Chapter 17: Of the severe sufferings of a soldier —And the efficacy of the Great Psalter

ON another occasion, when Gertrude prayed for the faith ful departed, she saw the soul of a certain soldier, who, as I believe, had been dead forty years, and who appeared in a fearful state of suffering. He suffered as if exposed to the very fire of hell, and was unable to obtain the least assistance from the prayers of the Church. As the Saint marvelled at this horrible apparition, she was instructed that the soul had sinned exceedingly when in the world by pride and haughtiness. The effects of his sin were re presented by horns, which covered his body ; and a slight support, which appeared to prevent him from falling into hell, indicated some little compunction he had manifested for his crimes, which, by the Divine mercy, had led even tually to his repentance and salvation.

As Gertrude felt great compassion for him, she began to recite the Great Psalter, offering it for his soul's repose ; and she had the satisfaction of knowing that her prayers were answered. The soul appeared to her freed from the horrible shape in which he had been tormented, and in the form of a young child, still bearing some marks of suffering, but as joyful as if he had been delivered from hell and taken up into heaven. He was now placed with many other souls, who seemed in the same condition. She learned also, that in this place he could benefit by the suffrages of the Church, of which he had been deprived, until

Gertrude obtained this deliverance. The souls received him with the tenderest affection, and appeared to prepare a place for him amongst themselves. This induced the Saint to pray very earnestly for them ; and she perceived that our Lord removed them to a place of greater refreshment, whereby they were much consoled.

Then she said to the Lord : " What advantage will our community gain from reciting the Great Psalter ? " Our Lord replied : " They will gain the advantage which the prophet has declared in these words : " My prayer shall be turned into my bosom (Ps. xxxiv. 13) ; My liberality and bounty will also grant them the favour of participating in the merit of this Psalter, whenever it is said, throughout the world."

On another occasion she said to our Lord : " 0 Father of Mercies ! if any one desires to recite this Psalter who cannot give the usual alms, nor obtain the celebration of the Masses which should accompany it, what offering can be substituted for them ] " He replied : " He must com municate as often as Mass should have been said, and for each alms say a Pater noster, with the prayer Deus, cui proprium est for the conversion of sinners, doing an act of kindness also for the same intention." Then the Saint continued thus : " My God, let me speak once more to Thee, and allow me to ask if there is any shorter prayer which thou wonldst be pleased to receive as a substitu tion for the Great Psalter ? " Our Lord replied : " The Psalter may be said by commencing with a prayer for par don in these words : In miione illius super coelestis laudis^ f See next chapter, the first prayer of which commences with these words.

and by adding the words, Ave Jesu Christ e splendor, after each verse. The words of this prayer should be said in honour of the love by which I became Man to ransom men ; then they should kneel in honour of My Passion, when repeating the words which refer to it, in union with the love with which I, the Creator of all things, submitted to be judged and to suffer by men ; then they should stand when repeating the words which commemorate My Resur rection and Ascension, in union with that omnipotent power by which I conquered, rose victoriously, and ascended into heaven, to exalt human nature at the right hand of My Father. After this they should recite the Antiphon Salvator mundi, in union with the thanksgivings with which all the saints rejoiced in My Incarnation, Passion, and Resur rection. Lastly, they should receive the Sacrament of My Body for each Mass, and recite the Pater noster and the Collect Deus cui for each alms, adding an act of charity towards others. And I will accept this for the Great Psalter."