Chapter 16: A vision in -which St. Gertrude beheld our Lord communicating the sisters

ON a Sunday on which fell both the Feast of St. Lawrence and that of the dedication of the church of the monastery, the Saint, having begun to pray during the first Mass for some persons who had recommended themselves to her prayers, perceived a green vine-branch which came forth from the throne of God, and descended to the earth ; and by its foliage, as by steps, one could ascend from the bottom to the top. She understood that this mystic ladder was a symbol of faith, by which the elect mount up to heaven ; and as she saw many of her sisters assembled at the summit of this vine, on the left side of the throne of God, amongst whom Jesus Christ stood with extreme pleasure in presence of His heavenly Father, the hour ap proached at which the community would have communi cated, if they had not been hindered by the interdict ; and she desired ardently that she and those present might receive this life-giving Sacrament, which, by an incompre hensible secret of the Divine goodness, gives life to men, despite all the obstacles which are opposed to it.

After this, she saw Jesus Christ holding a Host in His hand, which He plunged into the Heart of God His Father ; and when He drew it forth, it seemed as if coloured ver milion or tinged with blood. Gertrude was amazed at this, and marvelled much what it might signify, the more so because red is a symbol of the Passion, and the Eternal Father could never have any marks of suffering. Being thus entirely absorbed in meditating on what she saw, she forgot to ask for the accomplishment of her desires; but soon after she knew, without perceiving in what manner it was effected, that the Lord had chosen for the place of His dwelling and repose the hearts and souls of all her sisters •whom she had seen assembled around the throne of God» The Saint now remembered a person who had recommended herself to her prayers before Mass with great humility and devotion, and she prayed God to grant her a share in these favours. He replied, that no one could ascend thus unless she was elevated by confidence, of which the person for whom she prayed had but little. The Saint replied : " It seems to me, my God, that the want of confidence in this person proceeds from a humility, on which Thou dost usually pour forth Thy most abundant graces." Our Lord answered : " I will descend now, and communicate Myself to this soul and to all who are in the valley of self-abase ment." Then the Son of God, the Lord and Master of all virtues, appeared to descend suddenly by a crimson lad der, and soon after she beheld Him at the altar of the church of the monastery, clothed with pontifical vestments, and bearing in His Hands a pix like those in which the con secrated Hosts alone are reserved, and He remained seated before the priest until the Preface of the Mass.

A multitude of angels attended Him, so that the whole church on the northern side, which was to the right side of the Lord, seemed filled with them ; and these blessed spirits testified a particular joy in visiting the place where their fellow-citizens, the religious of the monastery, had so often addressed their prayers to God. On the left — that is, on the south, side — there was but one choir of angels, who were followed by a choir of apostles, a choir of martyrs, a choir of confessors, and a choir of virgins, each apart Gertrude, beholding so august an assembly, and reflecting that, according to Scripture, it is purity which brings us nearest to God, perceived between the Lord and the choir of virgins rays of light, shining like snow, which united these holy virgins more closely than the other saints to their Spouse, by the ravishing sweetness of His caresses and intimacy.

She also perceived rays of a most brilliant light, which were shed upon some members of the community, as if there were no obstacle between them and God ; although they were materially separated from the church where she beheld this mysterious apparition. And though the Saint was filled with an extreme joy during this rapture, she was still solicitous for the sisters, and said to God : " Lord, since Thou hast been pleased to pour forth on me the free gifts of Thine ineffable love, what wilt Thou give to those who are engaged in exterior duties ? " He replied : " I will anoint them with balsam, though they seem to sleep." Gertrude was surprised at this, and could not understand how those who did not give themselves to a contemplative life should receive nevertheless the same reward as those who were entirely devoted to it. Then, as she began to examine into the quality of these perfumes of which the Son of God had spoken, by comparing them to balm and aromatic ointments, — a small portion of which will suffice to preserve the body from corruption, whether it is em balmed before or after the sleep of death, so that it has received this unction, — she was enlightened in her difficulty by this familiar comparison : namely, that when any one partakes of food, every member of his body is strengthened and nourished by it, although the mouth alone perceives the delicacy of the viand ; so when God, by an excess of

His mercy, grants any special grace to one of His elect, all participate in it ; and principally those who are united by the ties of community, where they receive an increase and superabundance of merit; and they only <ire excluded from this benefit who exclude themselves by their jealousy or ill-will.

Then, as the Gloria in excelsis was intoned, the Sovereign Pontiff, our Lord Jesus Christ, breathed towards heaven, to the honour of His Eternal Father, a breath like a burning flame. And at the words : Et in terrd pax hominibus bonce voluntatis, He breathed upon those who were present a white light, bright as snow. At the words of the Preface, Sursum corda, the Son of God arose, and by an efficacious attraction drew towards Himself all who were present. Then turning towards the east, assisted by an infinite number of angels, He stood and raised His hands, and offered to God Hia Father, through the words of the Preface, the prayers of the faithful. After this, when they began the Agnus Dei, the Lord rose before the altar, with all the power of His ma jesty ; communicating Himself, at the second Agnus Dei, by an impenetrable effect of His wisdom, to the souls of all the assistants ; at the third Agnus Dei, withdrawing into Himself, He offered in His own person to God His Father all their prayers and desires. Then pouring forth again His sweetness, He gave the pax with His own blessed lips to all the saints who were present ; honouring with singular favour the company of virgins, offering this kiss both to their lips and their hearts.

After this, pouring forth the torrents of His love, He gave Himself to the community, with these words : "I am all yours ; therefore, let each enjoy Me as she desires/' Then Gertrude replied to her Spouse : " Lord, now that I am satiated with Thy incredible delights, it seems to me that Thou art still too far from me when Thou reposest on the altar ; therefore, for the benediction of this Mass, unite my soul so to Thee that I may feel it is bound to Thee." This the Lord accomplished in such a manner that she knew by her union with her Spouse how pleasing her desire was to Him.