A Prayer by St. Gertrude
Br. John Raymond
St. Gertrude the Great was born in Germany on January 6,1256 and
died on November 17 in 1301 or 1302. She was only five years old
when she was sent as a pupil-border to a convent at Helfta, near
Saxony. A very intelligent child Gertrude became absorbed in her
studies. She was soon joined by her younger sister, Mechtilde. This
custom of parents offering very young children to the service of the
God was common at convents and monasteries following the Rule of St.
Benedict. (This custom was later stopped by Pope Clement III)
At the age of twenty-five Gertrude had the first of her mystical
experiences. One night Jesus appeared to her and asked her to "come
back" to Him. Although a thorny hedge seperated her from Jesus, she
felt herslf lifted over it to His side and He gave her His hand.
After this vision Gertrude turned from her secular studies to the
study of the Bible and theological writings. She began translating
and hand- copying spiritual books so that others could read them.
Also, she wrote about her visions of Jesus and His revelations to
her in a work entitled "Herald of Divine Love." She had great
devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and prophesied the coming of
an apostle of this devotion. St. Margaret Mary in the 1600's
fulfilled this prophecy.
A Prayer by St. Gertrude
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, fountain of eternal life, Your Heart is
a glowing furnace of Love. You are my refuge and my sanctuary.
O my adorable and loving Savior, consume my heart with the
burning fire with which Yours is aflamed. Pour down on my soul those
graces which flow from Your love. Let my heart be united with Yours.
Let my will be conformed to Yours in all things. May Your Will be
the rule of all my desires and actions. Amen.