Chapter 6: The co-operation of the faithful soul at the Holy Sacrifice— Five favours on which the Saint was desired to meditate, when unable to assist at it

ON the Feast of St. Maurice, as the celebrant pronounced the secret words of consecration, St. Gertrude said to our Lord : " Lord, the mystery which Thou dost now operate is so tremendous and so great, that I scarcely dare to breathe or speak ; it is enough for me to hide myself in the deepest valley of humility which I can find, expecting my share in the salvation which Thou dost there impart to Thine elect." Our Lord replied : " When a mother wishes to do some work with pearls and precious stones, she some times places her child in an elevated place to hold her thread or her pearls, or to do her some other service ; so I have placed you in an eminent position to dispose of the merits of this Mass ; and if you elevate your will even to desire willingly to suffer all kinds of labour and pain, in order that this sacrifice, which is so salutary for all Christians, whether living or dead, may be fully accom plished in all its excellence, you will then have contributed, according to the extent of your ability, to the accom plishment of My work."

Once, when the Saint was confined to bed, and unable to assist at Mass, at which she had hoped to have com municated, she said to God with a troubled spirit : " To what must I attribute my hindrance from assisting to-day at the Holy Mysteries, if not to Thy Divine Providence, my Beloved ? — and how shall I prepare myself to receive the Communion of Thy adorable Body and Blood, since my intention at Mass always seemed to me my best prepara tion ? " " Since you attribute the cause to Me," replied our Lord, "to console you, I will make you hear the songs of joy with which heaven resounds when I espouse a soul.

" Hear, then, from Me, that my Blood is your redemp tion j meditate on those three-and-thirty years during which I laboured for you in exile, and sought only to ally Myself with you ; and let this serve for the first part of Mass.

" Hear me telling you how I have dowered you with the riches of My Spirit, and that even as I endured so much bodily labour during the three-and-thirty years in which I sought you, so also My soul feels an ineffable joy at the union and spiritual marriage which we have con tracted ; and let this be your consolation during the second part of Mass.

" Listen, then, to Me, while I tell you how you are re plenished with My Divinity, which has the power to make you taste the purest delights and the most ravishing sweet ness inwardly, whilst exteriorly you are suffering the se verest pain. This will serve for the third part of Mass.

" Hear, further, how you are sanctified by My love ; know that you have nothing of yourself, and that all which renders you agreeable to Me conies from Me. Occupy your self with these thoughts during the fourth part of Mass.

" Lastly, hear that you have been united * to Me in the sublimest manner ; and know that, as ' all power has been given to Me in heaven and on earth,' I cannot be hindered

;Couglutinatione.' from exalting you, as a king exalts his queen to his throne, and consequently renders her an object of respect. Rejoice, then, in reflecting on these things, and do not complain again that you have been deprived of hearing Mass."