CHAPTER 24

Of the sepulchre of Jesus Christ in the faithful soul, and how to make a spiritual cloister in the Body and Heart of Jesus.

ON GOOD Friday, as they made a commemoration of Our Lord’s burial, after the Office, Gertrude implored Him to bury Himself in her soul, and to abide therein forever. Our Lord replied, with infinite charity: “I will serve as a stone to close the gates of your senses; I will place My affections there as soldiers to guard this stone, to defend your heart against all hurtful affections, and to work in you My Divine power, for My eternal glory.”

Then, fearing that she had judged a person harshly for something which she had seen her do, she said to God: “Lord, Thou hast placed soldiers to guard the entrance of my heart; but, alas, I fear they have withdrawn, since I have judged my neighbor so harshly.” “How can you complain that they have withdrawn,” replied Our Lord, “when at this moment you experience their assistance?— for it is a sign that one desires to be united to Me when they cannot take pleasure in what displeases Me.”

While they sang the Antiphon at Vespers, Vidi aquam egredientem—“I saw water springing forth”—the Lord said to Gertrude: “Behold My Heart—let it be your temple; then go through the other parts of My Body, and arrange for the other parts of a monastery wherever it seems best to you; for I desire that My sacred Humanity should henceforth be your cloister.” “Lord,” replied the Saint, “I know not how to seek or choose, because I have found such sweetness in Thy Heart, which Thou hast deigned to give me for a temple, that I can find neither repose nor rest out of it—two things which are absolutely necessary in the cloister.” “If you desire it,” said the Saviour, “you can still find these two things in My Heart; for have you not heard that there are persons who never leave My house even for food or rest, like St. Dominic? Nevertheless, choose in the other parts of My Body the places which you have need of for this spiritual monastery.”

Then Gertrude, obeying the commands of God, chose the Feet of her Spouse for her lavatory [wash-room]; His Hands for her work-room; His Mouth for her reception-room, or chapter-room; His Eyes for her school, in which she could read; and His Ears for her confessional. Then the Lord taught her that whenever she committed any fault, she should ascend to this sacred tribunal by the five degrees of humiliation, which are expressed in those five words: “I come to Thee vile, sinful, poor, wicked and unworthy, O Abyss of overflowing goodness, to be cleansed from every stain, and purified from all sin.”