knelt to atone for the negligence of the damned. Then the Son of God arose, and stood before His Father, saying: It is My right to condemn, since Thou hast given Me all power, and by an equitable judgment I have consigned them to eternal flames. Therefore I receive with such satisfaction the reparation which Gertrude has made for them, that the reward that I reserve until she is capable of the enjoyment of beatitude could not be comprehended by any mortal.

While the Passion was read, at the words, Pater, ignosce illis (Father forgive them"), St. Gertrude besought Our Lord earnestly, by the love which made Him pray for those who crucified Him, that He would be pleased to pardon all those who had ever offended Him in anything. At this petition all the Saints rose up in admiration, beseeching God to pardon her all her faults which she might have committed on their solemnities or festivals. Then the Son of God presented Himself also before His Father, offering the merit of His holy Life, in satisfaction for all the faults which the Saint had committed in thought, word or deed.

As they read the words, "Today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise," she knew in spirit that no one could obtain the grace of penitence in his last hour, if he had not rendered himself worthy of it by performing some good action during his life; and that the good thief had obtained the favor of entering into glory the same day as Our Lord, because, by the grace of God, he had seen and reprehended the injustice of his companion in crime, and could not bear to hear him pouring forth reproaches on One who knew to be innocent, and had acknowledged himself deserving of the punishment which he suffered. Therefore God showed him mercy.

Chapter 25

On Holy Thursday, as Lamentations were chanted at Matins, St Gertrude wept before God the Father, in the bitterness of her heart, for all the sins which men had committed against the Divine Omnipotence. At the second Lamentation, she wept before God the Son for the sins which they had committed, through ignorance, against His ineffable wisdom. At the third Lamentation, she wept before the Holy Ghost for the sins committed, through malice against His goodness. Then, at the verse Jesu Christe, when the Kyrie eleison was chanted, she approached the most sweet Heart of Jesus, and embracing it very devoutly on the part of the Church, she obtained the remission of all sins which had been committed by thoughts, desires or precerse will. At the Christe eleison, she embraced the blessed Mouth of Our Lord, and asked pardon for all the sins of the tongue. Then. at the Kyrie eleison, she kissed Our Lord's Hands, and obtained pardon of all the Church's sins of act. Lastly, when people chanted the Kyrie eleison five times, after the hymn Rex Christe, she kissed the Five Wounds of Our Lord, to obtain pardon for all the sins of the five senses. While she did this she beheld five streams of grace gushing forth impetuously from the Five Wounds, and pouring themselves all over the whole Church, purifying it from all stains and impurities; thus she knew that she had received the full fruit of what she had done at the Lamentations and at the Kyrie eleison.

This practice may be followed during the three last nights of Holy Week with a perfect confidence of obtaining the same advantage thereby.

As the words 'Oblatus est quia voluit', were chanted at Lauds, Our Lord said to Gertrude: If you believe that I was offered on the Cross to God My Father only because I willed it Myself, believe also that I now desire to offer Myself for each sinner to God My Father, with the same love with which I offered Myself for all men in general. Therefore there is no person, however sinful, who may not hope for pardon, by offering My Passion and death to God My Father, provided that he believes firmly that he will obtain this grace, and that he is persuaded that the memory of My sufferings is the most powerful remedy against sin, when joined to a right faith and true penance.

As St Gertrude heard the words of the Gospel, Coepit lavare pedes discipulorum', she said to Our Lord: "O God since I do not merit that Thou shouldest wash me Thou Self, how happy I should be if I might merit at least to be washed from my sins by one of the Apostles, that I might be more worthy to approach Thy precious Body and Blood." Our Lord replied: I have washed away all your stains, and also those of all whom you have taught to ask for purification from seven worldly affections. Then the Saint said: "Alas, Lord! it is true that I have taught this to others, and have intended to do it myself; but in teaching them, I have neglected it myself." Our Lord replied: I accept your goodwill for the act; for My goodness is such, that when anyone has the will to perform a good action, I count it as done, and recompense it as if it were accomplished, even if human frailty prevents its accomplishment.

Before communicating, she said to Our Lord: "Behold Lord I offer Thee all the petitions of those who have been recommended to my unworthy prayers." He replied: ou have enkindled as many flames in My Heart as there are persons for who you pray. "Ah Lord!" she said, "teach me how to enkindle this fire in Thy Divine Heart for every soul in the Church". You will do this, He answered by practicing four things; 1. By praising Me for all men who I have created in My image and likeness. 2. By thanking Me for all the good which I have done for them, or which I might yet do for them. 3. By grieving for all the obstacles which they put to My grace. 4. By praying generally for all, that each may perfect himself in the state in which My Providence has placed him, for his own good and for My honor and glory.

On another occasion, on the same solemnity, as Gertrude prayed with great recollection, Our Lord appeared to her, even as He had appeared on earth on the same day. He seemed to pass this day in extreme anguish and bitterness, since all that He was about to suffer was continually present to Him; for, being the tender Son of a tender mother, He experienced beforehand the most lively and excessive suffering, anticipating death in all its terrors, and the inhuman cruelty and barbarity of His executioners.

As Gertrude felt this in spirit, she was so moved to compassion that she would have employed therein all the strength of her heart, had it been increased a thousand times; but at last the violence of her love and her desire over powered her, and she fainted away. Our Lord then said to her The same love which made Me suffer such extreme pains and affliction for the salvation of men makes Me also suffer now in your heart, immortal and impassable as I am, by the intimate compassion with which it is penetrated for the salvation of My elect, in consideration of My afflictions and bitternesses. Therefore, in return for the compassion which you have had for my sufferings, I give you the whole fruit of My Passion and Death, to ensure your eternal beatitude. Further, your heart shall have this honor, that when ever the Wood of the Cross is adored, which was the instrument of My sufferings, your soul shall feel the fruit and effects of the compassion which is manifested to Me today; and I will always grant you whatever you ask, and prosper your wishes. He added Whenever you desire to obtain anything from Me, offer Me My Heart, which I have so often given you as a token of our mutual friendship, in union with the love which made Me become Man for the salvation of men; and I give you this special mark of friendship, that this shall be presented to whomsoever you pray for, as a rich man would present a coffer to his friend to supply himself there from with all he needed. "I beseech Thee, O Lord," continued the Saint, "to tell me what words Thou didst address to Thy Father in thine agony." Our Lord replied: The words I used most frequently were these 'O Entirety of My Substance!'.

At Mass, whilst the secret prayers were being said, before the religious had received Communion, the Lord Jesus appeared to her in a state of extreme weakness, as if He were about to give up the ghost; and this so touched her, that she also felt as if about to expire. She continued in this state until the time for Communion, when she beheld a marvelous vision; for she saw the Priest elevate a Body which was far larger than his own; and by the virtue and power of his word, he bore Him who bears all things.

The Saint then understood that the strange feebleness which the Son of God appeared to suffer, indicated the excessive love with which He desired that we, who are as His Benjamins, His beloved ones. should be united to Him in Holy Communion; that the ardor with which He desired this delight caused this weakness; that He was reduced to this state by the violence of His love, so that He might be more easily touched and carried by the hands of the priest. She learned also on another occasion that everytime we look on the Host, which contains the Body of Christ, with desire and love, we increase our eternal merit; and that our enjoyment in the other life will correspond with that which we have had in devoutly regarding this precious Body on earth.

Chapter 26

The Memory of Our Lord's Passion was so profoundly engraven on the soul of the Saint, that it became as honey to her lips, as music to her ears, and as a transport of joy to her heart. One Good Friday, as she heard the summons to Compline, she felt the same anguish in her heart as if she had been told that her dearest friend was about to expire, and she recollected herself to think yet more lovingly of the Passion of her Beloved. Her union with God became so intimate, that on this day and the following she was scarcely able to attend to anything exterior or sensible, unless obliged to do so by charity, of which she always made great account, and this that she might the more surely entertain Him within her who is love; for St John said "God is charity.... If we love one another, God abideth in us, and His charity is perfected in us" (1 John 4:8, 12).

She continued in this rapture the remainder of the day, and during the whole of the following day (Holy Saturday). What she experienced therein was such, that no human intellect could explain it; for she was so perfectly united to and absorbed in God, by the tenderness of her compassion, that she was entirely dissolved therein; and this was no imperfection, but rather the very height of perfection, as St Bernard teaches when writing of the words of the Canticles: "We will make a chain of gold" (Cant 1:10). "When the soul is wrapt in contemplation, and a flash of heavenly light comes to illuminate it, the Divine infusion accommodates itself to sensible things, either to temper its brilliancy or to instruct its doctrine, and thus shadows the purity and splendor of its rays, to enable the soul to receive it, and to communicate it to others. I believe that these images are produced in us by the Holy Angels. Therefore, let us attribute to God what is perfectly free from corporal images, and to the Angels those which are more sensible".

We must not, therefore, consider that what God Himself infuses into the soul in secret is of less value. Nevertheless, we have passed over many things for this reason, which might have been related here, and which are indeed worthy of being recorded. Still, we have gathered some of the sparks of Divine love which flew forth from the burning furnace of the Passion of Christ upon this soul. On one Good Friday, at the hour of Prime, and the Saint returned thanks to God for having appeared before a Gentile and an idolater as His judge, she beheld Our Lord enthroned in great majesty with God His Father, while all the Saints prostrated before Him, thanking Him profoundly for having freed them from eternal death by His own death.

As the Passion was read, at the word Sitio (I thirst), Our Lord appeared to offer her a golden cup to receive the tears of compassion which she had shed for his death. And as the Saint felt her whole soul melting into tears, and yet discretion obliged her to keep them back, she asked Our Lord what would be most pleasing to Him. Then it appeared to her that a pure rivulet sprang from her heart, and proceeded to Our Lord's lips, and He said These are the tears of devotion which you have restrained from a pure intention.

At Terce, as she remembered Our Lord's crowning with thorns, His cruel scourging at the pillar, His weariness and the agony of His shoulder, wounded by carrying the Cross, she said to Him: "Behold my sweetest Love, I offer Thee my heart, desiring to suffer therein all the bitterness and anguish of Thy dear Heart, in return for Thy love in bearing the undeserved torments of Thy Passion; and I beseech Thee, whenever I forget this offering through human frailty, to send me some sharp bodily pain which may resemble Thine." He replied: Your desires are sufficient. But if you wish Me to have unbounded pleasure in your heart, let Me act as I please therein, and do not desire that I should give you either consolation or suffering.

Then as the Passion was read, which says that Joseph took the Body of Jesus, she said to Our Lord: "That blessed Joseph was given Thy most holy Body; but what share wilt Thou give of Thy Body to my unworthiness?" Then Our Lord gave her His Heart under the form of a golden thurible, from which as many perfumes ascended to the Father as there had been persons for whom the Lord died.

When the prayers were said after the Passion for the different Orders in the Church according to the usual custom, as the priest knelt, saying Oremus delectissimi, she saw all the prayers which had been made throughout the Church ascending together like fragrant incense from the thurible of the Divine Heart, so that each prayer by this union became marvelously sweet and beautiful.

Therefore we should pray for the Church on this day with great devotion, in union with the Passion of Our Lord, which renders our prayers more efficacious before God. On another occasion, on the same day, the Saint ardently desiring to make some return to her Beloved for all His sufferings, said to Him: "O my only Hope and Salvation of my soul! Teach me how to make some return to Thee for Thy most bitter Passion". Our Lord replied: He who follows the will of another and not his own, frees Me from the captivity which I endured when bound with chains on the morning of My Passion; he who considers himself guilty, satisfies for My condemnation, at the Hour of Prime, by false witnesses; he who renounces the pleasures of sense, consoles Me for the blows which I received at the hour of Terce; he who submits to pastors who try him, consoles Me for the crowning with thorns; he who humbles himself first in a dispute, carries My Cross; he who performs works of charity, consoles Me at the hour of Sext, when My limbs were cruelly fastened to the Cross; he who spares himself neither pain nor labor to withdraw his neighbor from sin, consoles Me for My Death, which I endured at the hour of None for the salvation of the human race; he who replies gently when reproached takes Me down from the Cross; lastly, he who prefers his neighbor to himself, lays Me in the sepulcher.

On another Good Friday, as Gertrude besought Our Lord to prepare her for a worthy Communion, she received this reply: I am hastening to you with such ardor that I can scarcely contain it; for I have gathered into My bosom all the good which My Church has done or said or thought today in memory of My Passion, to pour it forth into your soul at Communion for your eternal salvation. The Saint replied: "I give Thee thanks, O my Lord; but I desire greatly that this favor may be granted to me in such a manner that I may impart it to others when I wish to do so". He replied: And what will you give Me, my beloved for such a favor? Gertrude replied: "Alas Lord I have nothing worthy of Thee; but nevertheless I have this desire, that if I had all that Thou hast, I would give it to Thee, so that Thou might dispose of it as Thou wouldest". To this Our Lord replied lovingly: If you indeed desire to act thus towards Me, you cannot doubt that I desire to act thus towards you; and even more so, since My Goodness and Love so far exceeds yours. "O God" she exclaimed, "how shall I come to Thee, when Thou comest to me with such abundant goodness?" He replied: I require nothing from you but to come to Me empty, that I may fill you; for it is from Me that you receive all which makes you agreeable in My sight.

She understood that this emptiness was humility, which made her consider herself destitute of merit, and made her believe that without the grace of God she could do nothing, and that what she did do was utterly worthless.

Chapter 27

As St Gertrude prayed fervently before Matins on the blessed night of the Resurrection, the Lord Jesus appeared to her, full of majesty and glory. Then she cast herself at His feet, to adore Him devoutly and humbly, saying: "O glorious Spouse, joy of the Angels, Thou Who hast shown me the favor of choosing me to be Thy spouse, who am the least of Thy creatures! I ardently desire Thy glory, and my only friends are those who love Thee; therefore I beseech Thee to pardon the souls of Thy special friends by the virtue of Thy most glorious Resurrection. And to obtain this grace from Thy goodness, I offer Thee in union with Thy Passion, all the sufferings which my continual infirmities have caused me." Then Our Lord having favored her with many caresses, showed her a great multitude of souls who were freed from their pains, saying: Behold I have affection; and through all eternity they will acknowledge that they have been delivered through your prayers, and you will be honored and glorified for it. She replied: "How many are they?" He answered: This knowledge belongs to God alone. As she feared that these souls, though freed from their pains, were not yet admitted to glory, she offered to endure whatever God might please, either in body and soul, to obtain their entrance in to that beatitude; and Our Lord won by her fervor, granted her request immediately. Some time after, as the Saint suffered most acute pain in her side, she made an inclination before a crucifix; and Our Lord freed her from the pain, and granted the merit of it to souls, recommending them to make her a return by their prayers. After this, the Saint impelled by the fervor of her love, presented herself before her Spouse, and said to Him: "O my only Love, as I have nothing which can render me worthy to appear before the King of kings, and as I cannot correspond in any degree to Thy love, all I can do is to give Thee all the life and strength of my body and soul as long as I live, to honor Thy Glorious Resurrection". Our Lord replied: I regard this offering of your love for Me as a royal scepter, which I will bear gloriously before the most Holy Trinity, and in the sight of all the Saints. To this Gertrude answered: "Although Thy grace has prompted me to make this offering, nevertheless I fear on account of my own instability, lest I should forget what I have promised Thee". But Our Lord replied: And what will it matter if you do? For I will not allow what you have once given Me to escape from My Hand; but I will always preserve it, as a proof of your love for Me; and whenever you renew your intention, this scepter will be adorned with flowers and precious stones.

When the Alleluia was chanted at the invitatory, the Saint animated all the powers of her body and soul to recite the Matins of the Resurrection with devotion, saying to Our Lord: "Teach me, I beseech Thee, O Master full of sweetness, in what manner I can best praise Thee by the Alleluia which is so often repeated on this Feast". Our Lord replied: You can praise Me by the Alleluia, by uniting it to the praises which the Saints and Angels constantly offer Me in Heaven. You will observe that all the vowels, except the o, which signifies grief, are found in this word; and that instead of this o, the a is repeated twice. At the first a, you will praise Me with the Saints for the glorious immortality by which the sufferings of My Humanity and the bitterness of My Passion were rewarded; and at the e, praise Me for the sweet and ineffable joy which gladden My eyes in gazing upon the Most Holy Trinity; at the u, unite yourself with the delight which I find in hearing the concerts of praises in honor of the Blessed Trinity which are sung by the Saints and Angels; at the i, enjoy the sweet perfumes and odors which I find in the Presence of the Most Holy Trinity; at the second a, which is put in place of the o, rejoice that My Humanity, which was formerly passible and mortal, is now filled with Divine immortality.

After this, as she continued to recite the Matins, she was taught each Psalm, each Response, and each Lesson, the sense which best corresponded with the solemnity of so great a day, and which best expressed the inconceivable pleasures which a soul enjoys when it is united to God.

Chapter 28

On Easter Monday, as St Gertrude besought Our Lord before communicating that He would be pleased to supply, by the merits of this august Sacrament, for her past negligence in religious observance, He presented her to His Father clothed in a religious habit, which appeared to be made of as many pieces as she had been years in the convent - the first piece representing the first year, the second the next year, and so on. The habit had no folds in it. The days and hours were noted in each year, with the thoughts, words and actions, good or bad, even in the most trifling particulars; and the end for which she had performed each action was also carefully marked, whether for her own salvation, for the glory of God, or for the good of others. he abstinences and her refreshments; what she had done through obedience or of her own free will; the little stratagems she had used that she might be told to do what she wished, or her address in extorting such obediences - all these were to be seen therein; these last actions appeared to be fastened to her habit by a little wet mud, and as if ready to fall from it. But when the Son of God had offered His holy and perfect life for her, she saw the habit covered with plates of transparent gold, pure and clear as crystal.

Her whole life, and all that had ever been defective in her conduct, even to the very least particular, now appeared in the light of truth and was known to God and all His Saints; for not even the smallest stain or imperfection could be concealed. From this Gertrude understood that God forms, as it were a representation of each person's life; and that, while He remembers no more the sins which have been effaced by penance, according to the word of the Prophet, "I will not remember all his iniquities" (Ezech. 18:22), there still remains some marks of our faults, that we may be reminded to praise His goodness for having pardoned them, and for having poured forth His favors upon us as if we had never offended Him; so also the good works which we have done shine like beautiful flowers, that we may give glory to Him by whose help and assistance we have accomplished them, and that they may be a continual source of joy to us, that we may adore and love God, who being One in three Persons, lives, reigns and works in us all the good we do.

Chapter 29

At Communion on Easter Tuesday, St Gertrude asked Our Lord to renew the espousals which He had formed with her in spirit by faith, by religious profession and by the entirety of her virginity. Our Lord replied caressingly, that He would not fail to do what she asked; and inclining towards her, He embraced her soul, renewing therein all her devotion. And as He thus embraced her, He gave her a brilliant necklace adorned with precious stones, and thus reformed all her past negligence in her spiritual exercises.

Chapter 30

On Easter Wednesday, she besought Our Lord that she might become fruitful in good actions, by virtue of His adorable Body. He replied: I will certainly make you fruitful in Myself, and I will use you to draw many to Me. She replied: "How canst Thou others to Thee through me, since I am such an unworthy creature, and have almost lost the talent I once had of instructing and conversing with others?" Our Lord answered: If you now had that facility of speaking, perhaps you would think that it was by this you won souls. Therefore I have deprived of it in part, that you may acknowledge that the grace which you possess of touching the hearts of others comes from My special grace, and not from the power and attractiveness of your words.

Our Lord then appeared to draw her toward Him inwardly saying: Even as I draw My breath, so will I draw to Myself all who submit lovingly and devoutly to you for My sake, and I will make them advance daily in perfection.

Chapter 31

On Thursday in Easter week, as the Gospel was read which relates how Magdalene "stooped down and looked into the sepulchre, and she saw two Angels," St. Gertrude said to Our Lord: "Into what sepulchre shall I look to find the consolation of my spirit?" Our Lord then showed her the sacred Wound of His Side, where instead of two Angels, she heard two things first, You shall never be separated from My company, and secondly "All your actions are perfectly agreeable to Me. She was much surprised at this, and began to consider how it could be, since she thought her actions could not be pleasing to anyone, and saw in them herself such great imperfections, while the Divine light enabled her to discover a thousand faults where others would not see any; but Our Lord said to her: The good and praise worthy custom which you have of recommending your actions to Me so frequently, and of placing them in My hands, makes Me correct those which are defective, that they may please Me perfectly and all My celestial court.

Chapter 32

On the Sunday after Easter, as the Gospel was read, which says that Our Lord breathed on His disciples, and gave them the Holy Ghost, St Gertrude besought Him very earnestly that He would give her the grace also. If you desire to receive the Holy Ghost, He replied, you must touch My Side and My Hands, like My disciples. By this she understood that he who desires to receive the Holy Spirit must first touch the Side of Our Lord - that is, he must acknowledge how much the Divine Heart has loved us in having predestined us from eternity to be His children and heirs of His Kingdom, and in pouring forth such benefits upon us daily, notwithstanding our ingratitude; that he must also touch the Hands of Our Lord - that is, reflecting with gratitude on all His labours for us during the three and thirty years of His mortal life, and on His Passion and Death, offering His Heart to God, in union with the love which He said, "As the Father hath sent Me, I also send you" (John 20-21), to fulfil His good pleasure in all things; for although men should desire and wish nothing but the good pleasure of God, they should seek even more ardently to do and to suffer what He wills - for He who acts thus cannot fail to receive the Holy Spirit, even as the disciples on whom the Son of God breathed. Our Lord then breathed on St Gertrude, and said to her: Receive the Holy Ghost. Whoever sins you remit, shall be remitted. "How can this be, O Lord" inquired the Saint "since the power of binding and loosing has only been conferred on Thy priests?" He replied: Those on whom you consider guilty, are so before Me; and those whom consider innocent, I also acquit, for I speak by your mouth. "O God, full of goodness" relied the Saint, "since you have so often assured me of this gift, what advantage to I gain from receiving it again?" Our Lord replied: When a deacon is made a priest, he does not cease to be a deacon but rather he acquires a higher sacerdotal dignity; and so when I gave the same gift to your soul several times, I established it more firmly therein, and thereby increase your beatitude.

Chapter 33

On the Feast of Saint Mark, while the Litanies were recited at the procession, Our Lord appeared to St Gertrude, seated on a throne of majesty, adorned with precious stones, which formed as many brilliant mirrors,as there were Saints in Heaven. Each Saint rose joyfully as he was named in the Litany to offers his prayers to God for those who had invoked him; and the names who prayed to them appeared written on their hands; the names of those who had invoked them with fervour and purity were written in letters of gold; the names of those who prayed only through custom were in black, while the names of those who were careless and indifferent could scarcely be discerned at all.

St. Gertrude understood from this, that when the Saints whom we have invoked pray for us, their prayers shine before God as a monument of the mercy which He has promised us, which obliges Him to have pity on us; and when we invoke the Saints with a pure and fervent devotion, they receive the brilliancy of the precious stones enchased in Our Lord's robe, which are inscribed with the names of those who revere them and invoke their aid.

Chapter 34. For the feast of St. John before the Latin Gate.

On the Feast of St. John ante Portam Latinam, he appeared to Gertrude; and after having caressed and consoled her in a wonderful manner, he said to her: "Do not be troubled, O elect spouse of My Lord, at the failure of your bodily strength; for what you suffer in this world is but little, and will last only for a moment, in a comparison with eternal delights which we now enjoy in Heaven, and which you will soon possess with us when you enter therein. for it is in the nuptial couch of your Spouse, whom you love so ardently, whom you desire with such fervor, and whom you will at last possess as you desire". Then he added: "Remember that I, who was the beloved disciple of the Lord, was still more infirm in body than you are; and nevertheless I am now as you see, the delight and devotion of the faithful; so you also after your death, will live in the hearts of many, and will draw many souls to God." Then she said complainingly to St. John that she feared she had placed an obstacle to this because she had forgotten to confess some little faults; and when she remembered them, she could not have recourse to her confessor, and that she could not always remember them when she went to Confession, on account of her extreme debility. "Do not be troubled at this my child,"replied the Saint lovingly; "for when you have prepared for a good and entire Confession of your sins, and find that you cannot then have recourse to a confessor, if you forget anything in consequence of the delay, and omit to accuse yourself of it merely from a defect of memory, what you have forgotten will not fail to be effaced; and the grief you have for the omission will adorn your soul as a precious jewel, which will render it pleasing to the heavenly court."

While Mass was being said, the Saint was occupied in reflecting on some writings which she had received from God by a special favor; and as she heard the words, Verbum Dei Deo natum, at the Sequence, she recollected herself, that she might attend more devoutly to what was chanted in honor of St. John. But the Saint appeared at her side and told her not to turn her mind from her first thoughts; obtaining for her from God, in a marvelous manner, the favor of being able to think of these writings and still to understand what was chanted in choir. At the words, Audit in gyro sedis, she said "O what joy must have filled thy soul when thou wert elevated so high!" He replied: "You speak truly; but know that I have yet a greater joy in the praises which you offer to God for me". He then remained seated near her until the words, Iste custos Virginis (This is the guardian of the Virgin), when he took her up to the throne of God's glory, where amid the most ineffable brightness, he was admired and praised by the whole celestial court, feeling the ineffable delights of the words, Caeli qui palatium.

Chapter 35

Before the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord, St Gertrude repeated this salutation five thousand four hundred and sixty-six times: Glory be to Thee, most sweet, most gentle, most benign, most noble, most excellent, effulgent and ever-peaceful Trinity, for the roseate wounds of my only Love!" As she repeated this salutation, Our Lord Jesus appeared to her, more beautiful than Angels,bearing golden flowers on each Wound, and saluted her thus with a serene countenance and the tenderest charity: Behold in what glory I now appear to you, I will appear in the same manner to you at your death, and will cover all the stains of your sins, and of those who also salute My Wounds with the same devotion.

Chapter 36

On the Sunday before Ascension day, the Saint rose very joyfully to recite Matins, hoping that Our Lord would come to lodge in her heart for the four days preceding the Ascension, as she ardently besought Him to do; but after she had recited the Office, as far as the fifth Lesson, she saw a religious who was ill and who had no one to say Matins with her. The Saint moved by the charity which always animated her, said to Our Lord: "Thou knowest O Lord, that I have almost exhausted the little strength I have in reciting My Office so far; nevertheless, as I ardently desire Thee to abide with me during these holy days, and as I have not a fitting abode prepared for Thee, I am willing for Thy love, and in satisfaction for all my faults, to commence Matins again. " As she began the Office once more, Our Lord verified the words He had said - I was sick, and you visited Me, and As you did it to one of these My least brethren, you did it to Me by appearing to her, and overwhelming her with caresses, which could neither be explained nor understood.

It appeared to the Saint that Our Lord was seated at a table in the most sublime glory, and that He was distributing ineffable gifts, graces and joys to the souls in Heaven, on earth and in Purgatory not only for each word, but even for each letter which she had repeated; and she also received an intelligence of the Psalms, Responses and Lessons, which filled her with inexpressible delight.

When the words, Ad te, Domine, clamabo (To Thee O Lord I have cried out) and Salvum fac populum tuum, Domine, et benedic haereditati tuae (Save thy people O Lord, and bless Thine inheritance), were chanted, she besought Our Lord to pour forth an abundant grace and benediction on the whole Church. What do you desire that I should do My beloved? He replied; for I give Myself up to you with the same love and resignation as I abandoned Myself to My Father on the Cross until He willed it, so now I desire to do nothing but what you will, Distribute, then in virtue of My Divinity, all that you desire, and as abundantly as you desire.

After Matins, the Saint retired again to rest, and Our Lord said to her: She who wearies herself in exercises of charity has a right to repose peacefully on the couch of charity; and as He said this, He soothed her soul so tenderly that it appeared to her as if she indeed reposed on the bosom of this heavenly Bridegroom. Then she beheld a tree of charity, very high and very fair, covered with fruit and flowers, and with leaves shining like stars, which sprang forth from the Heart of Jesus, extending and lowering its branches so as to surround and cover the nuptial couch on which the soul of Gertrude reposed. And she saw a spring of pure water gush forth from its roots, which shot upwards, and then returned again to its source; and this refreshed her soul marvelously. By this she understood the Divinity of Jesus Christ sweetly reposing in His Humanity, which imparts ineffable joys to the elect.

During Mass, at which she was to communicate, St Gertrude exposed the defects of her soul to God, as a friend might do to one from whom he expected every good; and she besought Him earnestly to obtain pardon for all her sins and negligences, on the Feast of His Ascension, from His Father. Then the Lord replied, with the greatest condescension: You are that amiable Esther who pleases My eyes by your incredible beauty; ask, then, what you will, and I will give it to you.

As she began to pray for all who were confided to her care, and for all her benefactors, Our Lord approached her, and embraced her lovingly. And by this embrace she understood that her heart had contracted some stain from having received a benefit in too human a manner on the preceding day. "Ah, Lord!" she exclaimed, "why dost Thou suffer me to be revered as a Saint, when Thou wert esteemed during Thy life as the very least of men, and since it is for Thy glory that Thy elect should be despised in this world?" He replied: I have said by My Prophet, 'Shout with joy to God all the earth.....And give joy to His praise (Ps 65:1); therefore, I permit some persons to think well of you and to love you, for their sanctification and for My glory. "But what will become of me" she replied, "if Thou dost sanctify them by my faults?" Our Lord answered: I please Myself by embellishing the gold of My grace which I have put in you, by making it appear sometimes black and sometimes shining. By the word 'black' she understood that when one remembers having received a benefit in too human a manner, and repents humbly for their fault, they pleased God so much that the dark color enhances the beauty of the shining gold, she understood that when we receive benefits from God and men with thanksgiving, we render our souls still more capable of receiving and preserving the gifts of God.

Chapter 37. For the Rogation Days.

On the Monday before the Ascension, St Gertrude proposed to herself to do something to atone to God for the sins of the whole world; she then went to visit the sick person before mentioned, and having performed for her many services of charity which exceeded her strength, she offered them to God as an eternal thanksgiving and in satisfaction for all that His creatures had done, contrary to His Will. When she had accomplished this, it appeared to her that a vast multitude of men and women were attached to her by a golden chain (which indicated charity), and that she led them to Our Lord. He received them from her as a king would receive a prince who brought his enemies to his feet to swear obedience and inviolable fidelity to him.

On Tuesday as she prayed before Mass for the perfection and sanctification of the just, in whatever manner might be most pleasing to her Spouse, Our Lord extended His Hand and blessed them with the victorious Sign of the Cross; and this saving benediction descended into their hearts like dew, which made them flourish, strengthened them and imparted new beauty to them.

On Wednesday, at the elevation of the Host, she besought Our Lord for the souls of the faithful in Purgatory, that He would free them from their pains by virtue of His Admirable Ascension; and she beheld Our Lord descending into Purgatory with a golden rod in His Hand, which had as many hooks as there had been prayers for their souls; by these He appeared to draw them into a place of repose. She understood by this, that whenever anyone prays generally, from a motive of charity, for the souls in Purgatory, the greatest part of those who during their lives, have exercised themselves in works of charity, are released.

Then the Saint repeated these words two hundred and twenty-five times, to salute Our Lord's Sacred Limbs: "Ave Jesu, Sponse floride, in jubilo quo ascendisti saluto et collaudio te;" and it appeared to her that each salutation was presented to Our Lord as an instrument of music which sounded most melodiously and in a manner most pleasing to Him, so that He testified how acceptable it was to Him. Those salutations which she had offered with the purest intention emitted the most sublime harmony; while those she had recited less attentively sounded mournfully, and were not so harmonious.

Chapter 38. For Ascension-Day.

On the Feast of the Ascension, as the Saint prepared herself in the morning to offer the tenderest love and devotion to Our Lord, at the hour of His Ascension, He said to her: Give Me now all the testimonies of joy which you are prepared to give Me at the hour of My Ascension; for all the joy which I then experienced will be renewed in Me, as I am about to enter into you by the august and holy Sacrament of the Altar. "Ah my only Love!" exclaimed the Saint! "teach me how to perform our usual procession well, that I may fittingly honor the admirable procession which Thou didst make when conducting Thy disciples to Bethania." Our Lord replied: As Bethania signifies the house of obedience, you cannot make a better procession, or one more pleasing to Me, than to offer Me the entirely of your will, when you conduct Me within you, grieving sincerely for having followed your own will on so many occasions in preference to Mine, and determining firmly for the future to perform My Will perfectly in all things.

As she received Communion, Our Lord said to her: Behold I came to you, My spouse, not to bid you farewell, but to take you with Me and present you to God My Father. She understood by this, that when Our Lord enters into a soul by the Holy Sacrament of His Body and Blood, He attracts the desires and good will of this soul to Himself, as a seal makes an impression upon wax; and that He presents the representation of them thus formed to His Father, to obtain from Him the graces which this soul needs. The Saint then offered Him her prayers, and those of some other persons, to serve as an ornament to His Sacred Wounds, for the day of His glorious Ascension. Then the Lord Jesus appeared before His Father, adorned with these prayers, as with so many precious stones; and His Father appeared to draw all these offerings of the elect to Himself, by His almighty power, and then to cause them to fall in rays of glory on the throne prepared from all eternity for those who had offered these prayers.

At the hour of None, as Gertrude was entirely absorbed in God, the Lord Jesus appeared to her again, more beautiful than the children of men, and clothed in a green tunic and a crimson mantle. The green tunic indicated the glorious and vivifying works of His adorable Humanity; the crimson mantle, the intense love which had compelled Him to endure such fearful sufferings, that His patience under these alone would have merited His glory. Our Lord then appeared to pass through the choir, accompanied by a multitude of Angels, giving special testimonies of love to those who had communicated that day, and saying to them these sweet words: "I am with you until the consummation of ages. He also gave a golden ring to some in which a precious stone was set, saying: I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

As the Saint was surprised at this, she inquired of Our Lord if those to whom He had given the ring as a mark of special love would have more merit than others? Our Lord replied: I have done this because, when they took their reflection, they meditated on My goodness to My disciples, in eating and drinking with them before I ascended into Heaven; and for each morsel that they took, saying 'O most loving Jesus, may the virtue of Thy Divine Love incorporate me entirely in Thee'! I have imparted a special brilliancy to the precious stones of their rings.

When the Antiphon Elevatis manibus was chanted, Our Lord rose up by His own Divine power, accompanied by a troop of Angels, who attended Him with the utmost vigilance and reverence, giving His benediction to the whole community, saying to them: Peace I leave you, My peace I give unto you. By which she understood that Our Lord had poured forth His grace so effectually into the hearts of those who had celebrated this festival with singular devotion, that whatever trouble might happen to them, He would still leave some of His peace in their souls, even as sparks of fire are hidden under ashes.

Chapter 39. For the Sunday after Ascension.

As the Feast of Pentecost was now approaching, St Gertrude besought Our Lord, at Communion on this day to prepare her to receive these four virtues - purity of heart, humility, tranquility, and concord. As she prayed for purity, she perceived that her heart was whiter than snow; and she asked for humility, she saw Our Lord prepare a cave in her soul to receive His graces; when she asked for tranquility, she saw Him surround her heart with a golden circle, to preserve it from the snares of her enemies; she then said to Him"Alas my Lord! I fear that I shall soon ruin this rampart of tranquility, for as soon as I see anything that I know to be contrary to Thy Will, I cannot conceal my resentment and oppose it vehemently." To this Our Lord replied: This emotion will not disturb a holy tranquility, but rather adorns it, strengthening in you, as it were, so many barriers across which the burning love of the Holy Ghost breathes more efficaciously, and refreshes your soul more sweetly.

She then asked Our Lord for the virtue of concord, and He crowned with this virtue all the other virtues which the Holy Spirit had imparted to her; but as she feared that if she suffered many contradictions on account of her zeal for regular observance, they would prove an occasion of this precious grace, the Lord replied: The virtue of concord is not injured when men opposed injustice; and I Myself will restrain your zeal, so that you may be entirely conformed in all things to the operations of My Divine Spirit. Then she understood that whoever prays devoutly to God for the same virtues , in order to prepare a dwelling for the Holy Spirit, and tries to advance in them every day by practicing them faithfully, will receive the same advantage.

Chapter 40. For the Vigil and Feast of Pentecost.

As St Gertrude prayed devoutly, on the Vigil of Pentecost, that she might be prepared to receive the Holy Ghost, she heard Our Lord saying these words to her interiorly with great love: You will receive the virtue of the Holy Spirit, which is coming to you. But while she felt extreme joy and satisfaction at these words, she thought also of her utter unworthiness, and it appeared to her as if a cave was made in her heart, which became deeper and deeper as this sentiment of unworthiness increased in her soul. Then she saw a stream of honey coming forth from the Heart of Jesus, and distilling itself into hers, until it was entirely filled. By this she understood that it was the unction and grace of the Holy Spirit which flowed thus sweetly from the Heart of the Son of God into the hearts of the faithful.

Then the Son of God blessed this cave with His Divine Hand, as the baptismal font is blessed so that each time entered therein it might be purified from every stain. As she rejoiced at this holy benediction, she said to Our Lord: "Alas, my Lord, unworthy sinner that I am, I confess with grief, that through my frailty, I have offended in many ways against Thy Omnipotence, and that my ignorance and malice have often offended against Thy wisdom and goodness. Therefore, O Father of Mercies, have mercy on me, and give me strength from Thy Strength to resist all that is contrary to Thy Will; give me grace from Thy inconceivable wisdom to avoid all that may offend Thy Pure Eyes, and enable me to adhere faithfully to Thee by Thy superabundant mercy, so that I may never depart from Thy Will in the very least degree"

As she said these words, she appeared to be plunged into this cave to be regenerated therein, so that she came forth purified from every stain, and whiter than snow; as being presented thus before the Divine Majesty, she put herself under the protection of all the Saints, as a newly baptized person is placed in the care of their sponsors, that they might pray to God for her. Then all the Saints offered their merit to God very joyfully, in satisfaction for her negligences and needs. St Gertrude, being thus adorned was placed by Our Lord Himself before Him so that His Divine breath entered into her soul, uniting her will efficaciously to His, and saying to her: Such are the delights which I enjoy with the children of men, for the respirations of her soul indicated her good will, and the breath of Our Lord His intentions and desires. Thus Gertrude reposed sweetly in the arms of her Spouse, waiting until He should impart to her more perfect dispositions for the reception of the Holy Ghost.

As she offered some special prayers to obtain from God the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and first for the gift of fear, that it might keep her from evil, Our Lord appeared to plant a very high tree in the center of her heart, which extended its branches so as to cover it entirely. This tree had little spikes, from which grew very beautiful flowers. The spikes signified the gift of the fear of the Lord, which pricks the soul with compunction when it is inclined to evil; the flowers indicated the goodwill which joined to the fear of God, fortifies the soul against sin; and if man avoids evil and performs good actions, the tree produces fruit.

Then as she asked for the other gifts, they were shown to her under the form of trees, differing in their fruits according to the different virtues. A kind of dew distilled from the trees of knowledge and piety, from which she understood that those who apply themselves to these two virtues are watered by a gentle rain, which makes them flower and bear fruit. The trees of the gift of counsel and fortitude had little cords of gold, which signified that these gifts rendered the soul capable of comprehending spiritual things. Streams of delicious nectar flowed from the trees of wisdom and understanding, from which she learned that God pours Himself forth efficaciously on the soul by these gifts, and that it thus becomes satiated with the sweetness of His love.

That night, at Matins, as the Saint felt an extreme debility, which made her think that she could not live long, she said to Our Lord: "What honor and what glory canst Thou gain from a miserable creature like me, who can only remain so short a time at the Office?" Our Lord replied: In order than sensible things may assist you to understand those which are spiritual, consider that a bridegroom finds the greatest pleasure in the most familiar relations with his bride; and I assure you that no bridegroom ever found more satisfaction in the endearments of his bride, than I do whenever My elect offer Me their hearts, purified from all sin, that I may take My delight therein. As she approached to receive Holy Communion, Our Lord refreshed her heart by a Divine exhalation, which came forth from His sacred Limbs, and which gave her ineffable pleasure - God making known to her that she had merited to receive the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit by her earnest prayers.

After she had communicated, she offered the whole life of Jesus Christ to God the Father, in satisfaction for her fault in never having made a sufficiently worthy preparation to receive Him into her heart, even from the hour of her regeneration in Baptism. Then she saw the Holy Ghost in the form of a dove, descending from Heaven upon the adorable Sacrament, with an impetuous flight like that of an eagle; and seeking the sweet Heart of Jesus, He appeared to enter therein, and find there a most agreeable abode.

As the hymn Veni Creator was chanted at Terce, Our Lord appeared to her and opened His Heart, full of sweetness and tenderness, to her. Gertrude knelt before it, inclining so that her head rested in the center of His Heart; and her Spouse took her head and pressed it to Himself, uniting her will to His and sanctifying it. At the second verse, Qui, Paraclitus diciris, she placed the hands of her soul, that is her actions, in the Heart of Jesus, and obtained consolations which so fortified in her exercises of piety, that all which she performed henceforth could not fail to be most acceptable to God.

At the third verse, Tu septiformis gratia (sic) (Thou who art sevenfold in Thy grace) she placed the feet of her soul, that is, her desires, in the Sacred Heart, and thereby obtained their sanctification.

At the fourth verse, Accende lumen sensibus (Oh, guide our minds with Thy blest light), she recommended her senses to God and obtained this promise - that they should be so illuminated as to reflect their light upon the senses of others, who should be thereby excited to love God.

At the fifth verse, Hostem repellas (Far from us drive our hellish foe), Our Lord inclined toward her and embraced her to shield her against all the attacks of her enemies; and in all this she experienced such satisfaction in her soul as to understand clearly what Our Lord had said to her on the preceding day: You shall receive the virtue of the Holy Ghost, which will come to you.

Chapter 41. For Monday in Whitsun Week.

On Monday, at the Elevation, St Gertrude offered the Sacred Host in satisfaction for her deficiencies in acquiring spiritual goods, and even for extinguishing the light of the Holy Spirit. It appeared to her that this Sacred Host emitted a number of branches, which were collected by the Holy Spirit and placed in the form of a hedge round the throne of the Ever- Blessed Trinity. From this she understood that the excellence and dignity of this great Sacrament supplied fully for all her negligence. A voice also came forth from the throne, which said: Let her who has given such rare flowers to her Spouse approach His Divine and nuptial couch without fear. She understood by this that God considered her perfect in habits of virtue, in consideration of the oblation which she had made to Him of this Most Holy Sacrament.

At the first Agnus Dei she prayed for the whole Church, as usual beseeching God to govern it in things as a true Father. At the second Agnus Dei she prayed for the faithful departed, that He might show mercy to them, and release them from all their pains. At the third Agnus Dei she asked for an increase of merit for all the Saints and the elect who should reign with Him in Heaven. At the words Dona nobis pacem Our Lord inclined so lovingly toward her that the sweetness of His embrace penetrated into the depth of the hearts of all the Saints, and they received thereby an immense increase of merit. After this, as she approached the Holy Communion, the Saints rose up before her with honor and joy, and she saw that the light of their merits shone gloriously, even as a shield of gold shines when exposed to the rays of the sun; and the reflection of this light shone into her soul. St. Gertrude then remained in the presence of God, as if in expectation, because she had not yet obtained the grace of being united to Him. At last, after communion, her soul was united to this Divine Spouse with such plenitude, that she enjoyed His presence in the most perfect manner possible in this world. Then the branches of which we have already spoken, with which the Holy Spirit had surrounded the throne of the Ever-Blessed Trinity, began to shoot forth green leaves and flowers, even as a plant flourishes after abundant rain, so that the ever-peaceful Trinity found ineffable pleasure therein, and all the Saints experienced new delights.

Chapter 42. For the Tuesday in Whitsun Week.

On Tuesday in Whitsun week, St. Gertrude offered the Host to God in satisfaction and reparation for her deficiency in gratitude for the favor which He bestowed on her of uniting her more closely to Himself than others, and because she had not detached herself from everything else to attach herself entirely to Him. And as she did this with perfect and full intention of suffering the penalty which considered due to her negligence and weakness, Our Lord who is full of goodness, and who esteems a good will even as an act-appeared fully satisfied; and the Holy Spirit, concentrating all the virtues of this most Holy Sacrament, entered with the Holy into the soul of Gertrude at the moment of Communion; and God then united Himself closely and inseparably to her.

Chapter 43. For the Feast of the Blessed Trinity.

On the feast of the effulgent and ever-peaceful Trinity, St. Gertrude recited this salutation: "Be Thou glorified, O most mighty, most excellent, most noble, most sweet, most benignant, ever-peaceful and ineffable Trinity, Who art one God now and to endless ages!" As she offered this salutation to Our Lord, He appeared to her in His Humanity, in which He is said to be less than His Father, and stood in the presence of the adorable Trinity with all the beauty and grace of a perfect man. He had a most brilliant and beautiful flower on each part of His Body, to which nothing material could be compared. They indicated by their brightness that, as our baseness and unworthiness were utterly incapable of praising the adorable Trinity, Our Lord, by taking our nature, had so elevated it as to make it worthy of being offered in sacrifice to this adorable Trinity. When Vespers commenced, Our Lord offered His Heart to the Blessed Trinity as a musical instrument, and by it every note every word which was chanted in the Office on that day resounded most melodiously before God. But the chants of those who had little devotion emitted a low and unmelodious sound, like that which is heard on the large strings of a musical instrument. At the Antiphon Osculetur me, a voice came from the throne, singing: "Let My Divine Son, in whom is all My delight, approach Me, and give Me a sweet loving embrace." Then the Son of God approached under His human form, embracing this incomprehensive Divinity, to which His Sacred Humanity alone has merited to be united so blessedly and so inseparably.

Then the Son of God said to His most pure Mother, in whose honor this Antiphon was chanted: "Do you also approach, My most dear Mother, and embrace Me. " And at this embrace, the same flowers and the same beauty appeared on her as on Our Lord, because it was form her He took human flesh. She learned also that whenever the Son is named on this most holy festival, the Farther unites Himself in an ineffable manner with the Son, whose Humanity receives thereby a glory which reflects itself upon the Saints, giving them new knowledge of the incomprehensible Trinity. In the morning, when the Antiphon Te jure laudent was chanted at Lauds, St. Gertrude praised the Ever-Blessed Trinity with her whole soul, desiring to do the same at the moment of her death, if it were possible; and it appeared to her that the effulgent and ever-peaceful Trinity inclined gently toward the Heart of Jesus, which resounded before it like a harp, and that three words therein were united to pay the homage which St. Gertrude had failed in rendering to the Blessed Trinity; and these three words were-the omnipotence of the Father, the wisdom of the Son, and the love of the Holy Spirit. As she continued in sentiments of most fervent devotion all the morning, she began to consider whether it was her negligence which had prevented her from receiving as many lights as usual. But Our Lord consoled her by these words: "Although My justice has deprived you of some lights and knowledge, on account of the human satisfaction which you have taken in chanting the Office, you may nevertheless be assured that the pains which you have chosen to endure in this service will not fail of their reward." On another occasion also, and on the same high festival, St. Gertrude was vouchsafed the most sublime graces, particularly at the Church's offices, which are known to God alone.

Chapter 44. For the Feast of St. John Baptist.

On the feast of St. John the Baptist, as the Saint assisted at Matins with all possible devotion, this Saint appeared to her, standing before the throne of God, in all the glory of his special prerogative of having baptized Our Lord, and being the precursor of Christ. As the Saint considered him thus, she began to reflect why he was always represented as an aged man, and with a care-worn countenance. But St. John informed her that this manner of representing him served to augment his glory, and that God had expressly permitted it, to teach men that the ardent desire which he had of serving Him would have led him to use every effort to combat the injustice of men, and to attain to the highest perfection, even to old age; and as he died in these sentiments, God had given him a very high reward for them.

As St. Gertrude inquired if his merits had been increased on account of his parents having been so perfect and holy, he replied "Because I had holy parents, I was brought up to a greater love of justice, and therefore I was rendered more worthy of a place near the throne of God. But as for their rank and worldly advantages, I gained nothing by them except by despising them and by seeking to elevate my mind to heavenly knowledge, so that I have gained a glory similar to that of a soldier; who, returning victorious from battle, rejoices all the more for having over come more of the snares and surprises of his enemies than others"

Chapter 45. For the Feast of the Holy Apostles SS. Peter and Paul.

On the great Festival of the princes of the Apostles, as the second Response Si diligis me, was chanted at Matins, St Gertrude asked Our Lord what flock she should feed to testify her love for Him. Our Lord replied: Feed five lambs which are most dear to Me. Feed your heart with Divine meditations, your lips with edifying words, your eyes with pious reading, your ears with charitable admonitions and your hands with continual labor; for your attachment and application to such things will be the greatest testimony of your affection which you can bestow on Me.

By these holy meditations she understood all thoughts for the glory of God, for the welfare of others, and for her own salvation; the same was indicated by edifying discourses. By pious reading, she understood all that could contribute to our salvation, as looking upon a crucifix, assisting the poor,giving good example. By charitable admonitions, she understood receiving correction patiently. But as continual reading was inconsistent with manual labor, she understood that the desire of it was sufficient when accomplishment was not possible.

At Mass, as she returned thanks for the special privileges bestowed on St Peter, and particularly his having heard these words Our Lord Himself, "Whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed in heaven," the Saint appeared to her, vested as a Pope, and, extending his hands, he gave her his benediction, that it might work in her the same effects as i had worked in others, through the power which God had given him. As she approached the holy altar, and trembled for her unworthiness, St. Peter and St. Paul appeared to her, one on her right hand and the other on her left, as if to conduct her thither with great pomp; and when she had reached it, the Son of God received her Himself, saying to her: "I have brought you thither with the same arms with which I embrace you; but i have done this through the ministry of My Apostles, that your devotion might be fully satisfied."

Then, as she remembered she had not returned thanks for the graces bestowed on St. Paul, she besought Our Lord to supply for her negligence. After Communion, as she prayed, she seemed to be seated, as a queen beside a king, on the same throne with our Divine Lord; before whom the Apostles knelt as soldiers receiving gifts from a prince; for her Communion had appeared to increase their merits. And as she was surprised at this, and thought that those Saints must have acquired sufficient merit for having offered the Adorable Sacrifice so frequently when on earth, she was told that the Saints took special delight in a soul when it has received Holy Communion with devotion and piety, even as a bride is congratulated on the day of her nuptials.

Chapter 46. For the Feast of St. Margaret, Virgin and Martyr.

As St. Gertrude assisted at Vespers, on the Festival of the glorious virgin St. Margaret she appeared to her in exceeding beauty, standing before the throne of God at the commencement of the Response Virgo veneranda; rays of light appeared to come forth from the King of Glory, which renewed and enhanced the merit of the virginity and beauty of the Saint, even as the touches of a painter enhance the perfection of his work. At the words In magna stans constantia, a ray of light of the Passion increased the merits of her martyrdom. And as the words Sponisque reddens praemia were chanted, Our Lord turned to His spouse, the blessed Margaret, and said lovingly to her: "My daughter, have I not increased your merits to the highest degree? And yet I am to increase them further." Then He united together all the devotions of those who had solemnized this Feast, to enhance the glory of this most blessed virgin. After this St. Margaret turned to Gertrude, and said to her: "Rejoice and be glad, O elect of my Lord! For assuredly, after the short term of your affliction on earth, you shall rejoice for all eternity in Heaven, where the brief moments of temporal affliction and bitterness which you have endured shall be recompensed by endless years of sweetness and consolation: and all that you suffer now, either in body or soul, is an effect of the special love which God bears you, since you are daily more and more favored with such sufferings, and you are thereby more prepared for the joys of eternity. Consider," she continued, "that on the day on which I obtained the glory which I now enjoy, instead of being honored as I now am by the whole world, I was despised by all, and thought miserable and afflicted. Have, therefore, this confidence-that, when this life has ended, you will infallibly enjoy the eternal embraces of your Spouses, and those joys and delights which neither eye hath seen nor ear heard, and which it hath not entered into the heart of man to conceive."

Chapter 47. For the Feast of St. Mary Magdalen.

At the first Vespers of the Feast of St. Mary Magdalen, this blessed lover of Jesus appeared to Gertrude, adorned with as many precious stones and rare flowers as she had formerly committed sins. The Saint understood that the flowers signified the sovereign goodness of God in pardoning her sins, and the precious stones, the penance by which the Divine grace had enabled her to expiate them. At Matins, St. Gertrude besought this Saint to intercede for her and all who were committed to her care. Then St. Mary Magdalen cast herself at the Feet of Our Lord and kissed them tenderly, raising them gently from the ground, as if to invite all penitents to approach them. Gertrude then approached, and kissing them devoutly, said to Him: "I offer Thee now, O most loving Lord, the sorrows of all those who are under my care, and with them I water Thy blessed Feet with my tears." Our Lord replied: "I accept your offering for them, and tell them that they should wipe My Feet with their hair, kiss them and pour perfumes upon them."

From this she understood three things: first, that they wiped Our Lord's Feet with their hair, if they now endeavored to expose themselves to every kind of adversity, to efface any faults which they might have committed formerly by not bearing their sufferings patiently; secondly, that they kissed His Feet who confided fully in the goodness of God, who easily forgives all the sins for which we are truly penitent: thirdly, that we anoint them when we avoid carefully all that is displeasing to God. Our Lord then said to her: "Pour forth this ointment on Me with the same devotion as Magdalen opened the alabaster box, and poured it upon My Head, so that the odor perfumed the whole house. And know, that if you defend the truth, you will act thus; those who love and defend the truth, and for its sake lose friends or any other advantage, pour forth on My Head a box of precious ointment, the perfume of which fills My house; for he who corrects others, by giving good example, emits a sweet odor. And if he fails in any way in the manner of correcting or reprehending, either by negligence or by roughness, I will excuse him before God My Father and the whole court of Heaven, even as I excused Magdalen." To this Gertrude replied: "O Lord, since it is related of this loving penitent that she bought this ointment, can I not render Thee a similar service?" He answered: "Whosoever desires that My glory may be promoted in all things, in preference to his own advantage or convenience, purchases a most precious ointment for Me; although it may often happen that his good will cannot be carried into effect."

Chapter 48. For the Feast of St. James.

On the Feast of St. James the Great, this Apostle appeared to Gertrude, adorned with the merits of those pilgrims who had visited his shrine. As the Saint was rapt in admiration thereat, she asked Our Lord why this Apostle was so honored by pilgrimages, that his relics appeared even more than those of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul. Our Lord replied: "The fervor of his zeal for the salvation of souls has obtained this special privilege for him. And as i took him away from the world so soon, according to the decrees of My Providence, that he was unable to convert many persons, which he most ardently desired to do, his desire still remains before Me fresh and flourishing, and what he was unable to do during his life I permit him to accomplish after his death, by bringing an immense number of pilgrims to his shrine, absolving them from their sins, and strengthening them in the Catholic Faith." Then, as she desired to obtain the remission of her sins through the merits of this Apostle, and as she could not undertake the pilgrimage, she approached the Holy Communion. As soon as she had accomplished her design, she beheld herself seated at a table with our Divine Lord, which was laden with various delicious viands. And as she offered Our Lord His precious Body, which she had received, for the increase of the beatitude and glory of this Apostle, St. James presented himself before God as a prince, to thank Him for the favors which he had received through this Adorable Sacrament. He then asked that God would work in the soul of Gertrude all the good which He had ever deigned to work in any soul through his merits, because she had offered this Adorable Sacrament in his honor.

Chapter 49. For the Vigil and Feast of the Assumption.

As St. Gertrude was ill, on the solemnity of the Assumption, she was unable to fulfill her intention of saying as any Ave Marias as the Blessed Virgin had been years on earth; but she tried to supply for this devotion in some degree by the three aspirations-Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum ( Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee). As she offered them with great fervor for herself and those committed to her care, Our Lady appeared to her in glory, clothed with a green mantle covered with golden flowers in the form of trefoils, and said to her: "Behold how I am adorned with as many flowers as those for whom you have prayed have uttered words in their petition to me; the brilliancy of these flowers corresponds to the fervor of their petitions; and i will turn this to their advantage, to render them more agreeable to my Son and all the celestial court." St. Gertrude observed also that the Blessed Virgin had some roses with six leaves among the trefoils, and that three of these leaves were golden and enriched with precious stones; while the other three, which alternated with the former, were distinguished by an admirable variety of colors. The tree golden leaves indicated the threefold division of the Ave Maria which she had made during her sickness; and the three other leaves were added by Our Lord-the first, to reward her for the love with which she saluted and praised His most sweet Mother; the second, for her discretion and prudence in regulating her devotions during her illness; and the third, for the confidence which she had that the Lord and His loving Mother would accept a little she had done. At prime St. Gertrude besought Our Lord to obtain His Blessed Mother's favor for her, as she feared she had never been sufficiently devout to her. Our Lord then, after bestowing many marks of tenderness and filial affection on His Divine Mother, said to her: "Remember, My beloved Mother, that for your sake I am indulgent to sinners, and regard My elect as if she had served you all her life with devotion." At these words this most pure Mother gave herself entirely to Gertrude, for the sake of her Divine Son. As the Collect, Deus, qui virginalem, was read at Mass, Our Lord appeared to renew in His Blessed Mother all the joys which she had experienced in His Conception, His Birth and the other mysteries of His Humanity. At the words Ut sua nos defensione munitos, which the Saint read with special devotion, she beheld the Mother of God extending her mantle as if to receive beneath its shelter all those who fled to her patronage. The holy Angels then brought all who had prepared themselves very fervently for this Feast, and presented them to her as fair young virgins, who stood before her as before their mother, while these good Angels defended them from the snares of evil spirits, and carefully incited them to good actions. The Saint understood that they had obtained this angelic protection by the words Ut sua defensione, ect; for at her command the Angels never fail to protect and defend those who invoke this glorious Virgin. A number of little animals appeared afterwards under the mantle of the Blessed Virgin; and this signified those sinners who addressed themselves to her with devotion. The Mother of Mercy received them with the greatest charity and covered them with her mantle, thus manifesting with what affability she treats those who have recourse to her; how she protects them even during their wanderings; and if they recognize their faults and return to her, she reconciles them to her Son by a sincere penance. At the Elevation, St. Gertrude saw Our Divine Lord imparting Himself with all the joys of His Divinity and Humanity to all those who had assisted at Mass with special devotion in honor of His Blessed Mother, and who had desired to serve her devoutly on the day of her Assumption; so that, being sustained by virtue of the Adorable Sacrament, they were strengthened in their good desired, even as food strengthens and invigorates the human frame. After Mass the community proceeded to Chapter, and the Saint saw a multitude of Angels surrounding Our Lord, who appeared to wait with great joy for the arrival of the religious. Marveling at this, she said to our Lord: "Why hast thou come to this Chapter, O most loving Lord, surrounded by such a multitude of Angels, since we have not the same devotion now as on the Vigil of Thy Divine Birth?" Our Lord replied: "I come as the Father of the family to receive those who have been invited to eat at My house. I come also from respect to My Mother , to announce the solemn Festival of her eminent Assumption, and to receive all who are prepared to celebrate this Feast with holy disposition. I come also to absolve, by the virtue and authority of My Divinity, all those who are humble themselves for the negligence which they have committed concerning their Rule." He added: "I am present on all these Festivals, and see all that you do, although, on the Vigil of My Nativity, I assisted in an extraordinary manner."

St. Gertrude recited None with special devotion, as the Office of the Assumption commences at that hour, according to the usages of the Order, and it was revealed to her on the day previous to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin she had been so absorbed in God, from the hour None until the moment of her happy departure from this world, as to have nothing human in her, to live only by the Spirit of God, and to taste in anticipation all those celestial joys which she soon experienced perfectly and eternally in the blossom of God; and that at the third hour of the night Our Lord came for and took her to Himself with exceeding joy.

In the evening, at Vespers, the Saint beheld Our Lord drawing into His Heart all the praises which had been chanted in honor of His Blessed Mother, and from thence pouring them forth upon her in impetuous torrent. As the Antiphon Ista pulchra es (Thou art that beautiful one) was chanted, St. Gertrude offered the words to Our Lord through His Sacred Heart, in memory of the sweet caresses He had bestowed on His Blessed Mother by the same words; and this devotion, passing through the Heart of Jesus to the heart of Mary, encircled her like a cincture of stars, consoling her in a marvelous manner. Many of these stars appeared to fall to the ground, but the Saints gathered them up, presenting them to Our Lord with joy and admiration. This signified that all the Saints obtain ineffable joy, glory and beatitude from the superabundant merits of the Blessed Virgin.

When the Community chanted the Response, Quae est ista! the angels united with them in singing it. Our Lord Himself intoned the Ista est speciosa (She is that fair one), the Holy Spirit animating His Divine Heart to praise and glorify the most excellent of all creatures.

At the hymn Quem terra, pontus, the Blessed Virgin seemed unable to contain the plenitude of her delights, and reclined on the bosom of her Son until the words: O gloriosa Domina. Then she appeared as if aroused by the devotion of the faithful, and extended her hands over them to protect and console them by her maternal love. At the verse Deo Patri she rose again and made three profound genuflections, in honor of the Ever Blessed Trinity; and then she continued praying for the whole Church until the Magnificat. At the Antiphon Virgo prudentissima (Virgin most prudent) she sent celestial light to all who invoke her devoutly.

On another occasion, at the Assumption, when St Gertrude was so feeble as to be unable to assist at Matins, the Lord, the Orient from on high, visited her with ineffable goodness. It appeared to her at the sixth Response that she assisted in spirit at the moment when the Blessed Virgin paid the last debt of nature, and entered Heaven. Her rapture continued from this Respose until the Te Deum, when she returned to herself once more; but during this rapture, she was favored with a heavenly intelligence of all that was chanted, which filled her with ineffable joy.

At the Response Super salutem, she saw the Angels and Apostles chanting in concert, as if to congratulate their Queen for her singular privileges. Meanwhile as the soul of the Blessed Virgin left her body, it was received by her Divine Son into His arms. But our loving Jesus, who is the Father of orphans, recommended the needs and necessities of the Church, His Spouse, which are ever in His Heart, to her, while the seventh Response, Sancta Deo dilecta, was chanted. Then the Blessed Virgin advanced farther, while her Son united with the choirs of Angels in singing the eighth Response, Salve Maria, and the ninth Salve, pia mater Christianorum; when Our Lord, continuing in the Person of His Church, added these words in a clear voice: Virgo, solamen desolatorum.

While the Queen of Heaven was being received therein, the Canticle Audite me, Divini fructus, was sung with a transport of joy which no human words can express; and she appeared to enter a field adorned with the most exquisite flowers. At the words Et fronde in gratiam, all these flowers became marvelously brilliant, and emitted a sweeter perfume, giving forth more melodious sounds than could be given by all the voices in the world united together in the most exquisite harmony.

Then the Blessed Virgin, transported with joy because of this incomparable beatitude, returned thanks to God in these words, Gaudens, gaudebo in Domine; and the Eternal Father, as if pleased with the exalted perfection of this excellent Virgin, blessed the Church Militant upon earth with abundant sweetness, saying: Non vocaberis ultra derelicta. All the choirs of Angels then chanted these words: Sexaginta sunt reginae; indicating by this that the Virgin Mother was elevated above their orders. The choirs of Saints sang, Et octoginta concubinae, declaring her elevation above them, while both Saints and Angels united their choirs in personating the Church Triumphant, and chanted, Et adolescentularum non est numerous, elevating the Mother of God above all, as she merits to be elevated. Then the Holy Spirit chanted the words, Una est columba mea, her Divine Son adding, Perfecta mea, as if to say that she was the most perfect of creatures. The Eternal Father then said, Una est matri suae electa, with exceeding love, which indicated all that He desired to say of her; after this the whole celestial coart chanted her praise in the Versicle Salve, nobilis. Then the Blessed Virgin was placed on a throne of glory on the right hand of her Son, while all the citizens of Heaven assisted before the throne, employing themselves in extolling her sovereign glory and the high and eminent sanctity of her life by which she had merited to obtain it; singing the Response, Beata est virgo Maria; to which the Blessed Trinity added the words, Ave Maris, renewing in her heart all the joy which she had formerly experienced when saluted by the Angel; the choirs of Saints chanting the words, Ecce exaltata est, and recommending the Church Militant to her intercession. God the Father then chanted the words, Ave, speciosa, to indicate the rare beauty of this most perfect of creatures; God the Son replying, Sunamitis secundum cor summi regis, the Holy Ghost added, Ave Mater Maria; and the Son again replied, Spiritu Sancto teste. The saints then knelt before her, in the person of the Church Militant, chanting, O sancta, Ocelsa; and the most Holy Trinity chanted the third Response, Quae est ista? The Blessed Virgin then chanted the Te Deum with the whole celestial court, in honor of the Ever-Blessed Trinity, adoring all the Persons in the first verse, the Eternal Father in the second, the Son in the third and the Holy Ghost in the fourth. The Saint perceived that each of the Divine Persons in particular was praised in each verse except the seventh, Tu Rex gloriae, Christe, which refers particularly to the Son, and wherein He is praised for all the holy affections of the Blessed Virgin, which, by His assistance, she had always employed for the Divine glory. At the verse Aeterna fac, she extolled each Person alternately, and perceived that nothing was attributed to the Father which belonged so exclusively to Him as to prevent its application to the Son and the Holy Ghost. When St. Gertrude recovered from this ecstasy, she found her bodily health so strengthened that she was even able to walk more quickly than her companions; and this continued until after the High Mass.

Three years after the occurrence of the favors just related, the Saint was confined to bed on the Vigil of the Assumption; nevertheless, she endeavored to prepare herself for this great Festival with all possible fervor and devotion. While she was thus occupied, she beheld the Blessed Virgin in a beautiful garden, cultivated with the greatest care, and filled with rare flowers. Our Lady appeared to be in a rapture, caused by an excess of repose and joy, the serenity of her countenance and her gestures indicating that she was full of grace. In this garden there were roses without thorns, lilies white as snow, and fragrant violets, with many other flowers. But it seemed very marvelous that the farther these flowers were from the Blessed Virgin, the brighter was their color and the sweeter their fragrance. Then she appeared to draw this odor herself by inspiration, and to pour it forth into the Heart of her Son, which seemed to be opened for this purpose. A great number of Angels were also in this garden, between these flowers and the Blessed Virgin, who served God by proclaiming her praises. St. John the Evangelist also remained near her, praying fervently, and she appeared to attract his prayers to herself like a sweet vapor. As St. Gertrude took singular pleasure in this vision, she began to marvel what it might mean; and Our Lord taught her that the garden signified the chaste body of the Blessed Virgin; that the flowers were her virtues; that the beautiful roses which appeared so far from her were the actions which she had performed for the love of God and her neighbor; and which increased in merit as the love which prompted them was extended; that the lilies signified her extreme purity; and that the prayers of St. John, which she appeared to attract, signified the glory which she had received through him in consequence of the care which he had taken of her while on earth, that she might be enabled to spend more time in prayer. Then she inquired what advantage St. John had gained from this; and Our Lord replied: "My Heart was drawn more toward him for each act of devotion which he offered to My Mother." Lastly, she understood that the vision of the Blessed Virgin which she had seen represented her soul, which always abounded in the fruits of virtue, and which she ever returned to God with the greatest thanksgiving. At Matins she was again rapt in ecstasy, and beheld the Blessed Virgin reposing sweetly and peaceably upon her Divine Son, and the Son pouring forth into the heart of His Mother an ineffable joy, the fruit of the virtues which she had practiced, and had returned to Him as their true and only Source. The Eternal Father seemed to chant the first Responsory, Vidi speciosam, by which the whole understood that the Blessed Virgin had indeed been a dove in purity and innocence; that she ascended above the rivers of waters by desire; that her garment-that is, her holy life-was full of ineffable sweetness; and that she was surrounded with roses and lillies-that is with every virtue. Then the Holy Ghost made known the holy life of the Blessed Virgin by chanting the Response, Cicut Cedres the Saints, full of admiration and joy, adding the third Response, Quae est ista? of which St. Gertrude received a marvelous understanding; but her infirmity caused her to forget it. The Saints then passed in procession round the throne of the Blessed Virgin, chanting the fourth Response, Gaude, regina, with profound respect and with a marvelous concord of voices, praising this mighty Queen on whom the eternal light shone so gloriously; so that she appeared to all in Heaven and earth as the most beautiful and accomplished Virgin in virtue and grace-as a Mother who provides for our wants, and who will increase our glory and crown our joy and beatitude hereafter.

The choirs of Angels then marched professionally, singing with a clear and melodious voice, Fac nos laetari; and the Saints chanted the Gloria Patri in thanksgiving for all the graces which the Blessed Virgin had obtained for them; both choirs then united together, singing all the Antiphons and Psalms to the honor of God and the praise of the Blessed Virgin. Meanwhile St. Gertrude was favored with a marvelous intelligence of all that was chanted. At the fifth Response, the Blessed Virgin rose, and sang the words, Beatam me dicent omnes generationes (All generations shall call me blessed), while her soul appeared as when it had been released from the body, reposing upon her Son, and immersed in an ocean of beatitude, being forever united closely to the Ever-Blessed Trinity. The Super salutem was then chanted, the whole heavenly court rejoicing in her union with the King of kings. From this we may learn how God bestows favors on one person for the advantage of many; and if we for our sins are hindered from entering this garden of delights, at least let us not fail to cull a few flowers from it.

On another occasion, as St. Gertrude assisted devoutly at Matins, she made three different meditations at each Nocturn. At the first, she reminded the Blessed Virgin of the ineffable consolations which she had received from her Divine Son and from the Saints when expecting her death,so that every word which she uttered appeared to encircle her like roses and lilies. At the second Nocturn, she reminded her of the ineffable delights which she had experienced when received into the arms of her Beloved at this happy moment. At the third Nocturn, she reminded her of the inconceivable glory with which she had been honored at her entrance into Heaven; and at each word that she recited, she received a light and glory which could only be compared to the emission of the sweetest perfumes.

At Mass she said the Laudate Dominum three times-first, beseeching the Saints to offer their merits to Our Lord, that she might make a worthy Communion; secondly, saying it for the same intention in honor of the Blessed Virgin; and thirdly, offering it to Our Divine Lord. The Blessed Virgin then rose at the prayer of the Saints and stood before the throne of the adorable Trinity, offering her merits and the favors which she had received on the day of her Assumption for St. Gertrude, whom she called to her, caressing her tenderly, and saying to her: "Come, elect one, and stand in my place, with all the perfection in virtue which caused the Blessed Trinity to incline toward me, that you may please the Blessed Trinity as far as possible in like manner." At this she was amazed, and replied: "Alas, O Queen of Glory, how can I merit so great a favor?" The Blessed Virgin replied: "Prepare yourself for it by three things: first, pray to be purified from every stain by the exceeding purity with which I prepared an abode within my virginal womb for my Divine Son; secondly, ask pardon for all your negligence by the profound humility by which i merited to be elevated above all the Saint and the Angels; thirdly, implore an abundant increase of merits through the incomprehensible love which united me to God in such a manner, that I can never be separated from Him.

St. Gertrude, having faithfully accomplished what the Blessed Virgin had directed, was rapt in ecstasy to the high degree of glory which the Queen of Heaven had merited; and being clothed in her merits, she pleased Our Lord so surpassingly, that all the Saints and Angels came to honor her.

As the religious approached the Holy Communion, their glorious Queen stood on their right, covering them with her mantle, saying: "My dearest Son, look favorably upon all who have honored my memory"; to this prayer He condescended very lovingly, treating them with the greatest tenderness. When the Saint communicated, she offered the Most Holy Sacrament to Our Lord for His eternal praise, and for the increase of the joy and glory of His Blessed Mother, as a compensation for the merits with which she had supplied her poverty. Our Lord then addressed Himself lovingly to His Mother, saying: "Behold, My Mother, I return what you have gave doubled, and I take nothing from her of what you desired to bestow on her for My sake." After the procession the community returned to the choir, singing the Antiphon Ave domina mundi Maria, and it appeared to St. Gertrude that Heaven itself was full of joy and triumph, the Blessed Virgin standing before the altar at the right of her Son, and looking upon the religious.

As they sang Ave caelorum regina, all the Saints prostrated before her, reverencing her as the Mother of their Lord; at the words Ave virgo virginum, she extended her hand, and presented each with a white lily, engaging them to follow the innocence and purity of her life. When they sang Per te venit redemptio nostra ( Through you comes our redemption), her maternal feelings were so deeply moved, that she appeared unable to bear the joy which her heart was filled, and supported herself lovingly upon her Divine Son; at the words Pro nobis rogamus rogita, the Blessed Virgin embraced her Son, respectfully offering each sister to Him, and praying for each. When they commenced the Antiphon Hodie beata Virgo, St. Gertrude beheld her surrounded with glory, and elevated in the arms of her Son to the highest heavens, attended by all the heavenly host with the greatest honor. In this exalted position she blessed the community with the right hand of her Divine Son; and after this benediction, a golden cross appeared upon each religious, fastened by a green cord; by which the Saint understood that a firm faith would render all who possessed it sharers in the same benediction of this Mother of Mercy.

Chapter 50. For the Feast of St. Bernard.

As St. Gertrude reflected at Mass on the merits of St. Bernard, to whom she had a particular devotion on account of his sweet eloquence, the illustrious abbot appeared to her, clothed in ineffable glory and in three different colors, each of which were equally brilliant-white, which indicated the integrity of his innocence and purity; violet, his perfection as a religious; and crimson, the fervor of his love; and these three colors appeared to impart a special pleasure to all the Saints. He had also golden bracelets, in which precious stones were interlaced with admirable skill: the gold indicated the inestimable value of his rare and admirable doctrine, and all that he had said or written for the good of souls; the precious stones indicated his burning love of God. Our Lord drew into His Heart all the merits and advantages which had ever been gained by any person, either in Heaven or on earth, from his words or writings, causing this to radiate from His Heart into that of St. Bernard, which resounded like a sweet instrument of music-his virtues, and above all his innocence and love, producing the sweetest melody imaginable.

The heart of the Saint was also adorned with a brilliant diadem of many colors, on which appeared the profit which he had desired should be gained from his writings for the greater glory of God. St. Gertrude then repeated the Laudate Dominum two hundred and twenty-five times, in honor of the Saint, returning thanks to God for all the graces with which He had favored him. Then all that he said appeared on the vestments of the venerable father in the form of little shields, on which were engraven the virtues for which he had been specially distinguished when on earth; and they shone also into the soul of Gertrude, who had returned thanks to God for them.

As the Saint prayed at Mass for all the religious of whom she had charge, and especially for those who were devout to St. Bernard, although they had not been recommended to her prayers, she beheld this venerable father again clothed in glory, the splendor of which appeared to pass from him to all those who desired to obtain the same fervent love of God as he had through his merits. As Gertrude marveled at this, she inquired why those persons who had not practiced the same virtues as he had done could appear thus enriched with his merits. He replied: "A lady of nobel birth is not less admired when clothed with the habits of another than when she wears her own, provided she is beautiful, and perfectly formed. Thus the virtues of the Saints obtain the same advantages for those who praise God for their fervor in acquiring them,"

St. Gertrude now observed, that those who had recommended themselves to her prayers with devotion appeared adorned with a singular brightness, which others did not obtain, to show that the least action done with a right intention profits much, and that the least negligence, even in little things, may be a serious loss. On the same day, as the Saint reflected on the glory of St. Augustine, to whom she had always been devout, and thanked God for the favors He had bestowed on him, he appeared to her with St. Bernard, as if equal to him in glory, as he had been equal to him in sanctity and doctrine. This great Bishop stood before the throne of the Divine Majesty, magnificently apparelled, while rays of ardent fire appeared to shoot forth from his heart, as also from the heart of St. Bernard, toward that of Jesus Christ; this indicated the eloquence by which the holy doctor had enkindled the fire of Divine love in the hearts of men. Rays of light, like sunbeams, proceeded from his lips, which filled the whole heavens and figured the abundant and marvelous doctrines with which he had enlightened the Church. Beneath these rays there appeared arcades of light, of admirable clearness, which attracted the attention of all, and gave abundant pleasure and content to those who gazed upon them. As the Saint beheld this with joy and admiration, she learned from St. Bernard that these arcades represented the light of the doctrine of St. Augustine, and his immense labors in defense of the Catholic faith by his discourses, and by his writings and his ardent desires; having been brought, after so many wanderings, from the darkness of ignorance to the light of faith, that he might be able to close up the way of error to all men, and to open the way of the faith.

St. Gertrude then inquired of St. Bernard if he had not had the same end in his writings. He replied: "I spoke, wrote, and acted under the impulse of an impetuous love of God; but this illustrious doctor wrote from a principle of Divine love, and moved by the miseries which he had himself experienced."

Our Lord then drew Himself from the blessed and from the hearts of the faithful still on earth the faith, consolation, light and love which the writings of St. Augustine had produced, perfecting this, uniting it to His Heart, and then pouring it forth into the heart of the Saint, whose soul was penetrated by this Divine influence, and became like a harp before God, emitting the most perfect and the sweetest melody; and as the virginity and love of God had admirable concert in the heart of St. Bernard, the penitence and fervent love of St. Augustine produced a similar effect, so that it was impossible to decide which was the most melodious. After this, St. Bernard informed St. Gertrude that the melodies which she heard were those which were spoken of in the words, Omnis illa Deo, etc, for the heart of each Saint emits a melody which corresponds to its virtues, and all are ever employed in the Divine praises.

Chapter 51. For the Feast of St. Augustine.

As the Antiphon vulneraverunt charitas was sung at Vespers on the Feast of St. Augustine, Gertrude beheld this great Bishop standing in glory, and unfolding his heart, which had been wounded with Divine love, like a beautiful rose before God, to present it to Him, and thereby recreating the citizens of Heaven with a perfume of exceeding fragrance. The Saint then saluted him devoutly, praying for her community, and for all who were devoted to this Saint. He then besought Our Lord that the hearts of all those who desired to obtain a fervent love of God through his merits might be filled with it, as his had been, to the honor and glory of the effulgent and Ever-Blessed Trinity.

As St. Gertrude assisted at Matins with great fervor, she began to reflect what reward this great pastor of the Church had received for the delights and sweetness which he had found in contemplating the deep designs of God for the salvation of men, as he declares in his Confessions. As she reflected thus, he appeared to her in glory, bearing a globe on his head, enriched with an infinite variety of rare colors, and covered with brilliant stars, which indicated the reward that God had bestowed on him for his holy thoughts during life: such as the application of his mind to the things of God; the contempt which he had for the pleasures of life, from his desire of finding pleasure only in God; the care which he had taken to make his heart pleasing to God, who, as the Wise Man says, finds His delight in conversing with the children of men; and all the occupations to which he had devoted himself with his whole soul, either by speaking, writing or by promoting the love and glory of God by his example; and the pleasures which he enjoyed were so great and so admirable, that he could pour them forth on all.

Then Our Lord said to Gertrude: "Consider how perfect My beloved is in purity, humility and fervent charity." She replied, in great admiration: "O Lord, how can he be so pure, when he must have contracted so many stains in his wanderings from the faith before his conversion?" He replied: "I permitted these wanderings, awaiting his return with patience and mercy, and then overwhelming him with My gratuitous favors."

After these words, as she examined the ornaments of this prelate very attentively, he appeared vested in a garment of crystalline purity, beneath which she saw three colors, which indicated his purity, humility and charity; and these shone forth as gold shines through crystal. Then she said to Our Lord: "My Lord, was not St. Bernard as devoted to Three as St. Augustine, whose glory shines so resplendently? and yet it seems to me that he does not enjoy the same delights." Our Lord replied: "Bernard, My chosen one, has received an immense recompense; but your mind is not capable of discerning the glory of even the least of My Saints: how, then can it discern that of the greatest? Nevertheless, to satisfy your devotion, to increase your love, and that you may know how many mansions there are in My Father's house, understand this: when the Church sings of any Saint, Non est inventus similis illi, it means that, though all the Saints possess the glory, they do not possess it in the same degree, but each according to their merit." She replied: "O Lord God of truth, I beseech Thee, reveal to me something of the merits of the gentle Agnes and the glorious Catherine to whom I have been singularly devoted from my infancy."

After God had granted her this favor, which we have recorded elsewhere, she desired to know something of the merits of the holy Fathers St. Dominic and St. Francis, who had been the chiefs of two Orders, and who had labored very ardently for the advancement of the Church. Then these venerable Fathers appeared to her in sublime glory, and equal in merit to the glorious Father Benedict, adorned with garlands of roses similar to his, and bearing scepters. They appeared equal in merit to the blessed Saints Augustine and Bernard, on account of their devotion and preaching, by which they had given such glory to God and gained so many souls for Him. But there was this difference: the blessed Father Francis enjoyed special rewards for his profound humility, and the glorious Father Dominic for the fervor and sublimity of his desires. At Mass, which the Saint heard with the greatest devotion, she was rapt to Heaven before the throne of the Divine Majesty. Then all the Saints sang sweetly before the Virgin the first six verses of the Sequence, Interni festi gaudia, in memory of and in thanksgiving for the delights she had enjoyed on the preceding night in contemplating the glory of St. Augustine. When they had concluded, they indicated to her that she should then chant the concluding verses in their praise, as they had sung the preceding ones in her honor. Then she chanted, by the organ of the sweetest Heart of Jesus, the praises of the heavenly Jerusalem, commencing Beata illa patria, with the five following verses, each of which appeared to fill the Saints with ineffable joy. When she had concluded, Our Lord, her loving Spouse, chanted the two Vesicles, Hoc in hac valle misera, and Quo post mundi exilia, for her, teaching her, as a kind master would teach his child, how could merit eternal joys even in this exile, Then the choirs of Angels chanted Harum laudum praeconia, representing the prayers and desires of the Church; and the Saints united their voices to those of the Angels to praise that admirable prelate of the Church, St. Augustine, while he poured forth ineffable light through Heaven, imparting new joys and delights to all. At the last two verses, Cujus sequi vestigia, Our Lord raised His Hand, and imparted an abundant benediction to all those who had praised the Saint devoutly.

Chapter 52. For the Festival of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin.

On The glorious Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, St. Gertrude, having said as many Ave Marias as she had remained days in her mother's womb, offered them to her devoutly, and inquired what merit they would have who performed a like devotion. This benign Virgin replied: "They will merit a special share in the joys which i possess in Heaven, which are continually renewed, and in the virtues with which the ever-blessed and glorious Trinity adorns me." At the Antiphon Ave decus, she beheld the heavens opening, while the Angels descended and placed a magnificent throne in the center of the choir, whereon the Queen of Glory was seated, and manifested how lovingly she received the prayers and devotion of the religious on this Festival. The Angels stood round this throne, attending the Mother of their God with the greatest respect and joy. The Saint also saw an Angel standing by each of the religious, with a branch in his hand; and this branch produced different kinds of fruit and flowers, according to the devotion of the sister who was thus attended. At the conclusion of the Office, the Angels brought these branches to the Blessed Virgin to adorn her throne. Then Gertrude exclaimed: "Alas, kind Mother! I do not deserve to be thus united with the choirs of the blessed." She replied: "Your good will suffices; and the devout intention which you had at Vespers, of offering your prayers through the sweet Heart of y Son, in my honor, far exceeds any corporal work; to assure you of this, I will present your branch of fruit and flowers to the adorable Trinity, as an oblation of the highest merit."

At Matins she beheld how the Angels gathered the flowers and fruit of the different intentions of the religious, and presented them to the Virgin Mother. The flowers appeared more brilliant and beautiful in proportion to the earnestness of each; and the sweetness of the fruit corresponded with the purity and fervor of their devotion.

At the Gloria Patri of the fourth Response, as St. Gertrude praised the ineffable power of the Father, the incomprehensible wisdom of the Son, and the marvelous benignity of the Holy Ghost, in having given us a creature so full of grace to further our salvation, the Blessed Virgin stood before the Blessed Trinity, praying that the Divine Omnipotence, Wisdom and Goodness would bestow as much grace on St. Gertrude as it was possible for any creature to receive; and the Blessed Trinity poured forth an abundant benediction of grace upon her soul, which watered it like a gentle rain.

Then St. Gertrude chanted the Antiphon Quam pulchra es, in the person of the Son of God, in honor of His Father. This was accepted with great love by Our Lord, who said to her: "I will reward you at a fitting time, according to My royal munificence, for the honor you have paid to My Beloved Mother."

At the Antiphon Adest, when the words Ipsa intercedat pro peccatis nostris were chanted, she saw the Blessed Virgin with a parchment in her hand, on which the words, "She will intercede," were written in the letters of gold; and this she presented to her Son by the ministry of angels. He replied lovingly: "I give thee full power, by My omnipotence, to be propitious to all who invoke thy aid, in whatever manner is most pleasing to thee."

As the Sequence Ave praeclara was chanted at Mass, at the words Ora Virgo nos, the Blessed Virgin turned toward her Son, and prayed for the community with her hands clasped. Then Our Lord turned toward them, and blessed them with the Sign of the Cross, to prepare them to receive the adorable Sacrament of His Body and Blood. At the words Audi nos, the Blessed Virgin appeared seated on a high throne with her Divine Son; and St. Gertrude addressed her thus: "Why do you not pray for us, O Mother of Mercy?" She replied: "I speak for you to my Beloved, heart to heart." Then, when the same words were repeated again, the Virgin extended her royal hands over the convent, as if uniting herself to their desires, and praying as one with them to her Divine Son; and this royal Son, at the following verse, Salve nos, Jesu, turning toward the community, said to them: "I am ready to accomplish all your desires."

Then as St. Gertrude reflected on the approaching Festival, and ardently desired that her heart might be prepared to solemnize it, she said to the Mother of God: "Since the glory of your Assumption moves the souls of those who meditate on it so deeply, I desire much to know what the Angels think of the Feast of your Nativity in Heaven, that our devotion may be increased thereby on earth." The Blessed Virgin replied: "The angels commemorate the ineffable joys which I experienced while in the womb of my mother when they offer me their homage with the deepest reverence. The Archangels also contemplate in the mirror of the Blessed Trinity the eminent favors and graces which God bestowed on me above all creatures, and minister to me also; while all the heavenly orders unite in serving and assisting me for the glory of God; and for the glory of God; and for this they are now recompensed with special joys."

At Compline, as the Salve Regina was chanted, St. Gertrude grieved before God that she had never served His Mother with the veneration due to her; and she offered this Antiphon, through the Heart of Jesus, to supply for her defects; and Our Lord supplied for her deficiencies by little tubes of gold, which passed from His Heart to the heart of His Virgin Mother, and through which He poured forth on her the tenderness of His filial affection. We may also supply for our negligence by the following prayer, or any similar one:

"O sweetest Jesus, I beseech Thee, by the love which caused Thee to take flesh in the bosom of this most pure Virgin, that thou wouldst supply for our defects in the service and honor of this most benign Mother, who is ever ready to assist us, with maternal tenderness, in all our necessities. Offer her, O sweetest Jesus, the superabundant beatitude of Thy sweetest Heart; show her Thy Divine predilection, which chose her from all eternity, before all creatures, to be Thy Mother, adorning her with every grace and virtue; remind her of all the tenderness Thou didst manifest to her when on earth, Thy filial obedience to her in all things, and, above all, Thy care at the hour of Thy Death, when Thou didst forget Thine own anguish to solace hers, and didst provide her with a son; remind her, also, of the joys and glory of her Assumption, when she was exalted above all the choirs of Angels, and constituted Queen of heaven and earth. Thus, O good Jesus, do Thou make Thy Mother propitious to us, that she may be our advocate and protector in life and in death."

At the words Eia ergo (of the Salve Regina), as St. Gertrude invoked this most benign Mother, she saw her inclining toward her, as if drawn by cords; by which she understood, that when we invoke her devoutly as our advocate, her maternal tenderness is so moved, that she cannot fail to assist us. At the words Illos misericordes oculos, the Blessed Virgin inclined the eyes of her Son toward the earth, saying: "These are my merciful eyes, which I incline toward all who invoke me devoutly, and from them they obtain the fruit of eternal salvation." Then the Saint was taught by Our Lord to salute His Blessed Mother, at least daily, by the words Eia ergo, and Advocata nostra, assuring her that she would obtain great consolation thereby at the hour of her death.

St. Gertrude then offered Our Lady a hundred and fifty Ave Marias, beseeching her to assist her at the hour of her death by her maternal tenderness; and each word which she repeated appeared like a piece of gold, which Our Lord offered to His Mother, who used them for the help and consolation of the Saint at the hour of her death. Thus she knew that when we recommend our end to any saint, the prayers which are offered to them are presented before the tribunal of the Judge, and the Saint to whom we have recommended ourselves is appointed our advocate.

Chapter 53. For the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross.

On the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, as St. Gertrude prostrated to reverence the relics, Our Lord said to her: "Consider how i hung upon the Cross from Sext to Vespers, and that it is for this I am elevated to such sublime glory; and understand thereby what benefits I will confer on the hearts of those in whom I have reposed for many years." She replied: "Alas, Lord, how little pleasure Thou canst have had in my heart!" He answered: "And what pleasure had I in the wood of the Cross? I only honored it because I willed to honor it, and so I reward those whom I will reward."

During Mass Our Lord gave her this instruction: "Consider the example I give to My elect in honoring this Cross; and know that I honored the instruments of My Passion, which caused Me suffering, more than those things which in My infancy were used for My convenience. If you desire to imitate My example, and to give Me glory and further your own salvation, you will love your enemies more than your friends; and this will advance you marvelously in perfection. Furthermore, if you neglect to do this at first, but afterwards repent and overwhelm your enemies with benefits, you will follow My example in having concealed My Cross for a time, to exalt it triumphantly afterwards. But the reason I so specially loved this Cross was, that I obtained thereby the Redemption of mankind, which I so ardently desired, even as devout persons love the times and places where they have received special favors from God."

As the Saint ardently desired to have some relics of the wood of the Cross, that Our Lord might look on her with more love, He said to her: "If you desire to have relics which will draw My Heart into yours, read My Passion, and meditate attentively on every word contained therein, and it will be to you a true relic, which will merit more graces for you than any other; and if you are not persuaded of this by My inspirations, at least let your reason convince you of it; for when a friend wishes to renew his friendship with his friend, he says, 'Remember what you felt in your heart when I said such and such a word,' as if he would say, 'Remember what I did or said for you at such a time'; and thence you may know and be assured that the words which I uttered when on earth are the most precious relics which you can possess."

As she asked Our Lord to enable her to keep the regular fast of six months, which commences on this day, he replied: "Whoever observes the regular fast from zeal for religious observance, and purely for My love, and who seeks therein, not his own advantage, but Mine, I will accept it from him, though I have no need of his goods, as an emperor would accept the offer of a prince to furnish his table daily with every necessary. But if obedience and necessity obliges him relax his fast against his will, and he submits in union with the humility with which I submitted to men when on earth for the glory of My Father, I will treat him as a friend would his dearest friend whom he had invited to his table."

On another occasion, on the same Festival, when St. Gertrude offered the annoyances which the community had suffered to Our Lord, He replied: "I have drunk this chalice, which the fervor of your devotion has sweetened for Me; and I will drink it as often as you offer it to Me, until, by inebriating Me with it, you render Me favorable to your desires." "But how, O Lord Jesus, can we give you this chalice to drink?" she inquired. Then Our Lord taught her that she could do this by reflecting on her unworthiness, by praising Him from the depth of her heart, by repenting sincerely for never having loved God as she ought, and by desiring to suffer for him, until the last moment of her life, even such sufferings as He had endured in His Divine Heart, were it possible; and this He would accept as a chalice of the sweetest nectar.

Those who desire to make a similar offering can do so by saying the following prayer: "O vivifying Fount of sweetness! O aromatic Sweetness of Divine delights! O delicious Inebriation of all pleasure! Behold, I offer Thee, as far as I am able, a drop from my miserable indigence; I grieve, and I will ever grieve, that my soul has so long fasted by abstaining from that celestial Food which never satiates. But now, O Creator and re-Creator of my substance, to whom nothing is impossible, for Thy glory so make my heart one with Thine, that I may truly say that I desire with my whole soul to suffer all that has been suffered by any human being, from the creation of the world until now, if I might thereby prepare an abode worthy of Thee within me, and satisfy Thy justice for all the opposition I have offered to Thy inspirations and graces."

Chapter 54. For the Feast of St. Michael.

As the Feast of St. Michael approached, St. Gertrude prepared herself for Holy Communion by meditating on the care which the Angels had of her, by the Divine command, notwithstanding her unworthiness; and as she desired to render some return to them, she offered in their honor the life-giving Body and Blood of Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament, saying: "I offer Thee this most august Sacrament, O most loving Lord, for Thy eternal glory, in honor of the princes of Thy kingdom, and for the increase of their felicity and beatitude." Then Our Lord drew this oblation to Himself in an ineffable manner, thereby causing the greatest joy to these angel spirits, who appeared even as if they had never before experienced such blessedness and superabounded in delights. Then each of the choirs of Angels, according to their rank, inclined respectfully before St. Gertrude, saying: "Thou hast indeed honored us by this oblation, and we will therefore guard thee with special care," the Guardian Angels adding: "We will guard thee night and day with ineffable joy, and will prepare thee for thy Spouse with the utmost vigilance."

Then, as she returned thanks to God for this favor with great jubilation of spirit, she recognized her own Angel Guardian, and he appeared to her as a prince magnificently attired, standing between her soul and God, and endeavoring to unite and elevate her soul to God. She then offered some special devotion in his honor which he presented to the Ever-Blessed Trinity under the form of roses. The Archangels now saluted the Saint, saying to her: "O illustrious spouse of Christ, we will discover to you the Divine secrets, according to your capacity of receiving them." The Virtues then said: "We will assist you in your labors, writings and meditations for the glory of God." The Dominations said: "Since Our Lord, the King of Glory, takes pleasure in your soul, and that you return Him love for love, we will offer for you the honor which you owe to His Sovereignty to supply for your deficiencies." The Principalities next addressed her, saying: "We will present you to the King of kings, adorned according to His Heart." The Powers added: "Since your Beloved is so blessedly united to you, we will continually remove every impediment, whether exterior or interior, which might interrupt His Divine communications, in imparting blessings to the Church, and rejoicing the heavenly court. For the prayers of one loving soul prevail more with God, both for the living and the dead, than the prayers of a thousand souls who love less."

Then St. Gertrude returned profound thanks to God for all these favors, and for many others which human frailty prevents us from relating; but all are known to God.

Chapter 55. For the Feast of the Eleven Thousand Virgins.

As the words, Ecce sponsus venit (Behold, the Bridegroom cometh), were chanted at the Office of the Eleven Thousand Virgins, St. Gertrude was deeply moved, and said to Our Lord: "O most desirable Spouse, as I hear these words so frequently repeated, tell me how Thou wilt come, and what Thou wilt bring us?" He replied: "I will now work with you and in you. Where is your lamp?" She replied: "Behold, Lord, I will give Thee my heart for a lamp." He answered: "I will fill it abundantly with oil-that is, with grace from My Heart." She replied: "But where is the wick to light it?" Our Lord replied: "Your pure intention of doing everything for Me alone will be a wick, a light of which will be most pleasing to Me."

At the Response Verse pudicitiae, and at the words Spes et corona virginum, St. Gertrude returned thanks to God for those virgins whom she beheld standing before His throne: and He cast as many rays of glory on them as she had made thanksgiving for them, which were then reflected upon her; by this she understood that those who return thanks o God for the favors which He has bestowed on any Saint, share in the merits of that Saint. As the Response Regnum mundi was chanted, at the words Quem vidi, quem amavi, she remembered a person who was often troubled by an ardent desire to see God, and she said to Our Lord: "When wilt Thou console her, that she may sing this Response with joy?" He replied: "To see Me, to love Me and to believe in Me, is a wish which none can entertain without fruit; therefore, when any soul has this desire, and cannot obtain it because of human frailty, My Humanity at once advances to My Divinity as a a sister, undertaking to do this favor as if by right of inheritance, until that person has shaken off her carnal affections, and is of herself able to undertake it, and thereby to attain eternal joys."

On another occasion, when the words Propter amorem Domini mei were chanted, the Divine Heart of our Brother Jesus was so moved by these words, that He exclaimed before His Father and the whole court of Heaven, "I am a debtor to My Faithful servants for what they have now done for Me." At the word Jesus, which signifies Savior, He acknowledged that He was their debtor for the fulfillment of the promises of salvation which He had made to them from their infancy, the accomplishment of which was deferred by His paternal Providence until the appointed time. At the word Christi, which signifies Anointed, Our Lord declared Himself obliged to recompense their good desires. At the words Quem vidi, Quem amavi, He assured His Father and all the Saints that they had rendered testimony to the Catholic Faith by their good works; and at the words In quem credidi, quem dilexi, He declared that they were united to Him by their firm faith and perfect charity.

Then St. Gertrude exclaimed: "Alas, Lord, what wilt Thou do for those who are in choir?" He replied: "I have infused a devotion into all those who have been delighted with this Reponsory, and have beatified all who are in this convent; and those who have a similar devotion will receive a similar benefit." But," she inquired, "if they can gain so much advantage by so little devotion, what harm can their negligence do them, when they can repair it so easily?" Our Lord answered: "When an emperor bestows an estate and costly garments on one of his nobles, however little he may seem to value them, the emperor does not on that account deprive him of his liberality; so, when I give great favors in return for a little devotion, those on whom I bestow them are obliged to profit by them, and if they fail to do so, they will lose the fruit thereof; but the ornament of My gratuitous goodness, in bestowing them, will always appear on them for My praise and glory." Then she inquired: "But how can they who have never been favored with such revelations exercise themselves in such things?" He answered: "They are bound to practice and to imitate them, according to the extent of the lights they are favored with. I enlighten everyone in such matters to a certain degree, and therefore they are bound to be grateful, and fulfill these obligations."

On another occasion, when the same Response was chanted, St. Gertrude saw a troop of demons, who surrounded the religious, showing them the pomps and vanities of the world. But at the words, Regnum mundi . . .. contempsi, the demons fled in confusion. By this she understood, that when anyone condemns the world with great fervor, and cast from them all the temptations of the evil one, for the love of the Lord Jesus, that the devil immediately flies away, fearing to tempt them again, when he has met with such vigorous resistance.

Chapter 56. For the Feast of All Saints.

On the Feast of All Saints, St. Gertrude received some instructions on the mystery of the Blessed Trinity, and learned how the Trinity, which has neither commencement nor termination, and ever abounds in joy and beatitude, imparts eternal glory and blessedness to the Saints. But human frailty is such, that she could not explain what she beheld in the clear mirror of the Divinity, so that she was obliged to explain it by images and comparisons. The King of Glory appeared to her as the Father of a great family, who was entertaining all His neighbors, the princes and powers; so that the Church Militant and the Church Triumphant appeared to mingle together, and each took his place according to his merit-those who lived holy lives in the married state were with the Patriarchs, those who merited to know the Divine secrets were with the Prophets, those who labored for the instruction and edification of others were with the holy Apostles, and so on. But Gertrude observed that those religious who served God in religious observance were joined to the choir of Martyrs; and as these were specially adorned in each member of their body in which they had suffered for their Lord, so the religious had some special reward for each act of self-restraint which they had performed, whether in seeing, hearing, tasting, walking or speaking; and they had the same merit as the martyrs, and received the same reward in Heaven. For as they had the same merit as the martyrs, and received the same reward in Heaven. For as they had no persecutors to shed their blood, they had offered themselves daily as a holocaust of sweetness to their God by their continued mortifications and restraints.

At Communion, as she prayed for the Church, but felt a want of fervor, she prayed to Our Lord to give her fervor, if her petitions were agreeable to Him; and immediately she beheld a variety of colors: white, which indicated the purity of the virgins; violet, which symbolized confessors and religious red, which typified the martyrs; and other colors, according to the merits of the Saints. Then, as she feared to approach Our Lord because she was not adorned with any of these colors, she was inspired by the Holy Ghost,"who teaches man wisdom," to return thanks to God for all those who had been elevated to the grace and state of virginity; beseeching Him, by the love which made Him be born of a Virgin for us, to preserve all in the Church to whom He had vouchsafed this favor in most perfect purity of body and soul, for His own honor and glory; and immediately she beheld her soul adorned with the same shining whiteness as the souls of the virgins.

She then returned thanks to God for the sanctity and perfection of the confessors and religious who had pleased him from the beginning of the world, beseeching Him to bring all who were still militant in the Church to a happy end; and immediately she beheld her soul adorned with violet; and as she continued to pray for the different states and orders in the Church, her soul was adorned with their respective virtues. As she returned most fervent thanks to God for these favors, she beheld herself clothed in a golden amince; and standing thus marvelously adorned before Our Lord, He turned to the Saints, and exclaimed: "Behold her in garments of gold, clothed round about with varieties." Then He opened His arms to receive her, as she was no longer able to support the torrent of Divine joys with which her soul was encompassed.

As the time for Communion approached, and her strength still failed her, she said to Our Lord: "O my Beloved, how can I rise to go to Thee, my Lord and my God, in this Sacrament, when my strength has failed me, and I have not asked anyone to come to assist me?" The Lord answered: "What need have you of human aid, when you are supported by My Divine arm? I will give you strength to rise and approach Me." Then she arose, sustained by Divine grace; and although she had not been able to walk without assistance for a long time before, she went in the strength of the Lord to receive His Body, and so became one spirit with Him.

Chapter 57. For the Feast of St. Elizabeth.

On the Feast of St. Elizabeth, (Nov. 19) as the words Eia mater nos agnosce were chanted, Gertrude saluted her very devoutly, beseeching her to remember her, though unworthy. Then St. Elizabeth said to her: "I know you in the mirror of eternal light, where the intention which you have in performing your actions shines with marvelous splendor." St. Gertrude then inquired: "Has my union with God, during the Office, rendered it less pleasing to you, as I thought less of you in consequence?" She replied: "On the contrary, I accept it with infinite gratitude; and it is as much more pleasing to me as a concert of music would be to the lowing of oxen."

Chapter 58. For the Feast of St. Catherine.

When Our Lord explained the words, Non est inventus similis illi, to St. Gertrude, on the Feast of St. Augustine, He showed her the merits of many Saints and, among others, those of the glorious virgin Catherine, to whom she had been singularly devoted from her infancy. To satisfy her desires, Our Lord showed her this Saint seated on a high throne, and in a state of great glory and magnificence, as if there were no queen in Heaven whose glory equaled hers. The fifty philosophers whom she had won by her wisdom and knowledge appeared before her, and each held a golden scepter in his hand, with which he touched the robe of the Saint, to indicate that their wisdom would have been useless had not this virgin taught them how to employ it for the honor and glory of their Creator. She observed also that Our Lord bestowed the same caresses on this virgin as on St. Agnes, and that He drew into His Heart all that was said or done in her honor on earth, crowning her with it gloriously.

Chapter 59. For the Dedication of a Church.

On the Feast of the Dedication of the Church as they chanted those words at Matins, Regina Saba venit, etc., at the words Cum gemmis virtutum, she said to God with great compunction: "Alas, most kind Lord, how shall I come to Thee, since I am not adorned with even the smallest garment of virtue?" He replied: "Do you not know that you are sometimes annoyed by the calumnies which are said of you?" "Alas Lord," she answered "my sins in this matter are often a stumbling-block to my neighbor!" He replied: " Make each of these words which annoy you an ornament of virtue, and then come to Me, and I will be moved by My goodness, and receive you lovingly; the more you are blamed, the more My Heart will incline towards you, since you thus become more like Me; for I suffered contradictions continually."

At the Response Benedic, Our Lord introduced her into His Heart, which He adorned as a house, that she might celebrate the Dedication therein; but the exceeding delights which she found there so overcame her, that she said to Our Lord: "My Lord, if Thou hadst permitted me to enter even where Thy Feet had once stood, it would have been more than enough for me; but what return shall I make to Thee for the stupendous favor which Thou hast now bestowed on me?" He replied: "As you give Me what is most precious to you-namely, your heart-I consider it only right to give you Mine, to take your delight therein; for I am a God to you in all things, in virtue, life and knowledge."

Then she said: "If my heart has pleased Thee in anything, it has been by Thy grace." He answered: "Those whom I prevent with the sweetness of My benedictions, I reward with beatitude; and if anyone cooperates with My grace, according to the good pleasure of My Heart, I conform Myself also to the good pleasure of his heart."

Our Lord then taught her the importance of mutual support and charity, by a vision of precious stones joined together by plates of gold: and she learned that as the jewels were united together by gold, so we should assist and support each other by love and by a pure intention.

On another occasion, on the Vigil of the Dedication, St. Gertrude presented herself before God, who is the King of kings, as another Esther, richly adorned, to plead for her people-that is, for the Church-and she was received by the true Assuerus with such tender charity, that He admitted her into the sanctuary of His most sweet Heart, saying to her: "Behold, I give you all the sweetness of My Divine Heart, that you may pour it forth abundantly on whomever you will." Then she poured forth abundant graces on some enemies who had molested the convent a short time before; and as soon as she had done this, she perceived that all those on whom even the least drop had fallen, repented of their faults, and were moved to true compunction and desire of penance. Then, as she prayed for another person, and drew forth largely from the Heart of Jesus for him, she perceived that the grace poured on him was immediately converted into gall. As she was much amazed thereat, Our Lord gave her this instruction: "When a man gives money to his friends, they are at liberty to purchase what they please with it; and of those who desire to purchase apples, some might prefer sour ones to sweet ones, as the former would keep longer. So it is with My elect-when I bestow My grace on them, it operates in them in the way which will benefit them most. For example: it is better for some persons to have troubles in this life than consolations; so, when I pour out My grace upon them, it increases their trials and afflictions, by which they receive more and more grace, according to the good pleasure of My Divine Heart; and the consolation which they will enjoy hereafter is hidden from them now, that they may suffer more purely for My love."

As the Saint heard Matins, at the Response Vidi civitatem, Our Lord reminded her of certain words which she had often used to induce others to have more confidence in God; and He said to her: "Know and be assured that I am always pleased when a soul repents of its faults, and resolves by My grace not to commit them again." When He said this, the Son of God proceeded to the throne of His Father, and chanted the Response Vidi civitatem with a loud and sonorous voice. She understood by this that the Heart of Jesus is moved by the most ineffable tenderness when a soul repents for the wanderings, the idle words or the unprofitable works by which it has withdrawn itself from its God-who, by so many repeated favors, prevents and follows him-and earnestly begs to avoid a relapse for the future; and as often as he falls, as often does the Son of God chant the same words with ineffable joy. By this she understood that whoever purposes with sincere compunction to reform his life and to devote himself to good works, will indeed become the tabernacle of God, in which His Divine Majesty, who is blessed for evermore, will abide as a Spouse with His beloved.

God the Father then gave her His benediction, saying, Ecce nova facio omnia (Behold, I make all things new) meaning thereby, that by compunction and the Divine benediction, united to the holy life of the Son of God, the faithful soul was perfectly renewed whereinsoever she had been deficient; and hence there is joy before the Angels for every sinner who repents, more than for the ninety and nine who needed no repentance, for the infinite goodness of God delights in seeing a soul truly penitent. Our Lord added: "When I lead a soul forth from this life by a marvelous way to the places of Heaven, I sing this canticle for her, amongst the other joys with which I console her: 'I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, ascending from the earth'; and by these words I renew in her soul all the joys which I and all the celestial court have had, whenever she was sincerely sorry for her falls."

Chapter 60. For the Dedication of a Chapel.

At the consecration of the church, as the Response Vidi civitatem was chanted at Matins, Our Lord appeared to St. Gertrude, clothed in pontificals, and enthroned near the altar, as if this was the place which He delighted to inhabit. As she beheld this, and considered how far Our Lord was from the place where she prayed, she desired very ardently to draw Him nearer to her; but He said: "Since I fill Heaven and earth, why can I not fill this house? Do you not know that it is better to watch the place where the arrow falls than that where the bow is bent? And know that I do not act most effectively where I appeared corporally, but rather where My treasure is, and where the Eye of My Divinity finds pleasure." Then He touched the altar as if it had been near Him, saying: "Whoever seeks for My grace, will find Me in My favors; and whoever seeks My love faithfully, will feel Me in interior sweetness." By these words she understood the great difference between those who endeavor to obtain health of body, and even of soul, according to their own will, and those who commit themselves with full confidence to Divine Providence. As the words Domus mea were repeated at Mass, Our Lord touched the heart of Gertrude with His Right Hand, and exclaimed, as if He was deeply moved: "I will grant all you ask Me" at the same time extending His Hand to the center of the church, as if to indicate that He would always be there, and ready to grant the favors which were asked of Him. While the Antiphon Fundamenta templi ejus (the foundations of His Temple) was chanted at the Benedictus during the week, angelic spirits appeared around the walls, as if they had been deputed to guard the church, and to repel the attacks of all enemies. Their golden wings touched each other, and emitted a most exquisite melody. She observed also, that each descended in turn from the top to the bottom, to show with what vigilance they guarded their fellow citizens, and preserved them from every evil.

On the Feast of the Dedication, as St. Gertrude was confined to bed, she reflected on the special favor Our Lord had granted her at Matins, in the preceding year, by telling her that the nine choirs of Angels had made thanksgiving for her, which her infirmity had prevented her from making herself. Then she saw a river of pure and sparkling water flowing through Heaven, in which the glory of God shone as the rising sun shines red upon the ocean; and as its little waves broke and glittered, it appeared as if a thousand suns were shining in Heaven. This river signified the grace of devotion which she then enjoyed by the Divine favor, and the little waves signified the thoughts which she referred to God. Then the King of Glory dipped a chalice in this river, and when He had filled it, He gave it to all the Saints to drink; and as each obtained thereby new delights, they broke forth in praises and thanksgiving for all the graces which God had conferred on this soul. She also saw a little tube which came forth from the bottom of the chalice to all those whom she had inclined to serve God with great fervor, or who had been commended to her prayers: and they received great consolation thereby. Then she said to Our Lord: "What advantage will these persons gain by what I have seen and heard, when they have neither seen nor heard them?" He replied: "It is not very advantageous for the head of a family to have his cellars well supplied with wine, although he does not constantly drink it? Is it not sufficient for him to be able to partake of it whenever he desires? Thus when I pour forth graces, in answer to the prayers of My elect, they do not immediately feel devotion; but I will allow them to experience this sweetness whenever I consider it expedient for them."

Chapter 61. Of a marvellous vision, in which the Saint beheld our Lord celebrating Mass.

On Gaudete Sunday, as St. Gertrude prepared to communicate at the first Mass, which commences Rorate, she complained to Our Lord that she could not hear Mass; but Our Lord, who compassionates the afflicted, consoled her, saying: "Do you wish, My beloved, that I should say Mass for you?" Then, being suddenly rapt in spirit, she replied: "I do desire it, O beloved of my soul; and I most ardently beseech Thee to grant me this favor." Our Lord then intoned the Gaudete in Domino semper, with a choir of Saints, to incite this soul to praise and rejoice in Him; and as He sat on His royal throne, St. Gertrude cast herself at His Feet, and embraced them. Then He chanted the Kyrie eleison, in a clear and loud voice, while two of the princes of the choir of Thrones took her soul and brought it before God the Father, where she remained prostrate,

At the first Kyrie eleison, He granted her the remission of all the sins which she had contracted through human frailty; after which, the Angels raised her up on her knees. At the second, He pardoned her sins of ignorance; and she was raised up by these princes, so that she stood before God. Then two Angels of the choir of Cherubim led her to the Son of God, who received her with great tenderness. At the first Christe eleison, the Saint offered Our Lord all the sweetness of human affection, returning it to Him as to its Source; and thus there was a wonderful influx of God into her soul, and of her soul into God, so that by the descending notes the ineffable delights of the Divine Heart flowed into her, and by the ascending notes the joys of her soul flowed back to God. At the second Christe eleison, she experienced the most ineffable delights, which she offered to Our Lord. At the third Christe eleison, the Son of God extended His Hands, and bestowed on her all the fruit of His most holy life and conversation.

Two Angels of the choir of Seraphim then presented her to the Holy Spirit, who penetrated the three powers of her soul. At the first Kyrie eleison, He illuminated her reason with the glorious light of Divine knowledge, that she might always know His Will perfectly. At the second Kyrie eleison, He strengthened the irascible part of her soul to resist all the machinations of her enemies, and to conquer every evil. At the last Kyrie eleison, He inflamed her love, that she might love God with her whole heart, with her whole soul and with her whole strength. It was for this reason that the choir of Seraphim, which is the highest order in the heavenly Hosts, presented her to the Holy Ghost, who is the Third Person of the Most Holy Trinity, and that the Thrones presented her to God the Father, manifesting that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are One God, equal in glory, co-eternal in majesty, living and reigning perfect Trinity through endless ages.

The Son of God then rose from His royal throne, and, turning toward God the Father, intoned the Gloria in excelsis in a clear and sonorous voice. At the word Gloria, He extolled the immense and incomprehensible omnipotence of God the Father; at the words in excelsis, He praised His profound wisdom; at Deo, He honored the inestimable and indescribable sweetness of the Holy Ghost. The whole celestial court then continued in a most harmonious voice, Et in terra pax bonae voluntatis. Our Lord being again seated on His throne, St. Gertrude sat at His feet meditating on her own abjection, when He inclined toward her lovingly. The she rose and stood before Him, while the Divine splendor illuminated her whole being. Two Angels from the choir of Thrones then brought a throne magnificently adorned, which they placed before Our Lord; two princes from the choir of Seraphim placed Gertrude thereon, and supported her on each side, while two of the choir of Cherubim stood before her bearing brilliant torches; and thus she remained before her Beloved, clothed in royal purple. When the heavenly host came to the words, Domine Deus Rex caelestis, they paused, and the Son of God continued alone chanting to the honor and glory of His Father.

At the conclusion of the Gloria in excelsis, the Lord Jesus, who is our true High Priest and Pontiff, turned to St. Gertrude, saying, Dominus vobiscum, dilecta- "The Lord be with you, beloved" and she replied "Et spiritus meus tecum, preadilecta"-"And may my spirit be with Thee, O my Beloved." After this she inclined toward the Lord, to return Him thanks for His love in uniting her spirit to His Divinity, whose delights are with the children of men. The Lord then read the Collect, Deus, quihanc sacratissimam noctam, which He concluded with the words, Per Jesum Christum filium tuum, as if giving thanks to God the Father for illuminating the soul of Gertrude, whose unworthiness was indicated by the word noctem, which was called most holy, because she had become marvelously ennobled by the knowledge of her own baseness.

St. John the Evangelist then rose, and stood between God and her soul. He was adorned with a yellow garment, which was covered with golden eagles. He commenced the Epistle, Haec est sponsa, and the celestial court concluded, Ipsi gloria in saecula. Then all chanted the Gradual Specia tua, adding the Versicle Audi filia et vide. After this they commenced the Alleluia. St. Paul, the great Doctor of the Church, pointed to St. Gertrude, saying, Aemulor enim vos-"For I am jealous of you"; and the heavenly choir sang the prose, Filiae Sion exultent. At the words, Dum non consentiret, St. Gertrude remembered that she had been a little negligent in resisting temptations, and she hid her face in shame; but Our Lord, who could not bear to behold the confusion of His chaste queen, covered her negligence with a collar of gold, so that she appeared as if she had gained a glorious victory over all her enemies.

Then another Evangelist commenced the Gosple Exultavit Dominus Jesus; and these words moved the Heart of Jesus so deeply, that He arose, and, extending His hands, exclaimed aloud, Confiteor tibi Patre, manifesting the same thanksgiving and gratitude to His Father as He had when He said the same words on earth, giving special thanks for the graces bestowed on this soul. After the Gosple He desired Gertrude to make a public profession of Faith, by reciting the Creed in the name of the whole Church. When she had concluded, the choir chanted the Offertory, Domine Deus in simplicitate, adding, Sanctificavit Moyses. The Heart of Jesus then appeared as a golden altar, which shone with a marvelous brightness, on which the Angel guardians offered the good works and prayers of those committed to their care. The Saints then approached; and each offered his merits to the eternal praise of God and for the salvation of St. Gertrude. The angelic princes, who had charge of the Saint, next approached, and offered a chalice of gold, which contained all the trials and afflictions which she had endured either in body or soul from her infancy; and the Lord blessed the chalice with the Sign of the Cross, as the priest blesses it before Consecration.

He now intoned the words, Sursum corda. Then all the Saints were summoned to come forward, and they applied their hearts, in the form of golden pipes, to the golden altar of the Divine Heart; and from the overflowings of this chalice, which Our Lord had consecrated by His benediction, they received some drops for the increase of their merit, glory and eternal beatitude.

The Son of God then chanted the Gratius agimus, to the glory and honor of His Eternal Father. At the Preface, He remained silent for an hour after the words Per Jesum Christum, while the heavenly host chanted the Dominum nostrum with ineffable jubilation, declaring that He was their Creator, Redeemer and the liberal Rewarder of all their good works; and that He alone was worthy of honor and glory, praise and exaltation, power and dominion, from and over all creatures. At the words Laudant angeli, all the angelic spirits ran hither and thither, exciting the heavenly inhabitants to sing the Divine praises. At the words Adorant Dominationes, the choir of Dominations knelt to adore Our Lord, declaring that to Him alone every knee should bow, whether in Heaven, on earth or under the earth. At the Tremunt potestates, the Powers prostrated before Him to declare that He alone should be adored; and at the Caeli, caelorumque, they praised God with all the Angel choirs.

Then all the heavenly host sang together in harmonious concert the Cum quibus et nostras; and the Virgin Mary, the effulgent Rose of Heaven, who is blessed above all creatures, chanted the Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus, extolling with the highest gratitude by these three words the incomprehensible omnipotence, the inscrutable wisdom and the ineffable goodness, of the Ever-Blessed Trinity, inciting all the celestial choirs to praise God for having made her most powerful after the Father, most wise after the Son and most benign after the Holy Ghost. The Saints then continued the Domine Deus Sabaoth. When this was ended, Gertrude saw Our Lord rise from His royal throne and present His blessed Heart to His Father, elevating it with His own hands, and immolating it in an ineffable manner for the whole Church. At this moment the bell rang for the Elevation of the Host in the church, so that it appeared as if Our Lord did in Heaven what the priest did on earth; but the Saint was entirely ignorant of what was passing in the church, or what the time was. As she continued in amazement at so many marvels, Our Lord told her to recite the Pater noster. When she had finished, He accepted it from her, and granted to all the Saints and Angels, for her sake, that, by this Pater noster, they should accomplish everything which had ever been accomplished for the salvation of the Church and for the souls in Purgatory. Then He suggested to her to pray for the Church, which she did, for all in general and for each in particular, with the greatest fervor; and the Lord united her prayer to those which He had offered Himself when in the flesh, to be applied to the Universal Church.

Then she exclaimed: "But, Lord, when shall I communicate?" And Our Lord communicated Himself to her with a love and tenderness which no human tongue could describe; so that she received the perfect fruit of His most precious Body and Blood. After this He sang a canticle of love for her, and declared to her, that had this union of Himself with her been the sole fruit of His labors, sorrows and Passion, He would have been fully satisfied. O inestimable sweetness of the Divine condescension, who so delights Himself in human hearts, that He considers His union with them a sufficient return for all the bitterness of His Passion! And yet, what would we not owe Him had He only shed one drop of His Precious Blood for us!

Our Lord then chanted Gaudete justi, and all the Saints rejoiced with Gertrude. Then Our Lord said, in the name of the Church Militant, Refecti cibo, ect; He then saluted all the Saints lovingly, saying, Dominus vobiscum, and thereby increased the glory and joy of all the Blessed. The Saints and Angels then sang, for the Missa est, Te decet laus et honor Domine, to the glory and praise of the effulgent and ever-peaceful Trinity. The Son of God extended His royal Hand, and blessed the Saint, saying: "I bless thee, O daughter of eternal light, with this special blessing, granting you this favor, that whenever you desire to do good to anyone from particular affection, they will be as much benefited above others as Isaac was above Esau when he received his father's blessing." Then the Saint recovered from her rapture, and remained more closely united than ever to her Beloved.

End Book 4

Book 5: The Revelations of St. Gertrude

Compiled by the Religious of Her Monastery.

Chapter 1. How St. Mechtilde prepared for death, and received extreme unction.

When Dame Mechtilde, of happy memory, our chantress, who was full of good works, or rather full of God, was confined to bed in her last sickness, about a month before death, she began to think of her end, and to reflect on some works which she had written. But on Sunday, as a person prayed for her, asking that she might have the grace of a happy death, under the protection of the Divine Mercy, so that she might abandon herself to it with humble confidence when receiving the Body and Blood of Christ, she knew in spirit that God had drawn this soul to Himself entirely, and that He had only restored her for a brief space, that He might again abide in her. Then she said to the Lord: "Lord, why dost Thou wish her to continue on the earth?" He replied: It is to perfect the work which My Divine dispensation has decreed; and she will contribute to this in three ways: by the repose of humility, the table of patience and the joy of virtue. For example in all that she sees or hears from others, let her always humble herself and consider herself the most unworthy of all. Thus will I rejoice in the repose of her heart and soul. Secondly: let her embrace patience joyfully, and suffer all her trials and sickness willingly for love of Me; thus she will prepare Me a table of sumptuous delights. Thirdly: she will offer Me a joyful spectacle if she exercises herself in every kind of virtue.

On another occasion, when St. Mechtilde was ready to communicate, this person asked Our Lord what he was about to do in her. He answered: I am going to repose with her in this couch. By this she understood that the couch in which Our Lord reposed with her was her confidence, in all her afflictions, that God would order all that concerned her in the greatest love and mercy for the furtherance of her salvation; so that she offered continual thanksgivings to Him, trusting entirely in His Providence.

When she was near her end, one evening at Vesper time, she was suddenly seized with such excruciating pain in the heart, that the sisters who stood around her could not restrain their tears; but she consoled them saying "Do not weep for me, my beloved ones; for I am so touched by your grief, that were it the Will of my dearest Lord I would gladly bear this very pain all my life, if I could thereby obtain consolation for you".

On another occasion, when they urged her to take some medicene which they hoped would give her some relief, she yielded to their request; but immediately after her sufferings increased greatly. On the following day the person before mentioned besought Our Lord to reward her humble compliance. He replied: From the suffering which My beloved endured on that occasion I have confected a most salutary remedy, which I have used to purify the souls of all sinners throughout the world.

On the Sunday Si iniquitates, the Saint communicated for the last time before her death; and this person prayed that she might be inspired to prepare for Extreme Unction, and that Our Lord would keep her soul in His bosom, to preserve it from every stain, as an artist covers a newly painted picture lest it should contract dust. When she told this to St Mechtilde, who was always perfectly submissive to her superiors, she committed herself humbly to their good pleasure and to Divine Providence, which she hoped would never forsake her. However, her superior had such veneration for her, that she believed Our Lord would make known the hour of her death to her; and as she did not ask earnestly to receive this Sacrament, it was not administered that day.

But Our Lord soon verified the words of the Gospel, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away". (Matt. 24:35); and he failed not to accomplish what he had promised to His chosen one. For on Monday blessed Mechtilde became so ill, just before Matins, that we feared that she had fallen into her agony, so that the priests were immediately sent for and she received Extreme Unction. Thus, although the Sacrament was not administered on Sunday, it was administered the night of that day, as she received it before sunrise on Monday.

When her eyes were anointed by the priest, the religious who had prayed for her understood that our most loving Lord looked on her with Divine Mercy, and, with a Heart full of tenderness toward her, shed a ray of His Divine light into her soul, imparting to her at the same time a share in the merits which He had obtained when in earth by the glances of His most Holy Eyes; and then she beheld the glances of the Saint with confidence would feel abundant proof of the efficacy of her intercession; that she had merited this favor with God by her gentle loving conduct towards others. When the other memebers of her body were anointed, Our Lord applied the merits of those of His own most sacred Body to her also. When her lips were anointed, this zealous Lover of our souls honored with marks of the tenderest love, imparting to her the fruit of His most Holy Lips.

When the Litanies were said, at the words Omnes sancti Seraphim et Cherbim, orate pro ea, she beheld the hosts of Seraphim and Cherubim making way for her soul to pass through their ranks, as if to give precedence to one who had led so pure and virginal a life on earth; who, like the Cherubim, had drawn spiritual knowledge so copiously from the true Fount of all wisdom; and, like the Seraphim, had been enkindled by Him who is a consuming fire (cf Heb. 12:29).

As the Saints were named in the Litany, they offered their merits for her with great joy, under the form of gifts, which they presented to Our Lord, Who placed them in His bosom for His beloved. For two days after she had received Extreme Unction, she appeared to live only by union with her Lord, and to draw every grace from His Divine Heart. But the happy moment of her departure was at hand, and on Wedneday, which was the Vigil of St. Elizabeth, she fell into her agony, after None. The community, having assembled to assist their beloved sister in Christ by their fervent prayers for her happy passage to eternity, the person before mentioned beheld her soul under the form of a fair young girl, who applied her lips to the Wound of Our Lord's side, and drew thence streams of grace for the whole Church, and especially for those who were present. And she understood that she had prayed specially both for the living and the dead, and therefore Our Lord has bestowed such abundant favors on her.

When they recited the Salve Regina, at the words Eia ergo, St. Mechtilde prayed very earnestly to the Blessed Virgin for the beloved sisters whom she was about to leave, beseeching her to have a special care of them, as if leave, beseeching her to have a special care of them, as if she, who during her life had been so devoted to her community, so tender and helpful and loving, desired to secure an advocate for them after her death in the person of the Mother of Mercy. And this blessed Queen took the hand of the dying religious, as if she was accepting the charge of the community from her. Then, as they read the prayer Ave Jesu Christe, at the words via dulcis, she beheld the Lord Jesus showing His beloved spouse the way by which He purposed to draw her sweetly to Himself.

The Saint continued all day in her agony, without saying any other words than these, "Jesu bone! Jesu bone! as if to show how He dwelt in her heart, since His sweet Name was so constantly on her lips in the agonies of death. Then, as each of the sisters commended themselves to her prayers, beseeching her to intercede with God for their necessities, she immediately replied , "Willingly," although scarcely able to speak, as if she would say with what love she would pray for those who were committed to her care. St Gertrude knew also that that the great sufferings which her sister had endured with such patience had contributed much to her sanctification; and she beheld a certain vapor coming forth from those parts of her body which had suffered most; and this touched her soul, purifying it from its stains, sanctifying it, and preparing it for eternal beatitude.

Now Gertrude knew all these things in spirit, but she feared to declare them, lest it should be suspected that she had received these revelations; but this was contrary to the Divine Will, whose glory it is to discover the truth (Tob. 12: 11), and who commanded His Apostles to preach on the house tops what they heard in the ear. (Matt 10:27). As they said the Vespers of St Elizabeth, St. Mechtilde's agony increased so evidently that they feared she was about to expire; the sisters were, therefore, summoned from the choir, that they might redouble theor prayers by her bedside. As St Gertrude assisted with the rest of the community, she found herself unable to understand or attend to anything that was said: this occasioned her to see her fault in concealing what God had revealed to her. But when she had prmised Our Lord to make known these favors for His honor and glory and the good of others, the use of her faculties was at once restored.

After Compline the dying nun entered her third and last agony; and St. Gertrude was rapt in spirit, and beheld her soul again under the form of a young girl, but with new ornaments, the fruit of renewed sufferings. She observed also that this soul approached Our Lord with intense love, and begun culling from His Wounds - as a bee from flowers - the sweet honey of the Divine delights. As they read this Response, amongst others, Ave Sponsa, the Blessed Virgin approached the soul of the dying nun to prepare it for enjoying the delights of the Divinity. Then Our Lord Jesus - for the sake of His Blessed Mother, who alone merited to be called, and to be both a Virgin and a Mother - took a necklace of marvelous beauty, adorned with radiant gems, and placed it on the religious, granting her the special privilege of being also called a virgin and mother, on account of the fervor and devotion with which she had guided her spiritual children.

Chapter 2. Of the happy death of St. Mechtilde, and of her reward in heaven.

The Matins of St. Elizabeth had already commenced, when it became apparent that St. Mechtilde was about to expire; the community were therefore summoned again from the choir to assist her happy death. Our Lord then appeared to the dying Saint as a Spouse radiant with beauty, crowned with honor and glory, and said to her tenderly: Now My beloved, I will honor you before your neighbors - that is before this congregation, which is so dear to Me. Then He saluted her soul in an ineffable manner by each of His Wounds, so that each saluted her in four different manners: namely, by a melodius harmony, by an efficacious vapor, by a fruitful dew and by a marvelous light. Thus did Our Lord call His elect one to Himself: the exquisite harmony indicated all the loving words which she had addressed to God, or uttered for the benefit of others and these words were fructified exceedingly by passing through the Divine Heart. The vapor signified all her desires for the glory of God or the salvation of her neighbor; and these desires were marvelously increased by passing through the Wounds of Jesus. The dew which poured forth so abundantly represented the love which she had for God, or for any creature for His sake; and it was so greatly increased in sweetness by these sacred Wounds. The marvelous light signified all the sufferings which she had endured since her infancy, either in body or mind, which were ennobled beyond all human power of comprehension by union with the Passion of Christ; and that her soul was sanctified thereby, and impressed with the marks of Divinity charity.

The enjoyment of these heavenly consolations restored even the bodily strength of the dying religious, after she continued aspiring after the joys on which she was so soon to enter. Our Lord then poured forth an abundant benediction on all who were present saying: Moved by the ardor of My love, I desire that each member of My beloved congregation should assist at this transfiguration, and that they should receive as much honor from the blessed in Paradise as My chosen ones, Peter, James and John, who assisted at My Transfiguration on the Mount, received from the Apostles. Then the religious said: "Lord what benefit will they gain from these graces who do not perceive them by any interior sweetness?" He replied: When a nobleman bestows an orchard on a friend, he does not at once taste the fruit, as he must wait until they ripen. Thus, when I pour forth precious gifts on a soul, she does not perceive their sweetness until they are fructified by the exercise of exterior virtues; but when the skin of earthly pleasures and consolations is removed, then she can taste the interior consolation.

The community now returned to the choir to say Matins. At the twelfth Response, O lampas, this soul appeared standing before the Blessed Trinity, praying devoutly for the Church. Then God the Father saluted her lovingly by these words: Ave, electa mea (Hail My elect one), who by the example of your life, may truly be called the lamp of the Church, abounding in oil - that is, your prayers for the whole world. Then the Son of God addressed her thus: Gaude, sponsa mea (Rejoice O My spouse), who may truly be called the medicament of grace, since by your prayers you have obtained the restoration of so many to My favor. The Holy Ghost added Ave, immaculata mea (Hail My spotless one, ) who may be called the nurse of the faithful, since you have fed and nourished so many spiritually.

After this the Eternal Father conferred on her, by His omnipotence, the grace of assisting those who, through human fraility, distrusted the Divine mercy and of strengthening in them the gift of hope; the Holy Spirit conferred on her the privilege of enkindling fervor and love in cold and tepid hearts; lastly the Son of God gave her, through the merit of His most Precious Death and Passion, the grace of curing souls enfeebled by sin.

The celestial choirs then chanted, in a clear and sonorous voice, Tu Dei saturitas olivia fructifera, cujus lucet, they honored the sweet repose which Our Lord had taken in her; at the words et resplendent, they praised the pure intention which had animated all her actions, in conclusion, all the Saints chanted the Antiphon Deus palim omnibus.

During the Preface of the High Mass, Our Lord appeared to St. Mechtilde, drawing her toward Him, and imparting new graces and favors to her soul, as if to prepare her for the enjoyment of eternal beatitude. At last the joyful moment came when she was to pass the eternal embraces of her Spouse; and the Lord of Glory, Who is so great in His majesty and so tender in His love, invited her to Him saying, Come, blessed of My Father, possess the Kingdom prepared for you. (Matt. 25:34). He reminded her also of the signal favor which He had conferred on her some years before, by giving her His Heart, as He said these words, to be her consolation and protection. Then He said: And where is My gift? In reply, she offered Him her heart, plunging it into His; and Our Lord touched her heart with His, absorbing her into Himself, and putting her into possesion of eternal glory, where we hope she will obtain many favors for us by her intercession.

As the usual prayers were recited after her decease, Our Lord appeared, enthroned in Glory, and this soul reposed upon His bosom. As the words, Subvenite sancti Dei, occurrite angeli, were read, the Angels testified their reverence for her who had been thus honored by their King; and they appeared as if adorned by the prayers of this soul, whom they had assisted by their prayers when she received the last anointing. The Saints also acted in like manner.

Then the religious asked the deceased to pray for some persons in whom she had a special interest, that they might overcome their defects. She replied: "Now that I see all things in the light of truth, I know that all the affection which I entertained for anyone when in the world was but a drop in the ocean when compared to the love the Divine Heart for them; and it is by a salutary providence that God permits their defects, that they may be humbled on account of them. Thus they daily attain greater perfection; and since I know this to be the Will of God for them, I can desire and ask nothing else for them but what His wisdom ordains; and I continually adore this dispensation, and pray that it may be perfectly accomplished."

On the following day, at the Mass Requiem aeternam, St Mechtilde appeared to place little golden tubes from the Heart of Jesus to those who had a special devotion to her, and thus obtained for them from the Heart of God whatever they desired. Each tube had a golden key, by which- that is, by the following or similar words - they could obtain whatever they desired: "O good Jesus, I beseech Thee to hear me, through the merits and prayers of St. Mechtilde and Thy other Saints, by the mercy which disposed Thee to pour forth on them, and on other elect souls, Thy favors and graces"; and we may be assured these words will incline the Divine Mercy to comply with our desires.

At the Elevation of the Host, this soul appeared to offer herself with It to God for His glory and the salvation of mankind; and the Son of God, who refuses nothing to His elect, drew her entirely into Himself, and offered Himself with her to His Father for all in Heaven, on earth and in Purgatory. The soul of the deceased now appeared in glory to this religious, who asked her what advantage she had obtained from the recital of the Antiphon Et quo omnia as many times as she had lived days on earth, and having had as many Masses of the Blessed Trinity said as she had lived years, in thanksgiving for all the favors that had been conferred on her. She replied: "Our Lord has adorned me with a flower for each repetition of the Antiphon, and by which I draw into me the sweetness of the Divine Heart; and for each Mass I have received a marvelous and inestimable delight, which affects all the senses of my soul."

On another occasion, when this religious kissed Our Lord's Five Wounds in spirit saying the Paster nosters for the negligences which she might have committed toward Dame Mechtilde in her last illness, because she feared she had not attended her with sufficient care when living, nor prayed for her with sufficient fervor when dead, she beheld five beautiful flowers springing forth from Our Lord's Wounds; and by the virtue which these Wounds communicated to them, they produced and poured forth a sweet and salutary balsam. The religious then said to St Mechtilde: "O elect of my God, accept these flowers which the Divine Goodness has produced to supply for my deficiencies; and may they be for thy glory and serve to adorn thy triumph; but do not forget to pray for me, unworthy." She replied: "I prefer leaving these flowers where they are, that I may not be deprived of the honor of having them placed in the Wounds of my Lord; for I hope, whenever I touch them by my desires, that a healing stream will flow forth from them, for the salvation of sinners and the consolation of the just."

Chapter 3. Of the precious death of Sisters M. and L.

Two ladies, more illustrious for their virtue than their distinguished birth - sisters in the flesh, but yet more closely united in the spirit by their equality in perfection - were called to the heavenly nuptials by their celestial Spouse, after having lived a most holy life from their very childhood. The first died on the glorious Feast of the Assumption, which was also the day of her profession; the other sister died thirty days after; but their deaths were so edifying and blessed, that we were about to relate some circumstances concerning them. As Gertrude prayed for the eldest, who died on the Assumption, she appeared to her, surrounded with glorious light and magnificently adorned, standing before the throne of Jesus Christ; but she seemed ashamed to lift up her eyes to Him, or to gaze upon His majestic countenance. When the Saint perceived this, she was moved to pity, and said to Our Lord: "Alas, most loving Lord! Why dost Thou permit her to stand before Thee as a stranger, without manifesting any tokens of affection for her? Our Lord then extended His hand to her, as if to draw her to Himself, but she drew back from Him with reverent fear.

As Gertrude marveled much at this, she said to the soul; "Why do you thus fly from the embraces of your Spouse?" She replied: "Because I am not yet perfectly purified from my defects, and am not in a condition to receive His favors. Even if Divine Justice did not restrain me, I would deprive myself of these favors, of which I am not worthy." Gertrude then said:"How can this be when I now see you standing before God in such glory?" The soul answered: "Although all creatures are present to God, yet souls come near Him in proportion to their perfection in charity; but none are worthy of this blessedness who are not perfectly purified from all the stains which they have contracted during their mortal lives."

A month after, when the second sister was in her agony, St. Gertrude prayed for her very earnestly. After her death, she appeared to her, surrounded with light, as a young virgin, clothed in a purple robe, that she might be presented to her Spouse. She also saw Jesus Christ, Who stood near her, and Who caused a certain consolation to proceed from His Wounds, to refresh and strengthen her five senses, so that the soul was exceedingly consoled thereby. St Gertrude then said to Our Lord: "Since Thou art the God of all consolation, why dost Thou permit this soul to appear so sad, as if troubled by some secret grief?" He answered: "I now manifest to her My Humanity, which does not perfectly console her; for thus I reward the special love which she manifested for My Passion in the last moments of her life. But when she is perfectly freed from all her stains, I will manifest the joys of My Divinity to her, and then she shall have all she desires." "But, Lord," continued the Saint, "how is it that all her faults were not perfectly purified by the charity which she possessed at the last moment of her life, since Scripture teaches that man shall be judged according to the state in which he dies?" The Lord answered: when a man loses his strength, he has no longer the power to execute his good designs, while he may have the will to do so. When, of My gratuitous goodness, I inspire these desires, and give this will, I do not always efface thereby the stains of past negligence, which would no doubt be accomplished if the person recovered health and strength, and then began to reform his life thoroughly. She replied: "Alas. Lord, cannot Thy abundant mercy remit the sins of this soul, who has loved Thee so ardently from her very childhood?" He answered: I will indeed reward her love abundantly; but My justice must first be satisfied by the removal of her stains. Our Lord then turned lovingly to this soul, and said to her: My spouse will consent willingly to what My justice requires; and when she is purified, she will enjoy My glory and consolation. As she consented, Our Lord seemed to ascend into Heaven, and to leave her after Him where she was; but she appeared as if ardently desiring to follow Him. The solitude was to purify her from all the stains which she had contracted by conversing too freely with the other sex; and the effort she made to ascend upwards purified her from some faults of indolence.

On another occasion, as St Gertrude prayed for the same person at Mass, she said at the Elevation of the Host; "Holy Father, I offer this Host to Thee for this soul on the part of all in Heaven, on earth and in the deep;" and she beheld this soul in the air, surrounded by a multitude of persons, who held representations of the Host in their hands, which they offered up on bended knees. The soul appeared to receive great assistance and inestimable joy from this devotion. Then the soul said: "I now experience the truth of what is said in Scripture, that no good action, however trifling, will fail to be rewarded, and that no negligence, however trifling, will be unpunished; for this offering of the Sacrament of the Altar procures the greatest consolation for me, on account of my former devotion in receiving It; and the ardent charity which I had for others greatly enhances the prayers which are made for me; while for both of these things I shall receive an eternal recompense."

The soul then appeared as if elevated higher and higher by the prayers of the Church; and when her purification was accomplished, the Saint beheld Our Lord coming for her to crown her queen, and to conduct her to eternal joys.

Chapter 4. How a disobedience was expiated by an illness.

As Gertrude recited five Pater nosters for Dame S---- the eldest of the community, who had received Extreme Unction, and at last ended her prayer in the Wound of Our Lord's Side - she besought Him to purify this soul with the water which flowed therefrom and to adorn it with the merits of His most Precious Blood. She then saw this soul, under the form of a young virgin, crowned with a golden circlet, and supported by Our Divine Lord, who imparted the graces she had asked to her soul. She understood by this that the sister must remain longer on earth to be purified from a disobedience of which she had been guilty, in conversing more than was right with a sick person: and this was accomplished. She suffered for five months in a manner which he sufficiently manifested the fault from which she was being purified. On the day on which she was taken ill, she appeared very joyful, as if Our Lord had granted her some great favor; and she attempted to related what had happened to her; as she had not the perfect use of her senses, she was unable to do so. But as she saw Gertrude standing by her, with some of the other religious, she called her by name and said "Do you speak for me, for you know all." St Gertrude began to relate what had been revealed to her, and the invalid was then able to continue the recital herself. When the others made any observations, declaring that Our Lord had forgiven her sins, and bestowed many favors on her.

On the day before her death, St Gertrude beheld Our Lord preparing a place for her in His Divine arms; but the soul appeared at His left, and separated from Him by a little cloud. She then said "Lord this place which Thou hast prepared will not be suitable for a soul covered with this cloud." He replied: She will remain a little longer on earth, that she may become fit for it. And it was even so; for the religious continued all that day and the following night in her agony. Next morning she beheld the Lord coming towards the dying nun with marks of the greatest tenderness; and she appeared to rise, as if to meet Him. Then St Gertrude said: "Art Thou not come now to take this desolate soul to Thyself, as a merciful Father?" And Our Lord indicated by a sign that He had this intention.

Soon after her decease, she saw this soul again, under the form a young virgin, adorned with roses, and advancing joyfully to her Spouse; but when she came near Him she fell at His feet as if almost deprived of life, until the words "Tibi supplication commended Ecclesiae" (The supplication of the Church commends her to Thee) were repeated, when she arose, and cast herself into the Divine arms, where she is eternally replenished with treasures of beatitude.

Chapter 5. Of the happy death of Sister M.

As Sister M., of happy memory, approached her end, St Gertrude prayed for her with others, and said to the Lord "Why dost Thou not hear our prayers for her, O most loving Lord?" He replied: Her soul is in such a different state from the souls of others, that she cannot be consoled by you in a human manner. She continued "Is this a judgment?" He answered I have now My secret in her, as I had formerly had My secret with her. Then, as Gertrude sought to understand these mysterious words, Our Lord said to her: My majesty will enthrone itself in her. "But" she continued "how will she die?” He answered: She will be absorbed in My Divinity, as a sunbeam absorbs a drop of dew. Then she inquired why the wandering of her exterior senses was permitted. her replied: That you may know that I am working in her interiorly, not exteriorly. She answered: "Our own hearts ought to teach us this." He replied: And how can they receive this favor who rarely, if ever, enter into their interior, where grace alone is poured forth?

After this Gertrude besought Our Lord to grant the grace of working miracles to Sister M, after her death, for the confirmation of the revelations which she received, and to silence the incredulous. Our Lord replied, holding a book in His Hands: Can I not gain a victory without fighting? He added: When it is necessary I subdue kings and nations by signs and wonders; but now the experience of those who have tasted something of these celestial communications is sufficient to obtain credit for them. For the present I bear with those who contradict them; but I will at last silence their calumnies. St. Gertrude learned from this that Our Lord is pleased with those who believe that He pours forth the effusion of His grace, not for their merit, but from the super abounding love of His Divine Heart.

As Sister M, was anointed, St Gertrude saw Our Lord touch her hand, saying When this blessed soul is freed from the chains of the flesh, I will pour forth the abundance of My mercy on all who are present. As she continued in her agony, and the religious prayed for her still more fervently, she knew that Our Lord would grant them three great favors: first by accomplishing all their good desires; second, by assisting them in overcoming their faults - and these two favors would be granted through her intercession; the third benefit was, that He extended His Hand, and imparted His benediction to all who were present.

As Gertrude occupied herself in fervent thanksgivings, she beheld Our Divine Lord, the King of Glory, whom the Angels adore, standing at the head of the dying nun, whose breath appeared of a golden color, and tended towards the Heart of her Spouse. The Saint continued to gaze on this vision with great joy while the Psalm Deus, Deus meus, and Ad to levavi, were recited, during which Our Lord manifested the tenderest affection for the religious. After this the Suffrages were read, with the Antiphon Ut te simus, during which she beheld the Blessed Virgin, clothed, in purple and adorned as a queen. As she stood beside her Divine Son, she placed the head of this sister so that her breath might come more directly to the Heart of Jesus. As they read the short prayer, Ave Jesu -"Hail Jesus, my Savior, Word of the Father" - Our Lord appeared encompassed with increased splendor, like that of the sun at midday. At first the Saint was overwhelmed by the magnificence of the vision; but as she recovered herself a little, she beheld the effulgent rose of Heaven, His Virgin Mother, who appeared to congratulate Him on having obtained a new spouse.

By this she understood that this happy union was then consummated, and the soul forever immersed in the ocean of eternal beatitude.

Chapter 6. Of the agony and death of M. B., and of her blessed soul.

When M.B, of happy memory, was in her agony, Gertrude prayed for her most earnestly, and obtained a knowledge of what was passing around her in this last combat. For a whole hour she beheld nothing but the trouble which the soul endured for having sometimes taken undue pleasure in exterior things; such as for having had a coverlet of colored cloth on her bed, embroidered with gold. On the day of her decease, when Mass was celebrated, Gertrude offered the Host for her; although she did not see her, she knew that she was present and addressed Our Lord thus, as if seeking her saying: "O Lord, where is she?" He replied: She will come to Me pure and white. From this she understood that the prayers which were offered in charity had obtained great grace for her in her last moments and that some persons moved by holy zeal, had offered their good works for her, and charged themselves with the penalties due to her.

As Gertrude prayed for her again at the Mass which preceded her interment, she beheld her seated at a festal table beside Our Lord, where the prayers which had been offered were given to her under the form of different kinds of food. At the Elevation, as the Saint offered the chalice for her, Our Lord appeared to present it to her Himself. When she had tasted it, she immediately became penetrated with Divine sweetness, and rose up to word or act, rejoicing for the merit which they had obtained for her thereby. Then Gertrude inquired why she did not pray for her friends also; but she replied: "I pray for them more efficaciously by speaking heart to heart to my Beloved."

On another occasion, as she remarked that she had offered all her merits for the deceased, she said to Our Lord: "I hope O Lord that Thou would frequently cast the eyes of Thy mercy on my indulgence." He replied: What can I do more for one who has thus deprived herself of all things through charity? She answered: "Whatever Thou mayest do, I shall always appear before Thee destitute of all merit, for I have renounced all I have gained or may gain." He replied: Do you know that a mother would allow a child who was well clothed to sit at her feet, but she would take one who was barely clad into her arms, and cover her with her own garment? He added: And now what advantage have you, who are seated on the shore of an ocean, over those who sit by a little rivulet? That is to say, those who keep their good works for themselves have the rivulet; but those who renounce them in love and humility, possess God, who is an inexhaustible ocean of beatitude.

Chapter 7

As scripture testifies that 'By what things a man sinneth, by the same also he is punished' (Wis 2:17 sic; cf 3:10), and, on the contrary, that he will be rewarded in the things in which he has suffered or done good, we give the following examples for the benefit of our readers.

We had two persons with us, who were both ill at the same time; one evidently suffered from a severe affection of the chest, and hence she was attended more carefully. The other, whose disease was not known, and who seemed more likely to live, did not receive so much care; but, as men are often deceived, the one for whom we feared the least died the first and the other survived a month longer. When the former approached her end, she had been strengthened in grace by great patience and devotion, which had purified her soul exceedingly; for the ardent love which Our Lord had for His spouse would not suffer Him to permit the least stain to remain on her. Nevertheless, she still needed some purification for having too easily omitted Confession; for sometimes when the priest came to her, she feigned to be be sleeping, not having any grave fault to accuse herself of. As the hour approached when she was to be received to the eternal embraces of her Spouse, He purified her from this stain. For when she asked for a confessor, she lost the power of speech when he came, and then she feared exceedingly that she would suffer for her former negligence after death, and so was purified from her fault by this excessive fear.

Thus being entirely purified and freed from every stain, she was released from the prison of the flesh, and received into eternal glory. Many revelations concerning this was made to Gertrude. One of these was that when she was brought to Our Lord's throne of glory, he conferred this privilege on her of seeming to soothe her, as a mother would a child when she wished her to take some bitter medicine; and He did this to console her some little inattention which had been shown her, in consequence of the religious being so much occupied in attending to her companion, whom they believed to be dangerously ill.

Our Lord then said to her: Tell Me, My daughter, what you would wish Me to do for the soul of your companion; and what consolation you desire Me to give her. She replied: "Give her the same gifts Thou hast bestowed on me, my dearest Lord: for I cannot imagine any more consoling." And Our Lord promised to comply with her request.

The other religious died a month later. The day after her death she was seen marvelously adorned, as a reward for the exceeding innocence and simplicity of her life, and her exactness in observing all the austerities of her Order; but she had one stain from which she needed purification, and this was having received unnecessary consolations in her illness. She was purified in this manner: She stood at the gate of a palace, where Our Lord was seated on a throne of glory, with a countenance so full of sweetness and love, that no human intellect could describe His beauty. he appeared anxious to receive His spouse; but when she attempted to approach, she found herself with held by nails, which fastened her garments to the ground and these nails were the imperfections she had committed in her sickness. But Gertrude, who was touched with compassion, prayed for her, and Our Lord freed her from this impediment. Then the saint said to Our Lord: "Why was this soul freed by my prayers and not restored by the prayers of those who loved her so much, and who prayed for her with such fervor and affection?" He replied: There prayers have been of great service to her; but they did not remove the impediment which I have revealed to you, and from which she has now been released by your prayers. She continued: "How hast Thou fulfilled Thy promise to treat this person with the same goodness as Thou did manifest to her who died first? For she has lived longer in religion, and seemed to abound more in virtue, and yet the other appeared at once in Thy presence, and in greater glory." He answered: My justice is immutable, for I reward each according to her works. She who has labored least, cannot receive more than she who has labored most, unless she has worked with a purer intention, a more fervent charity or a more earnest strife; but my mercy rewards works of supererogation, such as the prayers of the faithful; and thus My rewards are not always proportioned to the persons actual merit.

Hence we may learn how carefully we should avoid taking pleasure in anything earthly, since this blessed soul was thus detained from happiness for this imperfection. This was even more fully manifested to St Gertrude in another vision, in which she saw her before the throne of God, manifesting the same ardor as she had done at the gate; not indeed desiring to approach, but appearing as if unable to move - and this was the second obstacle to her happiness; and even when she was freed from this her happiness was not perfectly complete, until Our Lord placed a magnificent crown on her head, which He held in His hand, and which she received with exceeding joy.

As St. Gertrude beheld this, she said to Our Lord, "why hast this soul been tormented so painfully, where Thou art all powerful?" He replied: She has not been tormented, but has waited with joy for the consummation of her happiness, even as a young girl would wait for a festival on which she was to be adorned with the ornaments which her mother had prepared for her.

After this, the soul thanked the Saint for the prayers which she had offered for her; and Gertrude said to her: "Why did you receive willingly some admonition which I gave you during your sickness, although you always seemed so attached to me?" The soul replied: "It is for this reason that your prayers have now more power with God, since they are offered more purely out of charity."

Chapter 8

Another religious died with us who, from her childhood had shown the most entire aversion to the world and all its attractions. When her agony came she bade farewell to all who were around her with great affection, and promised to pray for them when she had attained eternal blessedness, and the inexhaustible Source of all good. In the agonies of her last moments, she said to God: "Lord, Thou knowest the secrets of my heart, and how i have desired to persevere in Thy service, even to old age, and to devote all my strength to Thee; but now, since it is Thy Will I come to Thee: and all my desires are changed into a fervent longing to possess Thee, so that death has even become sweet to me; yet, if it were pleasing to Thee that I should continue in my present state until the day of judgment, i would willingly do so, even were this the first day of the world's creation; but as I know that Thou wilt give me rest today, I beseech Thee, of Thy mercy, and for the glory of Thy name, that I may continue to suffer until I have paid the debts of those souls whom Thou desirest most to release. And in this O Lord, Thou knowest that I am not considering my merits, but purely Thy glory."

After this prayer and many others, the Infirmarian asked the religious to allow her to arrange her feet before she died. She replied: "I will offer this sacrifice myself to my crucified Lord; and as she spoke, she extended her feet toward a crucifix, saying: "I offer Thee all the movements of my feet, in union with the ardent love with which Thou didst commend Thy spirit into the hands of Thy Father with a great cry". She then offered likewise the movement of her eyes, her lips, her hands and her heart, with great fervor and devotion. After this she asked to have the Passion read for her, showing them herself where she wished to commence.: Sublevitus Jesus- "Jesus lifted up His eyes to Heaven" (John 17:1); saying, if they commenced at the words, "Before the festival day" (John 13.1), they would not have time to finish before her death. At the words, "And bowing His head, he gave up the ghost" (John 19-30), she asked for the crucifix; then, kissing the Five Wounds with the tenderest devotion, she gave thanks to God with words of the most heavenly wisdom and devotion, most touching to all who were present; and then she lay back on her pallet, and slept sweetly in the Lord.

After her death, St. Gertrude saw her received by Our Lord with the tenderest caresses, and specially rewarded for having renounced the world so generously for His love. She also heard the angelic choirs chanting the Quae est ista, as they conducted her in triumphal procession to Heaven. When she was brought before the throne of God, Jesus, the Spouse of virgins, turned toward her with great love, and said, "You are My glory. Then He crowned her as a queen, and enthroned her near Himself.

As Gertrude prayed for her at her interment on the following day, she beheld her in a state of joy and glory which exceeds all human comprehension. Then she inquired what reward she had received for certain virtues; and the soul obtained for her the grace of receiving some little share of he recompense, and then inquired what reward she had received for certain virtues; and the soul obtained for her the grace of receiving some little share of her recompense, and then inquired: "What more do you require to know of what I have received? The heavenly ark, which contains the plenitude of Divine sweetness, even the Heart of Jesus Christ, my Beloved, with all its treasures, is opened to me; with one exception, which I am deprived of, because when in life, I reserved to myself the secrets of My Spouse, and did not communicate them to others; and this treasure is open only to those who giving freely, communicated to others all the gifts of God." "But," inquired Gertrude, "what reply shall I give to your friends and mine, when they ask me of your present state and reward, since no human words can express them?" The soul replied: "After you have smelt the perfume of many flowers, how can you make another person understand what you have experienced? would you not content yourself was saying that the odor was very delicious? Thus, after you have known in spirit how great is the felicity with which God has rewarded me, you can only say that I have been rewarded beyond my deserts for every good thought, word or act by my faithful and beloved Jesus."

Chapter 9

When Brother Seq (sic) was in his agony, Gertrude, being engrossed in some occupation, omitted to pray for him until she heard he was dead, and then began to reproach herself for her neglect of one who had always served the Community so faithfully and affectionately as a lay brother; she therefore besought Our Lord to reward his services abundantly, according to the multitude of His mercies. The Lord vouchsafed to reply thus to her: I have rewarded him for his fidelity in three ways, in answer to the prayers of the congregation. From his natural benevolence, he took the greatest pleasure in conferring favors on others; and I have renewed in him all this pleasure for each act of kindness which he performed. I have also accumulated in his soul all the gratification and joy which he obtained for others by these acts of benevolence - such as giving a child a toy, a poor person a penny, a sick person some fruit, or any other relief; and lastly, I have made him rejoice exceedingly, on account of the approbation which I have manifested for these actions; and I will soon supply all that he needs to attain perfect felicity.

Chapter 10

As Gertrude prayed for the repose of the soul of Brother Hermann, a lay brother lately deceased, she inquired what his state was; and Our Lord replied: He is now present, and I have granted him this favor in return for earnest prayers which have been made for him - I have invited him to assist at this feast. Then she saw Our Lord, as the father of a family, seated at a table, on which were placed all the prayers, oblations, desires, ect., which had been offered for this brother. The soul stood sad and dejected at one end of the table, for he was not yet sufficiently purified to behold the loving countenance of Our Lord; but he soon appeared exceedingly refreshed and comforted by what he beheld before him.

The saint observed with some surprise that the effect of these offerings came to him directly from the offerings themselves, and not as usual from Our Lord, who generally appeared to her to present the souls with the offerings made for them with great joy; but Our Lord sometimes, of His own goodness and in consideration of the merits of those who prayed for him, gave him some consolation Himself, which imparted great satisfaction to the soul.

The Blessed Virgin sat as queen beside her Divine Son, and appeared also to place some gifts on the table, as a reward for the particular devotion which this soul had for her when on earth. The Saints to whom he had been devout also made offerings for him; and by these things, and the earnest love with which they were presented before God, the countenance of the brother became hourly more serene and joyful, and he slowly raised his eyes to gaze upon that blessed Light, which when It is once beheld, imparts eternal joy, and causes all former sorrow to be forgotten.

As Gertrude observed that the soul still continued in the same position, she said to him: "For what fault have you suffered most?" He replied: "For self will and self opinionatedness; for when I did any kindness for others I would not do as they wished, but as I wished myself; and so much do I suffer for this, that if the mental agonies of all mankind were united in one person, he would not endure more more than I do at present." She replied: "And what remedy will be most efficacious for you?" He answered: "To perform acts of the contrary virtue, and to avoid committing the same fault." "But in the meantime, inquired Gertrude ", what will afford you the greatest relief?" He replied: "The fidelity which I practiced toward others when on earth consoles me most. The prayers which are offered continually for me by my friends solace me as good news would solace a person in affliction. each tone of the chant at Mass, or in the vigils which are said for me, seem to me as a most delicious reflection. All that is done for me by others, with a pure intention for God's glory, such as working, and even sleeping or eating, affords me great relief and shortens my sufferings, on account of fidelity with which I labored for others."

"But", she continued, "what advantage do you gain from our desire to give you the merit of all the good works which God enables us to perform?" He answered "They are of great utility to me, for they adorn my soul." St Gertrude replied: "But if any person deferred the prayer which they proposed to offer for you on account of sickness, would you suffer from it?" The soul answered: "Delays, which are the result of prudence , do not harm us unless they are caused by negligence." She continued:"Were you nit injured by our prayers during your sickness, as we asked more earnestly for your recovery than for the grace of a happy death? The soul replied: "This did not harm me, for I discovered therein the immense goodness of God, whose tender mercies are over all His works (Ps 144:9), as He was moved to do me even more good from beholding your affection for me". "But will tears shed for you through human affection do you harm?" he answered: "These tears are to me as the kindness of a friend who consoles his friend when in affliction. And when I am in enjoyment of perfect happiness, it will give me as much joy as the congratulations by my faithfulness in your service, which has gained your affection for me."

On another occasion, when St. Gertrude recited the Pater noster for the same soul, she observed, to her extreme surprise, that his sufferings appeared greatly increased when she repeated the words: "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us". As she inquired the reason of this suffering, he replied: "When I was in the world, I offended God frequently by my unwillingness to forgive those who injured me in any way; and even when I had forgiven them I showed my resentment by a grave manner when I met them; and I suffer for this when ever these words are repeated for me." "And how long will you suffer thus?" inquired the Saint, The soul replied: "I shall suffer until I am entirely purified; but henceforth, by the mercy of God, whenever you say this prayer for me, I shall retain great relief thereby."

When Mass was offered for this soul, he appeared radiant with light and transported with joy. Then Gertrude said to Our Lord;"Is this soul now entirely freed from its sufferings?" Our Lord answered: He is already freed from much suffering, and no human being can form an idea of his glory; but he is not yet so perfectly purified as to be worthy to enjoy My presence, though He is approaching nearer and nearer to this purity by the prayers which are offered for him and he is more consoled and relieved. He added: His obstinacy in following his own will, and his disinclination to submit to the will of others, have prevented him from obtaining relief from your prayers as speedily as he would otherwise have done.

Chapter 11

As it is but just that souls should be purified from their stains before they receive the reward of their good works, yet it sometimes appears that Mercy triumphs over Justice, as in the case of Brother John the Procurator, who worked so faithfully and laboriously for the convent. His good works appeared in the form of steps, by which his soul ascended, after its separation from the body, satisfying for its imperfections by the pain which this exertion cost him; but the higher he ascended, the less difficulty he experienced. However, as it is difficult to avoid all imperfections in this life, and the justice of God punishes even the least negligence, when he came to certain steps he was seized with a sudden fear, which stupefied him, as if he expected that the next step would give way beneath him.

From this Gertrude understood that some of his good works had been tainted by some infidelity, from which he was purified by this fear. When other members of the congregation prayed for him either mentally or vocally, she perceived that he was assisted in his ascent, as if they had extended their hands to help him upwards, and thus afforded him great consolation.

It was also revealed to her, that those who had served her community, when they expiated their faults after their death, were relieved in consideration of the services which they had rendered to them, and that this privilege would be continued as long as the religious continued in the same state of fervor.

Chapter 12

When the Brother The: (sic), lay brother died, who had labored faithfully for the monastery for many years, St Gertrude began t pray for him as soon as she heard of his decease. As she was thus occupied, she beheld him in spirit, and his soul appeared black and deformed, as if suffering intense anguish from some remorse of conscience. As she was exceedingly moved to compassion, she commenced reciting five Pater nosters, in honor of Our Lord's Five Wounds, which she embraced very tenderly. At the fifth Pater noster, as she approached the Wound of Our Lord's Side, Our Lord emitted blood and water from it, in the form of a vapor; and she perceived that the soul was exceedingly refreshed thereby interiorly, but that he suffered as if from exterior wounds, which caused him intense pain. By the virtue of this blood and water the soul was then transported into a garden f herbs, each of which signified some good work which he had performed when in the world; and on these Our Lord conferred such virtue, in answer to the prayers of the community, that each of these plants became medicinal, and healed the wounds when applied to them; and she understood that if the community persevered earnestly in their prayers, he would soon be entirely cured. she knew also that there were some herbs, which represented his imperfect actions; and when he touched them, his sufferings were fearfully increased.

After the interment, as they chanted the words, Sancte Deus, sancte fortis, sancte et immortalis, when the religious prostrated on the ground, the soul elevated itself towards Heaven with exceeding gratitude, appearing to prostrate with the community, thanking God for having had the privilege of living in so holy a convent, where his labors had been specially blessed and accepted on account of the merits of those whom he served. He declared also, where ever he had lived before he had entered that house, he had been obliged to earn his bread by the labor of his hands, but that he had never gained thereby from all his exertions as much advantage as he had obtained in the monastery for his soul.

Chapter 13

As Gertrude prayed for a lay brother lately deceased , she saw his soul under a hideous form, as if consuming by a devouring fire. There appeared to be something under one of his arms which caused him excessive anguish, and he was bent down by an over powering weight, so that he could not keep himself upright. She learned that he appeared in this horrible form because although he wore a religious habit when on earth, he had failed to elevate himself to heavenly things. He was also suffering by fire for many other faults. The agony which he endured by what was concealed under his arm was a punishment for laboring to acquire temporal goods without the permission of his superior, and even concealing what he thus acquired. The weight which oppressed him so heavily was his disobedience to his superior.

On another occasion, as she read the Psalms and kept vigil, she asked Our Lord what remedy could be applied to this soul. He replied: Although the soul of the departed are much benefited by these vigils and other prayers, nevertheless a few words, said with affection and devotion, are far more value to them. And this may easier be explained by a familiar comparison; for it is much easier to wash away the stains of mud or dirt from the hands by rubbing them quickly in a little water, than by pouring a quantity of water on them without using any friction; thus, a single word, said with fervor and devotion, for the souls of the departed, is far more efficacy than many vigils and prayers offered coldly and performed negligently.

Chapter 14

Once when a person was told that a relative had died, of whose state she had great fear, Gertrude was so moved by her affliction that she offered to pray for the soul of the deceased. Our Lord taught her that the information had been given in her presence buy a special arrangement of His Providence. She replied: "Lord couldst not Thou had given me the comparison without this?" He answered: I take particular pleasure in prayers for the dead, when they are addressed to Me from a natural compassion, united to a good will; thus a good work becomes perfected.

When Gertrude had prayed for this soul a long time, he appeared to her under a horrible form, as if blackened by fire, and contorted with pain. She saw no one near him; but his sins, which he had not fully expiated, were his executioners, and each member suffered for the sins to which it had been accessory. Then St. Gertrude, desiring to intercede with her Spouse for hum, said lovingly: "My Lord, wilt Thou not relieve this soul, for my sake? He replied: Not only would I deliver this soul, but thousands of souls for your love! How do you wish Me to show him mercy? shall I release him at once from all his pains? Perhaps, Lord," she continued, "this would be contrary to the decrees of Thy justice" He answered: It would not be contrary t it if you asked Me with faith; for as I foresee the future, I prepared him for this when in His agony. She replied: "I beseech of Thee, salvation of my soul, to perfect this work according to Thy mercy, in which I have the most perfect confidence."

When she had said this, the soul appeared under a human form and in great joy, but still bearing some marks of his former sins; however the Saint knew that he must be purified further, and made as white as snow, before he would be fit to enter into the Divine Presence; and to effect this, it was necessary for him to suffer as if from the blows of an iron hammer, further more he had continued so long in sin that the process of cleansing his soul was much prolonged, and he also suffered as if exposed for a year to the rays of the scorching sun. As the saint marveled at this, she was instructed that those who have committed many and grievous sins are not assisted by the ordinary suffrages of the Church until they were partly purified by Divine Justice; and that they cannot avail themselves of the prayers of the faithful, who are constantly descending on the souls in Purgatory like a gentle and refreshing dew, or like a sweet and soothing ointment.

Gertrude then returned thanks for this favor, and said to the Lord: "O my most loving Lord, tell me, I beseech Thee, what work or prayers will most easily obtain mercy from Thee for those sinners who have died in a state of grace, so that they may be delivered from this terrible impediment which prevents them from obtaining the benefit of the Church's prayers. For this soul appears to me now, when relieved from this burden, as if it had ascended from Hell to Heaven". Our Lord replied: The only way to obtain such a favor is Divine Love; neither prayers nor any other labors will avail without this, and it must be such a love as you no wave for Me; and as none can have this grace unless I bestow it, so also none can obtain these advantages after death unless I have prepared them for it by some special grace during life. Know however, that the prayers and labors of the faithful relieve the soul gradually from this heavy burden, and that they are delivered sooner or later, according to the fervor and pure intentions of those who thus serve them, and according to the merit which they have acquired for themselves when in this life.

Then the soul besought Our Lord, by the love which had brought Him down from Heaven to die upon the Cross, that He would apply these remedies to his soul, and reward those who prayed for him abundantly; and Our Lord appeared to take a piece of gold from him, and lay it by to recompense those who had assisted him by their prayers.

Chapter 15

On the Sunday on which the community prayed for the souls of deceased parents, as St Gertrude offered the Host after she received Holy Communion for the repose for their souls, she beheld an immense number coming forth from a place of darkness like sparks of fire; some in the form of stars, and others in other shapes. Then she inquired if this great multitude could be all composed of the souls of the deceased parents; and Our Lord replied: I am your nearest Relation, your Father, your Brother, your Spouse; therefore, My special friends are also yours, and I could not exclude them from the commemoration of your parents; therefore, you behold them all united together. From henceforth the Saint prayed constantly for those who were especially beloved by Our Lord. On the following day at Mass, after the Elevation she heard Our Lord saying: We have eaten with those who could not come to the feast. Another year, when the bell tolled for the Office of the Dead. she beheld a snow white lamb, such as the paschal lamb is usually painted: and from the wounds of its heart, a stream of blood flowed into a chalice, while it said: I will now be propitiation for those souls for whom a feast is prepared here today.

Chapter 16

As the community recited the Great Psalter for the souls of the faithful departed, which is believed to be of great efficacy for them, St. Gertrude prepared for herself for Holy Communion, and prayed for these souls with great fervor. she then inquired of Our Lord why this Psalter was so acceptable to Him, and why it obtained such great relief for the souls, since the immense number of Psalms which were recited, and the long prayers after each, caused more weariness than devotion. The Lord replied: The desire which I have for the deliverance of the souls makes it acceptable to me; even as a prince who had been obliged to imprison one of his nobles to whom he was much attached, and was compelled by his justice to refuse him pardon, would most thankfully avail himself of the intercessions and satisfactions of others to release his friend. Thus do I act towards those whom I have redeemed by death and Precious Blood, rejoicing in the opportunity of releasing them from their pains, and bring them to eternal joys.

"But" continued the Saint, "is the labor of those who recite this Psalter acceptable to Thee?" He replied: My love renders it most agreeable to Me; and if a soul is released thereby, I accept it as if I had been Myself delivered from captivity, and I will assuredly reward it at a fitting time, according to the abundance of My mercy. Then she inquired: "How many souls are released by these prayers?" He answered: The number is proportioned to the zeal and fervor of those who pray for them. He added: My love urges Me to release a great number of souls for the prayers of each religious; and at each verse of the Psalm I release many.

As the devotion of the Saint was marvelously excited by this revelation, she immediately commenced the recital of the Psalter, though in a state of extreme weakness. When she had repeated one verse, she asked Our Lord how many souls He had released; and He replied: I am so touched with the fervor of your love, that I have released a soul for each movement of your tongue. For which may sweet Jesus be praised and blessed for endless ages!

Chapter 17. Of the severe sufferings of a soldier. And the efficacy of the Great Psalter.

On another occasion, when Gertrude prayed for the faithful departed, she saw the soul of a certain soldier, who, as I believe, had been dead forty years, and who appeared in a fearful state of suffering. He suffered as if exposed to the very fire of Hell, and was unable to obtain the least assistance from the prayers of the Church. As the Saint marveled at this horrible apparition, she was instructed that the soul had sinned exceedingly when in the world by pride and haughtiness. The effects of his sin were represented by horns, which covered his body; and a slight support, which appeared to prevent him from falling into Hell, indicated some little compunction he had manifested for his crimes, which by the Divine Mercy, had led eventually to his repentance and salvation.

As Gertrude felt great compassion for him, she began to recite the Great Psalter, offering it for his soul's repose; and she had the satisfaction of knowing that her prayers were answered. The soul appeared to her freed from the horrible shape in which he had been tormented, and in the form of a young child, still bearing some marks of suffering, but as joyful as if he had been delivered from Hell and taken up into Heaven. He was not placed with many other souls, who seemed in the same condition. She learned also, that in this place he could benefit by the suffrages of the Church, of which he has been deprived, until Gertrude obtained this deliverance. The souls received him with the tenderest affection, and appeared to prepare a place for him amongst themselves. This induced the Saint to pray very earnestly for them; and she perceived that Our Lord removed them to a place of greater refreshment, whereby they were much consoled.

Then she said to the Lord: "What advantage will our community gain from reciting the Great Psalter?" Our Lord replied: They will gain the advantage which the prophet has declared in these words: "My prayer shall be turned into my bosom (ps.34:13) My liberality and bounty will also grant them the favor of participating in the merit of this Psalter, whenever it is said throughout the world.

On another occasion she said to Our Lord: "O Father of Mercies! If anyone desires to recite this Psalter who cannot give the usual alms, nor obtain the celebration of the Masses which should accompany it, what offering can be substituted for them?" He replied: He should communicate as often as Mass should have been said, and for each alm say a Pater noster, with the prayer Deus, cui proprium est, for the conversion of sinners, doing an act of kindness also for the same intention. Then the saint continued thus: "My God, let me speak once more to Thee, and allow me to ask if there is any shorter prayer which thou wouldst be pleased to receive as a substitution for the Great Psalter?" Our Lord replied; The Psalter may be said by commencing with a prayer for pardon in these words 'In unione illius super coelestis laudis', and by adding the words, Ave Jesu Christ spender, after each verse. The words of this prayer should be said in honor of the love by which I became Man to ransom men; then they should kneel in honor of My Passion, when repeating the words which refer to it, in union with the love with which I, the Creator of all things, submitted to be judged and to suffer by men; then they should stand when repeating the words which commemorate My resurrection and Ascension, in union with that omnipotent power by which conquered, rose victoriously, and ascended into Heaven, to exalt human nature at the right hand of My Father. After this they should recite the Antiphon Salvator mundi, in union with the thanksgivings with which all the Saints rejoiced in My Incarnation, Passion and Resurrection. Lastly, they should receive the Sacrament of My Body for each Mass, and recite the Pastor noster and the Collect |Deus cui for each alms, adding an act of charity towards others. And I will accept this for the Great Psalter.

Chapter 18. Explanation of the Great Psalter, and of the Seven Masses of St. Gregory.

As the great psalter has not been explained in the preceding pages, we subjoin an explanation of it for the benefit of those who may read this work taken from the Exercises of St. Gertrude.

First we must kneel to ask pardon of our sins, saying "O most sweet Lord Jesus, in union with the celestial praises which the Ever-Blessed Trinity renders to Itself as alone worthy of praise, and which It imparts to Thy blessed Humanity, Thy glorious Mother, Thy Angels and Saints, and then returns to the abyss of Thy Divinity, from whence it had flowed forth, I offer Thee this Psalter to Thy praise and glory. I adore Thee, praise Thee, bless Thee, and give Thee thanks, for the love of Thy Incarnation, Thy Birth, the hunger, thirst, labors and griefs of They three-and-thirty years on earth, and for Thy love in giving Thyself to us in the Sacraments of the Altar; and I beseech Thee to unite the recital of this Psalter to the merit of Thy most holy life and conversation, which I offer for the living and the dead, for the souls of N,; and of N,: and I pray Thee to supply for and repair all that they have neglected or omitted in praise, in thanksgiving, in prayer, in devotion, in good works, which by Thy grace they might have accomplished, and in which they have failed by their negligence."

Secondly, having again implored pardon, repeat this prayer: "O most sweet Lord Jesus Christ, I adore Thee and bless Thee, giving thanks to Thee for Thy love in redeeming us by Thy cruel sufferings, and because Thou, the Creator of the universe, wert taken prisoner, bound , betrayed, defamed, cast upon the ground, scourged, crowned with thorns, condemned, crucified, slain cruelly and transfixed with a lance, for love of us. I offer Thee my petitions in union with the love with which Thou didst bear these outrages and indignities; beseeching Thee, by the merit of Thy most Holy Passion and Death, to pardon the sins of those for whom I pray, whether they have offended against Thee by thought, word or deed; and I implore Thee to offer to God the Father all Thy pains and griefs of the body and soul, and the merit of each pain, for those who are still indebted to Thy justice".

Thirdly, repeat the following prayer standing up: "I adore Thee, praise Thee, and bless Thee, O most sweet Lord Jesus Christ, giving Thee thanks for the victorious love by which Thou didst elevate our nature to the right hand of God the Father, after raising it up victoriously from the tomb; and I beseech Thee to grant the souls for whom I pray a participation in Thy victory and triumphs."

Fourthly, after imploring the mercy of God, say: "Savior of the world, save us all: Mary, holy Mother of God and ever Virgin, pray for us. We beseech Thee, by the intercession of all the holy apostles, martyrs, confessors and holy virgins, to keep us from evil, and to lead us to the perfection of all good. O most sweet Lord Jesus, I adore Thee and bless Thee for all the favors Thou hast conferred on Thy blessed Mother and on Thy elect, in union with that gratitude with which Thy Saints rejoice in Thy blessed Incarnation, Passion and Resurrection, beseeching Thee, by the prayers of Thy glorious Virgin Mother and all the Saints, to supply the needs of these souls".

Fiftly, recite the hundred and fifty Psalms of the Psalter devoutly and consecutively, saying, after each verse: "Hail Jesus Christ, Splendor of the Father, Prince of peace, Gate of Heaven, Bread of life, Son of a Virgin, Vessel of the Divinity!" At the conclusion of each Psalm, repeat the following words kneeling: "Eternal rest give to them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them." Then say a hundred and fifty Masses, or have them said or offer as many Communions, or at least fifty or thirty. Give alms also a hundred and fifty times, or, if this is impossible, say the Pater Noster and the Colect Deus cui, performing the same number of acts of charity. In these acts of charity may be included the least kindness done to another for love of God - such as a kind word, or a kind act, or even a fervent prayer.

We also consider it right to say something of the Seven Masses which according to our tradition, were divinely revealed to St. Gregory, as we believe that they will contribute greatly to the relief of the holy souls, through the merit and efficacy of the intercession of Christ. If possible seven lights should be burned at each Mass, in honor of the Passion of Our Lord, and each day fifteen Pater nosters and Ave Marias should be recited, and seven alms given. The Office of the Dead must also be said.

The first Mass is the Domine ne longe, with the entire Passion, as on Palm Sunday; and we should beseech Our Lord, by the contempts which He freely suffered when bound and betrayed in the hands of sinners, that He would deliver those captive souls who, of their own free will, enslaved themselves.

The Second Mass should be Nos autem gloriari, as on the third feria after Palm Sunday (Tuesday in Holy Week), in which we must beseech Our Lord, by His unjust condemnation to death, to deliver the souls justly condemned to punishment by their own act.

The third Mass should be In nomine Domine, as on the fourth feria after Palm Sunday; and by this we must implore Our Lord, by His guiltless suffering when attached to the Cross, to deliver these souls from the punishment which they have deserved by attaching themselves to unworthy pleasures.

The fourth Mass will be Nos autem gloriari with the Passion Egressus est Jesus, as on Good Friday, when we must beseech Our Lord, by His most bitter death and the piercing of His Heart, to heal these souls from the wounds of punishments of sin.

The fifth Mass is the Requiem, at which we must pray Our Lord, by His holy burial, and by the tomb in which He, the Lord of Heaven and earth, was enclosed to deliver these souls from the fate to which they have condemned themselves by their sins.

At the sixth Mass, Resurrexi, we must pray that the souls may be freed from every stain, and made worthy to participate in His glory by the merits of His joyful Resurrection.

At the seventh Mass, Gaudiamus, as on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, let us beseech Our Lord and His most holy Mother, by the joy which she felt on the day of Her Assumption, that by her merits and meditation these souls may be freed from every restraint, and associated forever to the company of their heavenly Spouse.

If you act thus towards others, be assured that your prayer will return into your own bosom, with abundant fruit, at the hour of your death. But, it will be far more advantageous for you to perform this devotion for yourself while you are able, than to trust others after your decease; and God, who is faithful to His promises, will keep it for you, and return it to you in good time, through the bowels of His mercy, who as visited us as the Orient from on high. (Luke 1:78).

Chapter 19. The reward of praying for the dead. And the punishment of disobedience and detractions.

On one occasion, while Mass was celebrating for a poor woman who had died lately, St Gertrude recited five Pater nosters, in honor of Our Lord's Five Wounds for the repose of her soul; and, moved by Divine inspiration, she offered all her good works for the increase of the beatitude of this person. When she had made this offering, she immediately beheld the soul in Heaven, in the place destined for her; and the throne prepared for her was elevated as far above the place where she had been, as the highest throne of the Seraphim is above that of the lowest Angel. The Saint then asked Our Lord how this soul had been worthy to obtain such advantage from her prayers, and He replied: She has merited this grace in three ways; first, because she always had a sincere will and perfect desire of serving Me in religion, if it had been possible; secondly, because she especially loved all religious and all good people; thirdly, because she was always ready to honor me by performing any service she could for them. He added: You may judge, by the sublime rank to which she is elevated, how agreeable these practices are to Me.

A certain religious died who had always been accustomed to pray very fervently for the souls of the faithful departed; but she had failed in the perfection of obedience, preferring her own will to that of her superior in her fasts and vigils. After her decease she appeared adorned with rich ornaments, but so weighed down by a heavy burden, which she was obliged to carry, that she could not approach to God, though many persons were endeavoring to lead her to Him.

As Gertrude marveled at this vision, she was taught that the persons who endeavored to conduct the soul to God were those whom she had released by her prayers; but this heavy burden indicated the faults she had committed against obedience. Then Our Lord said: Behold how those grateful souls endeavor to free her from the requirements of My justice,a and show these ornaments; nevertheless, she must suffer for her faults of disobedience and self will. The Saint replied: "But Lord, did she not repent when admonished of these faults before her death? Did she not perform penance for them? And does not Scripture say, 'When man confesses, God pardons?" Our Lord answered: If she had not acted thus, the burden of her faults would have been so heavy, that she could not scarcely ever have come to Me.

The the Saint beheld her ornament, which appeared like a vessel of boiling water containing hard stone, which must be completely dissolved therein before she could obtain relief from this torment; but in these sufferings she was much consoled and assisted by these souls, and by the prayers of the faithful. After this Our Lord showed St. Gertrude the path by which the souls ascend to Heaven. It resembled a straight plank, a little inclined, so that those who ascended did so with difficulty. They were assisted and supported by hands on either side, which indicated the prayers offered for them. Those who were assisted by the Angels had a great advantage, as they repelled the dragons who flew round it, endeavoring to prevent their prayers. The religious who have lived under obedience were assisted by a kind of railing, placed at each side of this plank, so that they were both supported and protected from falling.

In some places these railings were removed, as a punishment to those superiors who had failed to govern their subjects by the rules of obedience. But all the souls who had been truly obedient were assisted and supported by Angels, who removed every impediment from their path.

A religious, who had listened to murmurs and detractions, appeared to the Saint also under a human form, and was punished by having her ears closed with a hard substance, which she could only remove with great difficulty and by slow degrees; her mouth was also covered with a kind of bridle, for having uttered some detractions, so that she could not taste the Divine sweetness. It was revealed to St Gertrude that this person had sinned through inadvertence and ignorance, and had repented for her fault; but that those who persisted habitually in this sin would be punished far more severely, and their sufferings would be so intense and horrible as to make them objects of aversion to the citizens of Heaven.

"Alas, Lord!" exclaimed the Saint with tears; "formerly Thou did show me the merits of the Saints, and now I only see the punishments of these souls." He replied: Men were then more easily won by gifts of grace; now they must be terrified by threats and judgments.

We will now relay how the Divine Mercy prepared Gertrude for her last end.

Chapter 20. Of the ardent desire of death which our Lord enkindled in the soul of Gertrude.

On the Feast of Blessed Martin, at the Response Beatus Martinus, the Saint cried out to the Lord with burning desire: "O Lord, when will Thou show me a like favor?" He replied: I will soon take you to Myself. These words excited an exceeding desire in her soul to be dissolved and to be with Christ, although she had never felt the same desire before. On the fourth feria (Wednesday) after Easter Sunday, when she had received Communion, she heard Our Lord saying to her: Come My chosen one, that I may enthrone Myself in thee. And she knew that the hour was approaching of which Our Lord had already spoken to her on St Martin's Day, saying 'I will soon take you to Myself'. Our Lord then added: Do not live for yourself during the short time which remains for you, but employ yourself entirely in promoting My glory, according to your own desires. The time of her death was deferred that she might have a longer preparation for it, according to this instruction. For as Scripture tells us that delay increases our desires, so also does it increase our merit.

Once when Gertrude was occupied with these thoughts, on a Sunday, Our Lord said to her: If I granted you at the moment of your death the accomplishment of all the holy desires which you have entertained, it would be little in comparison with the grace I am about to confer on you. Choose, He continued: whether you will die now, or suffer a long sickness first, that you may know something of the infirmities of a protracted illness. The Saint replied: "Lord, do Thou Thy holy will." He answered: You do right to submit to My decision; and if you consent, for My love, to remain longer in the body, I will establish My abode in your heart, as a dove in its nest; and at the same time I will hide you in My Heart, from whence I will lead you forth to eternal joys.

From this moment her desire of departing this life was moderated, and she heard these words continually whispered in her soul: 'My dove, in the clefts if the rock" (Cant 2:14). But her desire returned after a time, and Our Lord said to her: What bride would complain of the time, spent adorning herself for her bridegroom, or regret occasions of increasing his love? For after death the soul cannot merit, neither can it suffer anything for God.

Chapter 21. How Gertrude prayed for death.

Once, as Gertrude received Holy Communion, she found herself so weak that she inquired of the Lord if her end was near. He replied: When a bride hears that there are many messages from her betrothed, treating of the conclusion of their alliance, she begins to prepare herself for it. In like manner when you feel inward suffering and illness, you should begin to prepare for death. "But how shall I know when that desirable hour shall come which will release me from the prison of the flesh?" Our Lord answered: Two of the noblest Angels of the celestial court shall whisper in your ears, through golden trumpets, this melodious song: 'Behold the Bridegroom cometh; go ye forth to meet him. She replied: "And my Lord, in what chariot shall I be taken to behold Thy blessed Face?" He said: My Love will pour itself forth on you and bring you to My Kingdom. "And where shall I repose in this chariot?" Our Lord answered: Your seat will be in confidence in My mercy, from which you must expect every good. "Shall I have reins to guide this chariot?" she inquired. He replied: Your fervent love will supply this need. The Saint continued: "As I know what will be necessary for the journey, I will not inquire further; but I ardently desire to travel on this road." Our Lord answered: Your joys will exceed all you can hope or desire; for whatever may be imagined by My elect as to their future blessedness, will be far exceeded by the reality.

Chapter 22. Of the wounds of Divine love with which the Saint was transfixed.

The Saint heard a brother who preached in the chapel saying, among other things, that love was a golden arrow which obtained all that it touched; and that he was a fool who used this arrow to hunt after earthly pleasures, when he might use it to obtain eternal joys. Then Gertrude exclaimed, in an ardor of love; "Oh, how happy I should be if I possessed this golden arrow, for I would transfix Thee with it, my Beloved, that I might possess Thee eternally!" As she said these words, she beheld Our Lord holding a golden arrow in His Hand, and He said to her: You desire to wound Me; but I will pierce you, so that your wound may never be healed. As He said this, the arrow appeared bent in three places. By this she understood that the arrow of Divine Love wounds in three ways: first, by rendering all earthly pleasures distasteful, so that nothing in this world can afford the soul pleasure or consolation; secondly, by exciting an ardent desire in the soul to be united to God, finding that it cannot breathe or live apart from Him; thirdly, the soul is so transfixed as to be almost separate from the body, and overwhelmed with the torrent of Divine delights.

After this revelation St. Gertrude desired, with a merely human desire to die then in the church where this this favor had been vouchsafed to her, as if the holiness of the place where the body ceased to live would have profited the soul. And as she repeatedly asked to obtain this grace, Our Lord said to her: When your soul goes forth from your body, I will hide you under My paternal care, as a mother would cover and caress her beloved child when terrified by fear of shipwreck. And as the mother would rejoice in the joy of her child when they had reached land in safety, so will I rejoice in your joy when you are safe in Paradise.

The Saint gave thanks to God for all His love, and renounced her former desires, confiding herself entirely to His Divine Providence.

Chapter 23. Our preparations for death are not forgotten before God.

Once, as the Saint implored Our Lord to show her mercy at the hour of death, He replied: How can I fail to accomplish what I have already commenced? She replied: "If Thou hadst taken me out of the world when I thought, by Thy Divine communications, that my end was near, I should have supposed that I was better prepared to die; but now I think that my negligences have rendered me less worthy." Our Lord answered: All things are ordered by the wisdom of My Providence; whatever you have once done is always before Me, and whatever you may add thereto will not be lost.

From this she understood that preparation for death may be long before the event; as a prince prepares for a long time when about to celebrate his nuptials. In the preceding harvest the grain and the grape are stored up in his cellars, so that there may be an abundant supply when they are needed for use; then the event may not be spoken of again until the time approaches although the preparations are made. Thus God incites His elect to prepare for death, though He may not take them out of the world for sometime.

Chapter 24. Exercises in preparation for death. And devotion to the Blessed Virgin.

The following instructions were written by St. Gertrude as a yearly preparation for death: The first day should be employed in considering our state in our last sickness; the second day, in preparation for our last Confession; the third, in meditating on Extreme Unction; the fourth, in preparing for the Holy Viaticum; the fifth, in reflections on death.

This preparation for death, which the Saint taught others, was used also by herself; and she communicated on the preceding Sunday, to obtain graces to perform this exercise devoutly, singing the 41st Psalm, Quemadmodum, for this intention, with the hymn Jesu nostra redemptio, that her soul might be perfectly united to Our Lord. Then Our Lord said to her: Unite yourself to Me, as the prophet Eliseus united himself to the child whom he raised to life. "But, Lord how shall I accomplish this?" inquired the Saint. Our Lord replied: Join your hands to Mine; that is, recommend to Me all the works of your hands: place your eyes on Mine; that is unite the movements of your body to the movements of Mine. Thus your members will become one with Mine, and will participate in their innocence and sanctity, so that henceforth they move only for My glory. And this alliance, which the Saint formed with Our Lord, was like a golden zone, which united her soul indissolubly to her Beloved.

When Gertrude approached the Holy Communion, she remembered that she had not been able to Confess on the preceding day, though she had ardently desired to do so; and she besought Our Lord to pardon her sins and negligences. And as she prayed thus, she beheld Our Lord uniting her to Himself with chains of gold, so that her soul appeared, as it were, enclosed in His Divinity, as a precious stone would be in a golden casket.

The next day, as she her illness increasing, she read the Psalm Quemadmodum twice, with the hymn Jesu nostra redemptio, in honor of the union of the Divinity and Humanity in the person of Christ for our salvation. At the same time, these chains appeared to unite her still more closely to her Lord. The third feria she repeated these devotions three times, in honor of the union of Christ Jesus with the Ever Blessed Trinity, by which human nature is so glorified. On the fourth feria, the day appointed in her exercises for meditation on death - she beheld her soul fastened to the crucifix, like a jewel incased in gold; and she perceived that golden vine-leaves came forth from the cross, the beauty of which was reflected on the gold. From this she understood how pleasing the Passion of Christ, in union with which she had offered her sufferings to Our Lord, had rendered her soul to the Blessed Trinity. On the fifth feria, as she confessed her sins to her Spouse in the bitterness of her heart, she knew that He pardoned them, for she beheld a number of precious stones in the golden vines leaves. On the sixth feria (Friday), as she meditated on the Extreme Unction, Our Lord appeared to her, and anointed her eyes, ears and lips with a liquor which came from His inmost Heart; and this precious liquor also communicated to the different members of her body the merits of the deified Body of Christ.

On Saturday, as she prepared in anticipation for the Holy Viaticum, at the Adorable Sacrifice of the Mass, she saw four angelic princes surrounding the throne of the Divine Majesty. Two of these Angels placed themselves at each side of Our Divine Lord, and the other two came to the Saint and conducted her to her Spouse. Our Lord received her with the greatest tenderness, and then united her to Himself by the life giving Sacrament of the Altar. The Saint occupied herself on Sunday by repeating the prayers which she had composed as a preparation for death, offering Our Lord each member of her body as dead to the world, and desiring henceforth to exist only for His eternal praise and love. After this He blessed her with His own Hand, and marked the Sign of the Cross upon each member of her body, which appeared to glorify them marvelously, and to free them from every stain.

At the Elevation of the Host she offered her heart to Our Lord, that He might make it die to the world; beseeching Him, by the innocence of His most holy life, to free it from every stain of sin, and, by the incomprehensible love which united God to Man in the Divine Person, that He would prepare her to receive His gifts. Our Lord then appeared to her, and opened His Heart with both hands, from which so ardent a fire poured forth that the soul of the Saint was completely dissolved thereby. From this union of her heart with the Heart of her Spouse, a tree sprang forth, adorned with gold and silver leaves; and Our Lord said to her: This tree proceeds from My union with you; My Divinity is figured by the golden leaves, and your soul by the silver leaves, which are enclosed therein. As the Saint prayed for those who were committed to her care, she saw the tree producing ripe and beautiful fruit; and the branches hung down in such a manner, that these persons could gather this fruit as they pleased.

After this, feeling much exhausted, she lay back on her pallet, saying "I offer this rest to Thee as if it were given to Thy sacred Humanity". He replied: And I will supply by My Mercy for all your sins of human frailty.

Then she inquired if her present weakness would be the means of bringing her to eternal rest; and Our Lord replied: I am leading you nearer to Me by this infirmity. For when a king is about to espouse a princess who lives in a distant land, he sends his officers and courtiers to conduct her to him with all possible pomp and magnificence; and they are charged to spare neither pains nor expense to render the journey easy and agreeable to her. When she arrived at her destination, he places her in one of his royal palaces, and gives her a ring as a pledge of espousals. Here she remains, attended with all honor, until the nuptial day, when the king comes for her himself, and conducts her to his imperial throne.

Now I, your Lord and your God, am the true and faithful lover of your soul; and I share in all the pains of body or soul with which you are afflicted, and send My Saints to attend you and congratulate you on this royal road which leads you to Me. The instruments of music and rejoicing are your sufferings, which resound in My ears as an harmonious concert, moving Me to compassionate you, and inclining My Heart more and more toward you. Then, when you arrive at your journey's end, I will meet you and espouse you before all My Saints with a holy embrace, in the Sacrament of Extreme Unction. The sooner you receive this Sacrament, the greater will be your happiness; for then I will approach you nearer and nearer, so that your whole being will be enraptured with the blessedness of My embrace; and I will convey you Myself across the dark river Death, immersing you in the ocean of My Divinity, where you will become one spirit with Me, and reign with Me for endless ages. Then you will be consoled for all the trials and sufferings you have borne when on earth, with the same harmonious music and the same delights as those which now enrapture My deified Humanity.

Our Lord then continued thus: If anyone desires a similar visit in his last moments, let him endeavor daily to clothe himself with My perfect life, and to imitate it continually; let him learn to subdue his flesh and to renounce his own will entirely into My hands; let him live by the Spirit, and believe that I will seek his good in all things by My paternal Providence. Let him offer Me every adversity and contradiction, and for each I will reward him with rich jewels and precious gifts. If, through human frailty, he seeks himself in anything, let him immediately do penance, and once more resign himself to My Will, and I will receive him with the right hand of My mercy, and lead him with ineffable honor and glory to the kingdom of eternal Light.

On the following Sunday, as Gertrude solemnized the feast of her eternal joy, and the happy moment when she should appear before the Ever-Blessed Trinity released from exile, she was ravished in ecstasy, and beheld all the merits and joys of each choir of the Angels and of the different Saints; and as her heart overflowed with joy in considering their blessedness, she returned the most fervent thanks to God for it. She also thanked Him for all the graces, gifts and glory which He had bestowed on the Blessed Virgin His Mother; beseeching her, for the love of Her Son, to offer her virtues for her to the King of virtues.

Then the Queen of Heaven, moved by her prayers, offered her virginal purity for her, as a white garment; her peaceful humility, as a green tunic; and her unfading charity, as a purple mantle. When Our Lord had clothed her in these robes, the Saints, rejoicing in her beauty, prayed that she might be adorned with their graces and virtues also. And He placed a necklace on her, adorned with precious stones, each of which seemed to attract the different graces which had been asked for her. But it must not be understood from this that anyone can receive from others what they have failed to obtain for themselves; nevertheless, some souls may receive for their gratitude what others fail to obtain.

Chapter 25. How our Lord Jesus and all the Saints console the souls of the just in their last moments. And with what love our Lord communicates Himself to His elect in the Sacrament of the Altar.

As Gertrude reflected on death, she exclaimed to our Lord: "How happy and how honored are they who merit to be consoled and strengthened by Thy Saints in their last moments! I am unworthy of this consolation, for I have never honored Thy Saints worthily; therefore I cannot expect consolation from any Saint, save from Thee alone, the Sanctifier of all the Saints". Our Lord replied: You will not be deprived of this consolation because you expect all from Me; on the contrary, My Saints will love and minister to you all the more for it, and at the moment when men usually feel most fear and anxiety, I will send My Saints to assist you, and I will come to you Myself in all the glory and beauty of My Divinity and Humanity. She replied: "And when wilt Thou accomplish Thy promise and bring me from this land of exile to the land of rest?" Our Lord answered: Will a royal bride complain of the applause of the populace if it only increases the love of her bridegroom for her? "But, Lord", continued the Saint, "how can this apply to me, who am the vilest of Thy creatures?" He replied: Know that I communicate Myself to you entirely in the Sacrament of the Altar, which after this life cannot be; and in this union there is more blessedness and delight than in any human love, for that is often vile and transitory; but the sweetness of this union ennobles and dignifies the soul.

Our Lord had often incited the Saint to desire her deliverance from the flesh; and now she became seriously ill, so that the physicians had no hope of her recovery. This intelligence filled her with joy, and she said to Our Lord: "Although I desire above all things, to be delivered from the prison of the flesh, and united to Thee, nevertheless, if it pleases Thee, I would willingly remain on earth and endure the severest suffering, even until the day of judgment". Our Lord replied: Your good will so moves My Divine benignity, that I accept it as if you had accomplished what you offer. As He said this, a marvelous joy appeared in His Divine countenance, which imparted a new and ineffable gladness and consolation to all the Saints. Then He continued: In that hour when I draw you entirely to Myself, the mountains - that is, the Saints, shall drop sweetness; the heavens shall pour honey on the earth, from the abundance of your beatitude; the hills shall flow with milk and honey-that is, I will attract carnal and earthly souls by My grace, for your sake.

Then she began to make fervent thanksgiving for these favors and to excite her gratitude further by reflecting on many graces which Our Divine Lord had promised her. And these favors were: first, a promise that she should die of Divine love, and that her death shall be caused thereby, even as love caused the Death of the Son of God on the Cross; second, that in the adorable counsels of the Ever-Blessed Trinity the Holy Spirit had prepared to preside at her death, and order all that passed within her; third, that all who assisted her in her last illness, or even desired to do so, should themselves be assisted and protected by Divine love in their last moments; fourth, that Our Lord would bestow as many graces on them as it was possible for men to receive; fifth, that in the hour of her happy departure an immense number of sinners should be converted to true penance by the infinite and gratuitous mercy of God; sixth, that an infinite number of souls should be delivered from suffering, and obtain an increase of merit and beatitude, and enter with her into the celestial kingdom; seventh, that whoever besought Our Lord to bestow any grace on her should be rewarded by receiving the same grace themselves; eighth, that whoever returned thanks to God for the graces bestowed on her should receive, sooner or later, according to the decrees of His Providence, all they desired for their salvation, if they observed the following conditions-1) to praise the eternal love of God, who chose her from all eternity; 2) to thank Him for having drawn her so sweetly to Himself; 3) for having united her to Himself so intimately and familiarly: 4) for having blessedly consummated His work in her, and for having granted all her petitions; ninth, that Our Lord had sworn to Gertrude by the truth of His Passion, and confirmed His promise by the seal of His Death, that whoever prayed for her during her life, at her death, or after her death, should receive the most abundant graces and favors, if they had also the intention of including in this prayer all for whom God wished them to pray, if they commenced their petition by offering it through the merit of the infinite love which drew Him down from Heaven to earth to accomplish the work of our salvation and concluded it by offering it in union with His Death, and the glory and triumph with which He presented His adorable Humanity to the Father on the day of His glorious Ascension. Further, He promised that those who prayed thus for her should receive all the graces which they had asked for her, as if they had made themselves worthy of obtaining them.

Chapter 26. Of the sweet repose which the Saint enjoyed ; and how she satisfied for her negligences.

Some time after this Our Lord appeared to her; and seemed as if He was preparing couch on which she might repose; but instead of a soft bed of feathers, He displayed before her, as it were, all the sufferings which He had endured on the Cross for the salvation of men, that its salutary fruit might prepare her soul for eternal life. The pillow which He offered to support her head was the dolors of His most sweet Heart when He hung upon the Cross, and remembered how unavailing all His sufferings would be for so many souls. As a mattress for this couch, He offered her His abandonment and contempt in His Passion, the infidelity of His friends towards One who of all friends the most faithful, His cruel binding, mocking and contempt. Lastly, He offered her the merits of His Most Precious Death as a coverlet, that she might be sanctified thereby, according to the good pleasure of His Divine Mercy.

As Gertrude reposed therein sweetly, the Heart of Our Lord, in which all treasures are hidden, appeared to her as a mystical garden of exceeding beauty, in which all the desires of His Holy Humanity were represented under the figure of an exquisite verdure, and all His thoughts as violets and lilies. The virtues of Our Divine Lord were figured by a fruitful vine, like that of Engaddi, whose grapes were of so delicious a sweetness. This vine extended its branches and leaves round the Saint, affording her the most agreeable shade and refreshment; and Our Lord gave her fruit, that is, His virtues, from the different branches of this tree, causing her also to drink the delicious wine which it produced.

Then she beheld three pure fountains springing forth in the Divine Heart, which emptied themselves miraculously into each other; and Our Lord said to her: You will drink from these rivulets so efficaciously at the hour of your death, that your soul will attain such perfect health and such consummate perfection as to be unable to remain longer in the body; in the meantime, let this delightful vision serve for your spiritual adornment. Then she besought the Eternal Father to look upon her for the sake of the holy Humanity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, to purify her from all sin, and to adorn her with His Divine Virtues; and she knew that her prayers were heard. After this she prayed thus: " O most loving Father, give me Thy most loving benediction:" and the Lord extended His omnipotent Hand, and blessed her with the Sign of the Cross. Then this benediction appeared like a golden tent, which covered the couch already mentioned; and she saw also many instruments of music placed therein, which signified the joys she obtained through the Passion of Jesus Christ.

These heavenly delights changed her sufferings into joy, and as she now occupied herself entirely with her own perfection, she began to compose some short and fervent prayers, to supply for her negligence in reciting the Canonical Hours, the Office of the Blessed Virgin and the Office of the Dead. She also had desired to supply for her deficiencies in certain virtues, such as the love of God and her neighbor, humility, chastity, obedience, consideration for others, thanksgiving, rejoicing or grieving with others, ect. Then she endeavored to supply for the negligence of which she believed herself guilty in the Divine praises, in thanksgiving, in prayers and in reparation, not only for herself, but also for the whole Church.

Nor was she satisfied with this reparation; for she desired for each fault, and for each member of her body, to recite twenty-five short prayers, adding at the end of every petition the Pater noster and Ave Maria, for which she had a special devotion; and these prayers not only moved the heart of man, but even touched the very King of Glory, who rejoiced thereat exceedingly; and although the Saint had a most perfect confidence in the promises related above, which our Divine Lord had made to her, nevertheless her humility urged her to labor for their fulfillment, by her own earnest cooperation with Divine grace. She also perused her holy Rule with extreme diligence, seeking to supply for her omissions in its observance by her prayers. sighs, and tears; so that she not only satisfied for any fault she might have committed therein, but obtained also new ornaments and graces from God. Then she applied all the powers of her soul and body to higher things, praying with exceeding fervor, ardently desiring a perfect and eternal union with her God, uniting her devotion to the mutual love and ineffable granulations (i.e., congratulations) of the Ever-Blessed Trinity, and repeating the verse, "When wilt Thou come? my soul thirsteth for Thee," with the words "o most loving Father" (The last words she had learned in a marvelous manner, and she knew that they were most acceptable to God).

She repeated these prayers continually, unless her bodily weakness was so great as to prevent it; and she offered the reparation also, if her soul was not attracted to a more sublime prayer. The consolations vouchsafed to her were so abundant, that they were imparted even to those who attended her, so that many sought to be near her to obtain her instructions, and to learn these prayers from her. Hence, most fervent prayer was made for her recovery, or even that her death might be retarded; and God, who hears the desires of the humble, granted this favor and spared her a little longer to those who loved her so tenderly, affording her also an opportunity of increasing her merit.

The verse above mentioned is here subjoined -

"Amongst a thousand still desired, When wilt Thou come, O Jesus mine? When wilt Thou fill my soul with Thee, Which knows no joy on earth but Thine?

"Oh come! Oh, come! Most mighty King; Father of boundless power and praise: Thy joy is light, Thy light is joy. Oh hasten, Lord, life's passing days.

"Thou thinkest thoughts of tenderest love, Sparing our sins, and giving place To mercy; sweetest, dearest Lord. O come; I long to see Thy Face."

Chapter 27. Bow the Saint supplied for her negligences in the service of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

As the Saint occupied herself in making these reparations, she grieved exceedingly for her omissions in devotion to the Blessed Virgin, and she besought Our Lord to offer her prayers Himself to His Blessed Mother. Then the King of Glory, arose and offered her His deified Heart, saying: Behold, My beloved Mother, I present You My Heart, which abounds in all beatitude, and I offer You all the Divine affections by which I predestinated, created and sanctified you from all eternity to be My Mother; with the love and tenderness which I manifested to You on earth, when You carried Me in your bosom and nourished Me with your milk, and the fidelity with which I subjected Myself to You as a Son to a Mother, and especially My tenderness towards You in the hour of death, when I provided you with a faithful guardian, forgetting My own sorrows. I offer You the glory and honor to which I elevated you on the day of your Assumption into Heaven, where You were exalted above all the choirs of Saints and Angels, and proclaimed Queen and mistress of Heaven and earth. I offer You once more all these tokens of My love, as if I presented them to You anew, in favor of My spouse, that You may overlook her negligences in your regard, and assist her at the hour of her death with all the tenderness of a Mother.

Then the Blessed Virgin accepted this charge with the greatest of pleasure saying: Grant, my beloved Son, when I receive Thy chosen spouse, according to Thy Divine good pleasure, that she may receive some of the over-flowing delights which I enjoy. The goodness of the Lord towards her moved Gertrude deeply, and she exclaimed: "Alas, my most loving Lord! I am grieved that I have not satisfied for my negligences in reciting the Canonical Hours in like manner, since Thy inconceivable goodness receives so graciously my poorest efforts." Our Lord replied: Do not be grieved, My beloved; for I have renewed all your desires, in union with that love which prompted My Divine Heart to infuse into you these noble and loving aspirations; and I have united to this the most devout and pure intention which any human heart could offer Me, presenting it to My Father in satisfaction for all your negligences, so that His paternal goodness inclines towards you with the tenderest affection.

Chapter 28. How Gertrude prepared for death.

Every Friday, at the hour of None, St Gertrude retired apart from all creatures, in order to devote herself to preparation for death, and especially to recite the prayers for the agonizing. After she had practiced this devotion for some time, Our Lord rewarded her by a special grace. On one of these occasions she was rapt in ecstasy, and Our Lord manifested to her the manner of her death. She beheld herself reposing in the arms of Our Lord, under the form of a fair young maiden, in her agony; and at the same time she saw an immense number of Saints and Angels surrounding her, with censers in their hands, in which they offered the prayers of the Church with great joy to the King of Glory. When they invoked the Blessed Virgin by the Antiphon Salve Maria, Our Lord made a sign to His Blessed Mother to console His elect; and the Queen of Virgins appeared in marvelous radiance, and supported the head of the dying person. Her guardian Angel also appeared under the figure of an illustrious prince who came to congratulate her on her happiness.

As she invoked the Archangel St. Michael, she beheld the glorious chief of the angelic hosts, with a multitude of Angels, all prepared to assist her and to combat the demons, whom she also saw under hideous forms, but so weak and powerless that they could not do her the slightest injury; and this afforded her the greatest consolation. A column of light appeared to proceed from the lips of the dying person to the very throne of God; and this had such virtue, that it was apparent even the angelic guard was not needed to defend her against the demons, for it caused them such terror that they endeavored to fly and conceal themselves.

As each of the Saints was invoked in the Litany of the Dying, he appeared ready to assist her. The Patriarchs had branches in their hands, from which their good works were suspended in place of fruit; and these they placed round her. The Prophets bore golden mirrors, on which were depicted the sublime revelations which God has imparted to them; and these they also offered for her assistance, placing them opposite to her. The beloved disciple St. John came next and presented her with two golden rings; each Apostle who followed presented one also, and these rings represented the fidelity which the soul had towards Our Divine Lord.

The Martyrs followed, holding golden palms in their hands, which shone radiantly with all their sufferings. The Confessors had golden flowers, which represented their virtues: and these they also presented to her. The Virgins offered her roses, the stalks of which had little crooks of gold, which signified the close union with the Lord which they enjoyed on account of their purity; and the Lord Jesus, a King and Spouse of virgins, was adorned with a robe covered with the same number of roses as there were virgins, who appeared to communicate in His merits by these golden crooks, which fastened the flowers to His robe; these crooks also represented the particular virtue of each virgin.

Then the Lord, seeing that Gertrude was adorned with the flowers of each virgin, inclined toward her, to bestow on her as many graces as there were ties which attached her to Him; and thus she experienced something of the happiness of these blessed souls. The Widows and the other Saints then brought their offerings in the form of golden caskets; and all the merits which had been offered for her, by an admirable communication, became her own, so that her soul shone resplendently before God.

The holy Innocents also had their share in this festival, to honor the Lord who had purchased them with His Precious Blood, and made them heirs of His Kingdom. They seemed however, to have less merit of their own, but their souls were marvelously adorned by the union of their innocence with the innocence of Jesus Christ. Then the Son of God inclined towards Gertrude and embraced her lovingly, absorbing her into Himself as the sun, in its meridian splendor, absorbs a dewdrop, so that her soul was as it were, received into the Heart of her Spouse with all the virtues and merits which had been conferred on her, and she was surrounded and penetrated by Him as fire inflames.

Chapter 29. How our Lord authorised this work.

After this work was finished, Our Lord Jesus appeared to her who had completed it, holding it in His hand; and pressing it to His Heart, He said to her: I have placed this book thus upon My Heart, that every word contained therein may be penetrated with Divine Sweetness even as honey penetrates bread. Therefore, whoever reads this book devoutly will receive great profit for his salvation. Then she besought Our Lord to preserve this book from all error for His own glory, and He extended His adorable Hand, signing it with the Sign of the Cross, saying: I consecrate by My benediction all that is written in this book, that it may promote the salvation of those who read it with a humble devotion. He added: The labor of those who have written this book is also most agreeable to Me, particularly in three things: first, I taste therein the sweetness of My Divine love, by which all this is related therein has been effected; second, I am exceedingly pleased with the good will of those who wrote it; third, I contemplate with singular pleasure My gratuitous mercy, which appears in all that is written in this book. I desire, therefore, that this work should be fructified by My most holy Life and My Five Wounds; and the Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost shall be the seven seals of Divine Mercy with which it had been sealed, so that none may be able to take it out of My Hand.

On another occasion, when the complier of this book communicated, she had it hidden in the sleeve of her habit, under her mantle, to offer it to Our Lord for His eternal praise and glory. As she prostrated before receiving the Body of the Lord, one of the religious saw Our Lord approaching her with great manifestations of joy and tenderness; and He addressed her thus: I will penetrate with My Divine sweetness and fertilize every word of this book which you have offered Me, and which you have written by the direction of My Spirit; and I will manifest to whoever reads this book with humble love what will be most useful for him, and will take him into My bosom, breathing into his soul life and truth. But if anyone reads it through vain curiosity, and a desire to pry into My secrets to censure and mock them, I will assuredly humble and cast him down shamefully.

Chapter 30. Oblation of this work to the Divine glory. Conclusion.

I offer Thee this work, O Lord Jesus Christ, Fount of eternal light, in union with that inessable charity which moved Thee, the Only-begotten of the Father, in the plenitude of the Divinity, to take upon Thee our nature, and to become Man. I offer it to Thee on the part of all creatures, because it is Thine ineffable tenderness for mankind which caused Thee to pour forth those sweet and efficacious graces on the heart of Thy chosen spouse, to fructify them, to draw her to Thyself, and to unite her to Thee eternally.

I beseech Thee to take this work into Thy Divine keeping, that it may glorify the omnipotence of the Father, the wisdom of the Son and the love of the Holy Ghost. I offer it to Thee in fervent thanksgiving for all the graces which Thou hast communicated or wilt communicate through this work, even to the end of time. And as I am an utterly vile and unworthy creature, I offer Thee, in satisfaction for all my deficiencies and omissions, my blindness and ignorance, Thy own sweetest Heart, ever full of Divine thanksgiving and eternal beatitude. Amen.

Deo gratias.

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Gertrude the Great: Wikipedia.

St. Gertrude the Great, by Gilbert Dolan, 1913.

St. Gertrude: Iconography.

Christianity: Mysticism. DMOZ

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