CHAPTER 47

Of the languor caused by Divine love.

SOON after, during the seventh illness of the Saint, as her mind was occupied with God, on a certain night Our Lord approached her, and said to her, with extreme sweetness and charity: “Tell Me, My beloved, that you languish for love of Me.” She replied: “How can I, a poor sinner, presume to say that I languish for love to Thee?” Our Lord answered: “Whoever offers himself willingly to suffer anything in order to please Me, he truly glorifies Me, and, glorifying Me, tells Me that he languishes for love of Me; provided that he continues patient, and that he never turns his eyes away from Me.” “But what advantage canst Thou gain from this assurance, my beloved Lord?” inquired the Saint. The Lord answered: “This assurance imparts joy to My Divinity, glory to My Humanity, pleasure to My eyes, and satisfaction to My ears. Further, the unction of My love is so powerfully moved thereby, that I am compelled to heal the contrite heart—that is to say, those who desire this grace; to preach to those who are in captivity—that is, to pardon sinners; to open the door to those who are in prison—that is, to release the souls in Purgatory.”

Gertrude then said to the Lord: “Father of mercies! after this sickness, which is the seventh that I have had, wilt Thou not restore me to my former health?” Our Lord replied: “If I had made known to you at the commencement of your first illness that you would have to endure seven, perhaps you would have given way to impatience through human frailty. So, also, if I now promised you that this would be the last sickness, the hope with which you would look forward to its termination might lessen your merit. Therefore the paternal providence of My uncreated wisdom has wisely ordained that you should remain ignorant on both subjects, that you might be obliged to have recourse to Me continually with your whole heart, and to commend your troubles, whether exterior or interior, to My fidelity; since I watch over you so faithfully and lovingly that I would not permit you to be tried beyond your strength, knowing how much your patience can bear. This you can easily understand, if you remember how much weaker you were after your first sickness than you are now after your seventh; for although human reason might have considered this impossible, yet nothing is impossible to My Divine omnipotence.”