Gertrude was raised in the Benedictine abbey of Saint Mary of Helfta, Eisleben, Saxony from age five. An extremely bright and dedicated student, she excelled in literature and philosophy, and when she was old enough, became a Benedictine nun. At age 26, when she had become too enamored of philosophy, she received a vision of Christ who reproached her; from then on she studied the Bible and the works of the Church Fathers. Gertrude received other visions and mystical instruction, which formed the basis of her writings. She helped spread devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Her writings have been greatly praised by Saint Teresa and Saint Francis de Sales, and continue in print today.
Prayer for the Holy Souls in Purgatory by St. Gertrude the Great
Eternal Father, I offer Thee 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, those in my own home and within my family.
Amen.
Prayer Of St. Gertrude To The Sacred Heart
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, living and life-giving fountain of eternal life,
infinite treasury of the Divinity, and glowing furnace of love, Thou art
my refuge and my sanctuary. O adorable and glorious Savior,
consume my heart with that burning fire that ever inflames Thy Heart.
Pour down on my souls those graces that flow from Thy love. Let my
heart be so united with Thine, that our wills may be one, and mine
may in all things be conformed to Thine. May Thy will be the rule
of both my desires and my actions.
Act Of Love To The Sacred Heart
How great, O my Jesus, is the extent of Thine excessive charity! Thou hast prepared
for me, of Thy most precious Body and Blood, a divine banquet, where Thou
givest me Thyself without reserve. What hath urged Thee to this excess of love?
Nothing but Thine own most loving Heart.
O adorable Heart of my Jesus, furnace of Divine Love, receive my soul into the wound
of Thy most Sacred Passion, that in this school of charity I may learn to make
a return of love to that God Who hast given me such wonderful proofs of His love.
Marian Prayer Of Saint Gertrude Of Helfta
Most chaste Virgin Mary,
by the spotless purity
with which you prepared for the Son of God
a dwelling of delight in your virginal womb,
I beg of you to intercede for me
that I may be cleansed from every stain.
Most humble Virgin
by that most profound humility
by which you deserved to be raised high
above all the choirs of angels and saints,
I beg of you to intercede for me
that all my sins may be expiated.
Most amiable Mary,
by that indescribable love
that united you so closely and inseparably to God,
I beg of you to intercede for me
that I may obtain an abundance of all merits.
Amen.
Prayer To Saint Gertrude In Honour Of Angels
I salute you through the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
all you holy angels and saints of God.
I rejoice in your glory,
and I give thanks to our Lord
for all the benefits which He has showered upon you.
I praise Him and glorify Him,
and offer you,
for an increase in your joy and honour,
the most gentle Heart of Jesus.
Deign, therefore, to pray for me
so that I may become according to the Heart of God.
Amen.
A Prayer of St. Gertrude the Great, for Mercy at the Hour of Death
O Jesus, mirror of the eternal splendour, remember now that sadness which filled Thy Heart when Thou didst behold in the mirror of Thy Divinity the reprobation of the wicked and the multitude of the lost; and by the depth of the compassion, thou didst show to the robber on the cross, saying: “This day thou shalt be with Me in paradise,” I beseech Thee, O compassionate Jesus, show me Thy mercy in the hour of my death.
Amen.
A Prayer of St. Gertrude the Great, for Deliverance of All Punishment
O Jesus, paradise of the delights of God, remember now all the dread and sorrow Thou didst endure when Pilate pronounced on Thee sentence of death; when the godless soldiers laid the heavy Cross on Thy Shoulders, and fastened Thee thereon with rude and blunted nails, cruelly stretching Thy sacred Limbs so that all Thy Bones could be numbered; I beseech Thee, vouchsafe to pronounce a merciful sentence on me in the day of judgment, and deliver me from all punishment.
Amen.
A Prayer of St. Gertrude the Great, for Consolation
O Jesus, King most beloved, remember now the mournful desolation of Thy Heart, when Thou, forsaken by all, wert mocked as Thou didst hang on the Cross; when Thou didst find none to comfort Thee but Thy beloved Mother, who stood by Thy Cross to the last, and whom Thou didst commend to Thy disciple, saying: “Woman, behold thy son,” and to the disciple: “Behold thy Mother.” I beseech Thee, O compassionate Jesus, by that sword of anguish which then pierced her heart, do Thou condole with me and console me in all my tribulations.
Amen.
A Prayer of St. Gertrude the Great, for Your Guardian Angel
O most holy angel of God, appointed by God to be my guardian, I give you thanks for all the benefits which you have ever bestowed on me in body and in soul. I praise and glorify you that you condescended to assist me with such patient fidelity, and to defend me against all the assaults of my enemies. Blessed be the hour in which you were assigned me for my guardian, my defender and my patron. In acknowledgement and return for all your loving ministries to me, I offer you the infinitely precious and noble heart of Jesus, and firmly purpose to obey you henceforward, and most faithfully to serve my God.
Amen.
