Chapter 39: For the Sunday after Ascension. How to prepare ourselves worthily to receive the Holy Ghost

As the Feast of Pentecost was now approaching, St. Ger trude besought our Lord, at Communion on this day, to prepare her to receive these four virtues — purity of heart, humility, tranquillity, and concord. As she prayed for purity, she perceived that her heart was whiter than snow ; as she asked for humility, she saw our Lord prepare a cave in her soul to receive His graces ; when she asked for tranquillity, she saw Him surround her heart with a golden circle, to preserve it from the snares of her enemies ; then she said to Him : " Alas, my Lord ! I fear that I shall soon ruin this rampart of tranquillity : for as soon as I see anything which I know to be contrary to Thy will, I cannot conceal my resentment, and oppose it vehemently." To this our Lord replied : " This emotion will not disturb a holy tranquillity, but rather adorns it ; strengthening in you, as it were, so many barriers across which the burning love of the Holy Ghost breathes more efficaciously, and refreshes your soul more sweetly."

She then asked our Lord for the virtue of concord, and He crowned with this virtue all the other virtues which the Holy Spirit had imparted to her ; but as she feared that if she suffered many contradictions on account of her zeal for regular observance, they would prove an occasion of losing this precious grace, the Lord replied : " The virtue of concord is not injured when men oppose injustice ; and I Myself will restrain your zeal, so that you may be entirely conformed in all things to the operations of My Divine Spirit." Then she understood that whoever prays devoutly to God for the same virtues, in order to prepare a dwelling for the Holy Spirit, and tries to advance in them every day by practising them faithfully, will receive the same advantages.