CHAPTER 5

The perfect resignation of St. Gertrude into the hands of God in all adversities, and what merit she acquired thereby.

ON THE Feast of the Apostle St. Matthew,4 Our Lord having prevented her by the sweetness of His frequent benedictions, she offered the chalice in thanksgiving at the Elevation; and having reflected that her oblation would be of little value if she did not willingly offer to bear all kinds of suffering for the love of Christ, she rose, in the fervor of her zeal, from the bosom of her Spouse, in which was all her delight, and threw herself on the ground as a vile carcass, exclaiming: “I offer myself to Thee, O Lord, to endure all that may promote Thy glory.” Then the Lord hastened quickly to her, and placed Himself on the ground beside her, as if to support her, saying: “This is Mine.” “Yes,” exclaimed the Saint, turning toward God, and animated with fresh courage; “I belong to Thee—I am the work of Thy hands.” “It is true,” replied Our Lord; “but this grace is singularly yours, that I am so closely united to thee by love, that I would not willingly enjoy beatitude without thee.”

Being amazed at the exceeding condescension of these words, she exclaimed: “Why dost Thou speak thus to me, O Lord, since Thou hast such an infinite number of friends in Heaven and on earth, with whom Thou couldst share Thy happiness, even had I never been created?” Our Lord replied: “He who has always wanted a limb does not feel the same privation as one who loses it in advanced years; in like manner, I have so placed My love in thee, that I could not bear that we should be separated from each other.”