Chapter 28: For Easter Monday

That God takes an exact account of our merits ; and how they aro enriched by the merits of Christ.

ON Easter Monday, as St. Gertrude besought our Lord before communicating that He would be pleased to sup ply, by the merits of this august Sacrament, for her past negligences 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 con vent — the 6rst 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 to the most trifling particulars ; and the end for which she had performed each action was also most carefully marked, whether for her own salvation, for the glory of God, or for the good of others. Her 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 : thesa 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 imperfec tion 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 " (Ez. xviii. 22), there still remain some marks of our faults, that we may be reminded to praise His goodness for having par doned them, and for having poured forth His favours 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 iu us all the good we do.