CHAPTER 4

How a disobedience was expiated by an illness.

AS GERTRUDE recited five Pater nosters for Dame S–––, the eldest of the community, who had received Extreme Unction, and at last ended her prayer in the Wound of Our Lord’s Side—she besought Him to purify this soul with the water which flowed therefrom, and to adorn it with the merits of His most Precious Blood. She then saw this soul, under the form of a young virgin, crowned with a golden circlet, and supported by our Divine Lord, who imparted the graces she had asked to her soul. She understood by this that the sister must remain longer on earth to be purified from a disobedience of which she had been guilty, in conversing16 more than was right with a sick person: and this was accomplished. She suffered for five months in a manner which sufficiently manifested the fault from which she was being purified. On the day on which she was taken ill, she appeared very joyful, as if Our Lord had granted her some great favor; and she attempted to relate what had happened to her; but as she had not the perfect use of her senses, she was unable to do so. But as she saw Gertrude standing by her, with some of the other religious, she called her by name, and said: “Do you speak for me, for you know all.” St. Gertrude began to relate what had been revealed to her, and the invalid was then able to continue the recital herself. When the others made any observation, she at once refuted their assertions, declaring that Our Lord had forgiven her sins, and bestowed many favors on her.

On the day before her death, St. Gertrude beheld Our Lord preparing a place for her in His Divine arms; but the soul appeared at His left, and separated from Him by a little cloud. She then said: “Lord, this place which Thou hast prepared will not be suitable for a soul covered with this cloud.” He replied, “She will remain a little longer on earth, that she may become fit for it.” And it was even so; for the religious continued all that day and the following night in her agony. Next morning she beheld Our Lord coming toward the dying nun with marks of the greatest tenderness; and she appeared to rise, as if to meet Him. Then St. Gertrude said: “Art Thou not come now to take this desolate soul to Thyself, as a merciful Father?” and Our Lord indicated by a sign that He had this intention.

Soon after her decease, she saw this soul again, under the form of a young virgin, adorned with roses, and advancing joyfully to her Spouse; but when she came near Him, she fell at His feet as if almost deprived of life, until the words Tibi supplicatio commendet Ecclesiae [“The supplication of the Church commends (her) to Thee”] were repeated, when she arose, and cast herself into the Divine arms, where she is eternally replenished with the treasures of beatitude.