Chapter 26: Of the sweet repose which the Saint eujoyed ; and how she satisfied for her negligences

Some time after this our Lord Jesus appeared to her, and seemed as if He was preparing a couch on which she might repose ; but, instead of a soft bed of feathers, He displayed before her, as it were, all the sufferings which He had endured on the cross for the salvation of men, that its salutary fruit miirht prepare her soul for eternal life. The pillow which He offered to support her head was the dolours of His most sweet Heart when He hung upon the cross, and remembered how unavailing all His sufferings would be for BO many souls. As a mattress for this couch, He offered her His abandonment and contempt in His Passion, the infidelity of His friends towards One who was of all friends the most faithful, His cruel binding, mocking, and contempt. Lastly, He offered her the merits of His most precious Death as a coverlet, that she might be sanctified thereby, according to the good pleasure of His Divine mercy.

As Gertrude reposed therein sweetly, the Heart of our Lord, in which all treasures are hidden, appeared to her as a mystical garden of exceeding beauty, in. which all the desires of His holy Humanity were represented under the figure of an exquisite verdure, and all His thoughts as violets and lilies. The virtues of our Divine Lord were figured by a fruitful vine, like that of Engaddi, whose grapes were of so delicious a sweetness. This vine extended its branches and leaves round the Saint, affording her the most agreeable shade and refreshment ; and our Lord gave her fruit, that is, His virtues, from the different branches of this tree, causing her also to drink the delicious wine which it produced.

Then she beheld three pure fountains springing forth in the Divine Heart, which emptied themselves miraculously into each other; and our Lord said to her: " You will drink from these rivulets so efficaciously at the hour of your death, that your soul will attain such perfect health and such consummate perfection as to be unable to remain longer in the body ; in the meantime, let this delightful vision serve for your spiritual adornment." Then she besought the Eternal Father to look upon her for the sake of the holy Humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ, to purify her from all sin. and to adorn her with His Divine virtues; and she knew that her prayers were heard. After this she prayed thus : " O most loving Father, give me Thy most loving benediction ; " and the Lord extended His omnipotent Hand, and blessed her with the sign of the Cross. Then this benediction appeared like a golden tent, which covered the couch already mentioned ; and she saw also many instru ments of music placed therein, which signified the joys she obtained through the Passion of Jesus Christ.

These heavenly delights changed her sufferings into joy, and as she now occupied herself entirely with her own perfection, she began to compose some short and fervent prayers, to supply for her negligences in reciting the Canonical Hours, the Office of the Blessed Virgin, and the Office of the Dead. She also desired to supply for her deficiencies in certain virtues, such as the love of God and her neighbour, humility, chastity, obedience, consideration for others, thanksgiving, rejoicing or grieving with others,

<fec. Then she endeavoured to supply for the negligences of which she believed herself guilty in the Divine praises, in thanksgiving, in prayers, and in reparation, not only for herself, but also for the whole Church.

Nor was she satisfied with this reparation ; for she desired for each fault, and for each member of her body, to recite twenty- five short prayers, adding at the end of every petition the Pater noster and Ave Maria, for which she had a special devotion ; and these prayers not only moved the heart of man, but even touched the very King of Glory, who rejoiced thereat exceedingly ; and although the Saint had a most perfect confidence in the promises related above, which our Divine Lord had made to her, nevertheless her humility urged her to labour for their fulfilment, by her own earnest cooperation with Divine grace. She also perused her holy Rule with extreme diligence, seeking to supply for her omissions in its observance by her prayers, sighs, and tears ; so that she not only satisfied for any fault she might have committed therein, but obtained also new ornaments and graces from God. Then she applied all the powers of her soul and body to higher things, praying with exceeding fervour, ardently desiring a perfect and eternal union with her God, uniting her devotion to the mutual love and ineffable gratulations of the Ever-Blessed Trinity, and repeating the verse, u When wilt Thou come ? my soul thirsteth for Thee," with the words, " O most loving Father." (The last words she had learned in a marvellous manner, and she knew that they were most acceptable to God.)

She repeated these prayers continually, unless her bodily weakness was so great as to prevent it ; and she offered the reparation also, if her soul was not attracted to a more sublime prayer. The consolations vouchsafed to f>58 THE REVELATIONS OP ST. GERTKUDB.

her were so abundant, that they were imparted even to those who attended her ; so that many sought to be near her to obtain her instructions, and to learn these prayers from her. Hence, most fervent prayer was made for her recovery, or even that her death might be retarded ; and God, who hears the desires of the humble, granted this favour, and spared her a little longer to those who loved her so tenderly ; affording her also an opportunity of in creasing her merit.

The verse abovementioned is here subjoined—

'* Amongst a thousand still desired,

When wilt Thou come, O Jesus mine ? When wilt thou fill my soul with Thee, Which knows no joy on earth but Thine ?

" Oh, come! oh, come! most mighty King;

Father of boundless power and praise : Thy joy is light, Thy light is joy. Oh, hasten, Lord, life's passing days.

" Thou thinkest thoughts of tenderest love,

Sparing our sins, and giving place To mercy ; sweetest, dearest Lord, Oh, come ; I long to see Thy Face." *

Mi Jesu, quando venies ? Me Isetana quando facies ? De te me quando saties ? Veni, veni, Rex optime ! Pater immensse glorise, Effulge clare laetius, Jam expectamus ssepius.

" Tua te cogat pietas, ut mala nostra superis parcendo ; et vott compotes noe tuo vultu saties,"

HER DEVOTION TO MARY. 5,59