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Probably no saint understood better than St. Gertrude the power and the necessity of Mary's assistance in the sanctification of souls. She had a most tender devotion to the Mother of God. Our Lord revealed to her in many sublime visions, the grandeur and dignity of His Virgin Mother. In many ways Jesus made known to St. Gertrude the law He imposed upon Himself of communicating His riches to man only through the hands and the Heart of Mary. When Jesus commenced to favor St. Gertrude with special revelations, He said to her: "I give thee My own Mother as thy protectress. I confide thee to her care". During an hour of trial, St. Gertrude was terrified and called upon Jesus to help her. He replied: "I have given thee My own merciful Mother for thine, and it is through her I will dispense My graces to thee. Have recourse to her in all thy necessities and thou wilt surely find strength and consolatio
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On more than one occasion, the Blessed Mother permitted the humble Gertrude to be associated with her in the joys of her Divine Maternity. From Christmas to Candlemas, St. Gertrude received so many tokens of love from the Divine Child and His Blessed Mother that without supernatural assistance her heart could scarcely have borne the excess of such love and grace. She celebrated Our Lady's feasts with a joyful heart, and expected special favors from her on these days.
On one occasion, on the feast of Our Lady's Nativity, St. Gertrude asked what reward those would receive who celebrated this feast with fervor, and Mary answered: "They will merit a special share in the joys which I possess in Heaven, and in the virtues with which the most glorious Trinity adorns me". Again, on the vigil of the feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, St. Gertrude asked Our Lord to obtain for her the good will of His sweet Mother, as she feared she had never been sufficiently devout to her. Jesus inclined most graciously toward His Mother and in a fond embrace manifesting the most filial affection, said: "Remember, O Mistress, Mother most loving, that for thy sake I am merciful to sinners, and regard My elect one as if she had served thee all her life with due devotion". At these words the Blessed Mother gave herself entirely to St. Gertrude, for the sake of her Divine Son.
Another time St. Gertrude asked Our Lord what would be most pleasing to Him at that moment, and what He desired of her, and He replied: "Place thyself before My Mother, who reigns at My side, and endeavor to praise her". St. Gertrude followed the advice, greeting the Heavenly Mother as the "paradise of delights", the "most beautiful habitation of God". She implored Mary to fill her heart with virtues, so that God would take pleasure in dwelling therein. The Blessed Mother adorned her with the rose of love, the lily of chastity, the violet of humility, and the heliotrope of obedience.
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She also learned from the Heavenly Mother that when anyone piously greets her with the words, O radiant Lily of the ever-peaceful Trinity! O resplendent Rose of heavenly charm!, Mary bestows favors upon that soul according to her power, through the omnipotence of the Father, the wisdom of the Son, and the benignity of the Holy Spirit. And the Blessed Virgin added: To him who greets me thus, I will appear at his death in the bloom of such beauty that he shall enjoy a foretaste of heavenly comfort and sweetness. In consequence of this revelation, St. Gertrude frequently greeted the Blessed Virgin, as follows:
"Hail, fair Lily of the ever-peaceful and glorious Trinity! Hail, effulgent Rose of the heavenly court, of whom the King of Heaven willed to be born and to be nourished with thy milk! Feed our souls by the effusions of the Divine influences".
excerpted from the book Mary, Queen of Apostles written by Rosalie Marie Levy.
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