"As St. Gertrude reflected at Mass on the merits of St. Bernard, to whom she had a particular devotion on account of his sweet eloquence, the illustrious Abbot appeared to her, clothed in ineffable glory and in three different colours, each of which was equally brilliant—white, which indicated the integrity of his innocence and purity; violet, his perfection as a religious; and crimson, the fervour of his love; and these three colours appeared to impart a special pleasure to all the saints. He had also golden bracelets, in which precious stones were interlaced with admirable skill: the gold indicated the inestimable value of his rare and admirable doctrine and all that he had said or written for the good of souls; the precious stones indicated his burning love of God. Our Lord drew into His Heart all the merits and advantages which had ever been gained by any person, either in heaven or on earth, from his words or writings, causing this to radiate from His Heart into that of St. Bernard, which resounded like a sweet instrument of music—his virtues, and, above all, his innocence and love, producing the sweetest melody imaginable.

"The heart of the Saint was also adorned with a brilliant diadem of many colours, on which appeared the profit which he had desired should be gained from his writings for the greater glory of God. St. Gertrude then repeated the Laudate two hundred and fifty-five times in honour of the Saint, returning thanks to God for all the graces with which He had favoured him. Then all that he said appeared on the vestments of the venerable Father in the form of little shields, on which were engraven the virtues for which he had been specially distinguished when on earth; and they shone also into the soul of Gertrude, who had returned thanks to God for them.

"As the Saint prayed at Mass for all the religious of whom she had charge, and especially for those who were devout to St. Bernard, although they had not been recommended to her prayers, she beheld this venerable Father again clothed in glory, the splendour of which appeared to pass from him to all those who desired to obtain the same fervent love of God as he had, through his merits. As Gertrude marvelled at this, she inquired why those persons who had not practised the same virtues as he had done could appear thus enriched with his merits. He replied, 'A lady of noble birth is not less admired when clothed with the habits of another than when she wears her own, provided she is beautiful and perfectly formed. Thus the virtues of the saints obtain the same advantages for those who praise God for their fervour in acquiring them.'

"St. Gertrude now observed that those who had recommended themselves to her prayers with devotion appeared adorned with a singular brightness, which others did not obtain; to show that the least action done with a right intention profits much, and that the least negligence, even in little things, may be a serious loss.

"On the same day, as the Saint reflected on the glory of St. Augustine, to whom she had always been devout, and thanked God for the favours he had bestowed on him, he appeared to her with St. Bernard, as if equal to him in glory, as he had been equal to him in sanctity and doctrine. This great Bishop stood before the throne of the Divine Majesty, magnificently apparelled, while rays of ardent fire appeared to shoot forth from his heart, as also from the heart of St. Bernard, towards that of Jesus Christ; this indicated the eloquence by which the holy Doctor had enkindled the fire of divine love in the hearts of men. Rays of light, like sunbeams, proceeded from his lips, which filled the whole heavens, and figured the abundant and marvellous doctrines with which he had enlightened the Church. Beneath these rays there appeared arcades of light, of admirable clearness, which attracted the attention of all, and gave abundant pleasure and content to those who gazed upon them. As the Saint beheld this with joy and admiration, she learned from St. Bernard that these arcades represented the light of the doctrine of St. Augustine, and his immense labours in defence of the Catholic faith, that he might be able to close up the way of error to all men, and to open the way of the true faith.

"St. Gertrude then inquired of St. Bernard if he had not had the same end in his writings. He replied: 'I spoke, wrote, and acted under the impulse of an impetuous love of God; whilst this illustrious Doctor wrote from a principle of divine love, and moved by the miseries which he had himself experienced.'

"Our Lord then drew to Himself from the blessed and from the hearts of the faithful still on earth the faith, consolation, light, and love which the writings of St. Augustine had produced; perfecting this, uniting it to His Heart, and then pouring it forth into the heart of the Saint, whose soul was penetrated by this divine influence, and became like a harp before God, emitting the most perfect and sweetest melody; and as the virginity and love of God had formed an admirable concert in the heart of St. Bernard, the penitence and fervent love of St. Augustine produced a similar effect, so that it was impossible to decide which was the most melodious. After this, St. Bernard informed St. Gertrude that the melodies which she heard were those which were spoken of in the words, 'Omnis illa Deo,' etc.; for the heart of each saint emits a melody which corresponds to its virtues, and all are ever employed in the divine praises."—Cusack's Life and Revelations of St. Gertrude, Ch. 1., pp. 446-449.