Chapter 53: How we may profit by the merit of others

Gertrude was requested by a person, when she offered to God all the gratuitous gifts with which He had favoured her, to ask that she might have a share in their merit. As she prayed thus, she perceived this person standing before the Lord, who was seated on His throne of glory, and held in His hand a robe magnificently adorned, which He pre sented to her, but still without clothing her in it. The Saint, being surprised at this, said to Him : " When I made a similar offering to Thee, a few days since, Thou didst at once take the soul of the poor woman for whom I prayed to the joys of paradise ; and why, most loving Lord, dost Thou not now clothe this person with the robe which Thou hast shown her, and which she so ardently desires, through the merits of the graces Thou hast bestowed on me, though so unworthy of them 1 " Our Lord answered : " When any thing is offered to Me for the faithful departed, I immedi ately use it for them, according to My natural inclination to show mercy and pardon, either for the remission of their sins for their consolation, or for the increase of their eternal felicity, according to the condition of those for whom the offering is made. But when a similar offering is made for the living, I keep it for their benefit, because they

In immarcessibili seternitatis mcse vernantiA."

2/)4 THE REVELATIONS OF ST. GERTRUDE.

can still increase their merit by their good works, by their good desires, and by their good will; and it is only reasonable that they should endeavour to acquire by their labour what they desire to obtain through the intercession of others.

" Therefore, if she for whom you pray desires to be clothed with your merits, she must study these three things : First, she must receive this robe with humility and gratitude — that is to say, she must acknowledge humbly that she has need of the merits of others — and she must ren der Me fervent thanksgivings for having deigned to supply her poverty out of their abundance ; secondly, she must take this robe with faith and hope — that is, hoping in My goodness, she must believe that she will receive thereby a great assistance to her eternal salvation ; thirdly, let her clothe herself in charity, exercising herself in this and in other virtues. Let all those who desire a share in the merits and virtues of others act in like manner, if they would profit thereby."