Chapter 54: For the Feast of St. Michael

Of the faithful care which the angels have of us, and how we should honour them.

As the Feast of St. Michael * approached, St. Gertrude prepared herself for Holy Communion by meditating on the care which the angels had of her, by the Divine command, notwithstanding her unworthiness ; and as she desired to render some return to them, she offered in their honour the life-giving Body and Blood of Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament, saying : " I offer Thee this most august Sacra ment, 0 most loving Lord, for Thy eternal glory, in honour of the princes of Thy kingdom, and for the increase of their felicity and beatitude. Then our Lord drew this oblation to Himself in an ineffable manner, thereby causing the greatest joy to these angel spirits, who appeared even as if they had never before experienced such blessedness and superabounded in delights. Then each of the choirs of angels, according to their rank, inclined respectfully before St. Gertrude, saying : " Thou hast indeed honoured us by this oblation, and we will therefore guard thee with special care ; " the guardian angels adding : We will guard thee night and day with ineffable joy, and will prepare thee for thy Spouse with the utmost vigilance.

Then, as she returned thanks to God for this favour with great jubilation of spirit, she recognised her own angel guardian, and he appeared to her as a prince mag nificently attired, standing between her soul and God, and endeavouring to unite and elevate her soul to God. She then offered some special devotion in his honour which he presented to the Ever-Blessed Trinity under the form of roses. The Archangels now saluted the Saint, saying to her : " O illustrious * spouse of Christ, we will discover to you the Divine secrets, according to your capacity of receiving them." The Virtues then said : " We will assist you in your labours, writings, and meditations for the glory of God." The Dominations said : " Since our Lord, the King of Glory, takes pleasure in your soul, and that you return Him love for love, we will offer for you the honour which you owe to His Sovereignty to supply for your deficiencies." The Principalities next addressed her, saying : " We will present you to the King of kings, adorned according to His Heart." The Powers added : " Since your Beloved is so blessedly united to you, we will continually remove every impediment, whether exterior or. interior, which might in terrupt His Divine communications, in imparting blessings to the Church, and rejoicing the heavenly court. For the prayers of one loving soul prevail more with God, both for the living and the dead, than the prayers of a thousand souls who love less."

Then St. Gertrude returned profound thanks to God for all these favours, and for many others which human frailty prevents us from relating ; but all are known to God.

464 THE KEVELAT10NS OP ST. GERTRUDE.