CHAPTER 5

Of the happy death of Sister17 M. The approbation of these Revelations. And the favors promised through her merits.

AS SISTER M., of happy memory, approached her end, St. Gertrude prayed for her with others, and said to the Lord: “Why dost Thou not hear our prayers for her, O most loving Lord?” He replied: “Her soul is in such a different state from the souls of others, that she cannot be consoled by you in a human manner.” She continued: “Is this a judgment?” He answered: “I have now My secret in her, as I formerly had My secret with her.”18 Then, as Gertrude sought to understand these mysterious words, Our Lord said to her: “My majesty will enthrone itself in her.” “But,” she continued, “how will she die?” He answered: “She will be absorbed by My Divinity, as a sunbeam absorbs a drop of dew.” Then she inquired why the wandering of her exterior senses was permitted. He replied: “That you may know I am working in her interiorly, not exteriorly.” She answered: “Our own hearts ought to teach us this.” He replied: “And how can they receive this favor who rarely, if ever, enter into their interior, where grace alone is poured forth?”

After this Gertrude besought Our Lord to grant the grace of working miracles to Sister M. after her death, for the confirmation of the revelations which she had received, and to silence the incredulous. Our Lord replied, holding a book in His Hands: “Can I not gain a victory without fighting?” He added: “When it is necessary, I subdue kings and nations by signs and wonders; but now the experience of those who have tasted something of these celestial communications is sufficient to obtain credit for them. For the present, I bear with those who contradict them; but I will at last silence their calumnies.” St. Gertrude learned from this that Our Lord is pleased with those who believe that He pours forth the effusions of His grace, not for their merit, but from the superabounding love of His Divine Heart.

As Sister M. was anointed, St. Gertrude saw Our Lord touch her hand, saying: “When this blessed soul is freed from the chains of the flesh, I will pour forth the abundance of My mercy on all who are present.” As she continued in her agony, and the religious prayed for her still more fervently, she knew that Our Lord would grant them three great favors: first, by accomplishing all their good desires; second, by assisting them in overcoming their faults—and these two favors would be granted through her intercession; the third benefit was, that He extended His Hand, and imparted His benediction to all who were present.

As Gertrude occupied herself in fervent thanksgivings, she beheld our Divine Lord, the King of Glory, whom the Angels adore, standing at the head of the dying nun, whose breath appeared of a golden color, and tended toward the Heart of her Spouse. The Saint continued to gaze on this vision with great joy while the Psalm Deus, Deus meus, and the Ad te levavi,19 were recited, during which Our Lord manifested the tenderest affection for [the] religious. After this the Suffrages were read, with the Antiphon Ut te simus, during which she beheld the Blessed Virgin, clothed in purple and adorned as a queen. As she stood beside her Divine Son, she placed the head of this sister so that her breath might come more directly to the Heart of Jesus. As they read the short prayer, Ave, Jesu—“Hail, Jesus, my Saviour, Word of the Father”—Our Lord appeared encompassed with an increased splendor, like that of the sun at midday. At first the Saint was overwhelmed by the magnificence of the vision; but as she recovered herself a little, she beheld the effulgent rose of Heaven, His Virgin Mother, who appeared to congratulate Him on having obtained a new spouse.

By this she understood that this happy union was then consummated, and the soul forever immersed in the ocean of eternal beatitude.