Saturday, September 12 : Saint Gertrude of Helfta

Through the text of Isaiah: “You will give glory to God by not following your ways” (cf. Is 51:17) Gertrude understood that the one who, thinking beforehand about what he is going to do or say and seeing that it is of no use, curbs his attraction, derives a triple benefit from it. First, (…) it is given to him to find sweeter delights in God. Secondly, evil thoughts will have less hold on him (…). Thirdly, in eternal life the Son of God will grant him a more abundant participation in the fruits of that eminent holiness of life which made him face with imposing nobility every temptation and triumph over it gloriously. (…) Through the text: “Behold, his reward is with him” (cf. Is 40:10), she understood how the Lord, in his love, is himself the reward of his elect, lavishing himself with so much sweetness that the soul who loves him can say in all truth that he has been, through the effect of extreme goodness, rewarded far beyond all merit. “And his work is before him” (ibid.) means that having entrusted himself entirely to divine Providence and having for desire, in all action, only the will of God, God grants him to already be perfect before him. (…) She understood that whoever, sincerely doing penance for everything he had committed or omitted, had a right heart to obey the precepts of God, would in all truth be sanctified before God. (…) Through this text: “Sing to the Lord a new song” (cf. Is 42:10), she understood that she sings to the Lord a new song which puts into her song the impetus of an interior gift; because, by the very fact that this grace came to her from God to turn this impulse towards him, the new act which results from it will be pleasing to God.

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team