St Gertrude

St Gertrude (1256-1302)

Gertrude was born in Thuringia, Germany on January 6, 1256. Since her parents died when she was still very young,  she was raised by the Benedictine and Cistercian nuns. Among them was Mechtilde, herself a saint who took her under her wings since the age of 10. Gertrude was very much interested in Scripture and the writings of the Fathers of the Church. She learned to write in beautiful Latin and was very eloquent in her rhetoric. When she was 25, she started having visions and dedicated her life to contemplation and meditation. Along with St Mechtilde, they developed a form of spirituality called ‘nuptial mysticism,’ whereby they saw themselves as brides of Jesus, as if married to him. Among the writings she left us, was a compendium of 300 pages of prayers, called Preces Gertrudianae (Prayers of St Gertrude.) She also wrote a book about Divine Love and Spiritual Exercises. St Teresa of Avila looked at Gertrude as her protectress, and both St Philip Neri and St Francis de Sales used her writings as references in their work. St Gertrude also was very devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, way before the devotion became a feast. Many of her writings were translated into Latin and Italian, besides her native German. She died in the city of Helfta in Saxony in 1302.

One of the prayers attributed to her is this popular one, frequently printed on her holy cards: Eternal Father, I offer You the most precious blood of thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, for those in my own home and in my family. Amen.