Chapter 46: For the Feast of St. Margaret, Viryin and Martyr

The glory of this Saint, and of the recompense which God reserves for the least good action.

As St. Gertrude assisted at Vespers, on the Festival of the glorious virgin St. Margaret, she appeared to her in exceeding beauty, standing before the throne of God at the commencement of the Response Virgo veneranda, rays of light appeared to come forth from the King of Glory, which renewed and enhanced the merit of the virginity and beauty of the Saint, even as the touches of a painter enhance the perfection of his work. At the words In magna stans constantia, a ray from the light of the Passion increased the merits of her martyrdom. And as the words Sponisqut reddens prcemia * were chanted, our Lord turned to His spouse, the blessed Margaret, and said lovingly to her : '; My daughter, have I not increased your merits to the highest degree ? and yet I am asked to increase them further." Then He united together all the devotions oC those who had solemnised this Feast, to enhance the glory of this most blessed virgin.

After this St. Margaret turned to Gertrude, and said to her : " Rejoice and be glad, 0 elect of my Lord ! for as suredly, after the short term of your affliction on earth, you shall rejoice for all eternity in heaven, where the brief moments of temporal affliction and bitterness which you have endured shall be recompensed by endless years of sweetness and consolation : and all that you suffer now, either in body or soul, is an effect of the special love which God bears you, since you are daily more and more favoured with such sufferings, and you are thereby more prepared for the joys of eternity. Consider," she continued, " that on the day on which I obtained the glory which I now enjoy, instead of being honoured as I now am by the whole world, I was despised by all, and thought miserable and nfflicted. Have, therefore, this firm confidence — that, when this life has ended, you will infallibly enjoy the eternal embraces of your Spouse, and those joys and de lights which neither eye hath seen nor ear heard, and which it hath not entered into the heart of man to con ceive."