Chapter 16: For the Second Sunday in Lent

ion of the merits of Jesus Christ for th Church.

ON the Sunday Reminiscere St Gertrude, being favoured

Of the oblation of the merits of Jesus Christ for the sins of the Church.

with singular marks of the love and tenderness of her Spouse, such as no human being could describe, besought our Lord to indicate some practice which might be profit able during this week. Our Lord replied: "Bring Me two good 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 honour 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 ;t 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 sweetest 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 gratuit ous 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 re ceive 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 favour and grace.

This prayer may be offered to God during this week to obtain the pardon of our sins and omissions, and in satis faction 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.