Power Prayers

Power Prayers from the Revelations of St. Gertrude the Great.

Taken from the “Life and Revelations of St. Gertrude the Great.” Written in part by St. Gertrude herself, largely compiled by the religious of her monastery, with other sources.

“Ah!” exclaimed St. Gertrude, “teach me, O best of teachers, how to perform even one action perfectly in memory of Thy Passion.” Our Lord replied, “When you are praying, extend your arms to represent the manner in which I extended mine to God my Father in My Passion; and do this for the salvation of every member of the Church, in union with the love with which I stretched out My arms upon the cross.” “If I do this,” she replied, “I must hide myself hide myself in a corner, for it is far from being customary.” Our Lord replied, “If anyone prays thus with his hands extended, without fear of contradiction, he pays Me the same honor as one would do who solemnly enthroned a king.”    Life of St. Gertrude; Part 4, Chapter 13.

The Apostles and Evangelist St. John appeared to this virgin as she prayed one day during Advent. He was clothed in a gold-colored habit, covered with golden eagles; which signified that, though this Saint was elevated to the highest contemplation, even while in the body, he always sought to humble himself by the consideration of his own unworthiness. He had also two golden lilies on his two shoulders. On the right was written, in marvelous characters, the words of the Gospel Discipulus quem diligebat Jesus (The disciple whom Jesus loved); and on the left, Iste custos Virginis (This is the guardian of the Virgin); to mark the singular advantage which he enjoyed of being called, and of being, the disciple whom Jesus loved above the rest of His Apostles, and of having been found worthy by Christ Himself to receive from Him the charge of His Mother before He expired, on account of his surpassing purity.

Then St. Gertrude said to our Lord: “O most loving Lord, why is Thy beloved one manifested to a creature so unworthy as I am” Our Lord answered: “I have done this that he may be united to you by a special friendship; and as you have no apostle, I have appointed him to be ever your faithful advocate with Me in heaven.” “Teach me, then, my sweetest Lord,” she replied, “how I can show my gratitude to him.” Our Lord answered: “If any person says a Pater Noster daily in honor of this Apostle, reminding him of the sweet fidelity with which his heart was filled when I taught this prayer, he will not fail to obtain for whoever prays thus the grace of persevering faithfully in virtue, even to the end of his life.”    Life; Part 4 Chapter 4. 

 

By Miguel Cabrera, Mexico

“There is infinitely more merit in meditating attentively on the Passion of Jesus than in any other exercise.”

As this Saint touched the crucifix devoutly, she learned that if any one only looks on the image of the cross of Jesus Christ with a holy intention, God regards him with such goodness and mercy, that he receives in his soul, as in a spotless mirror, an image which is so agreeable that the whole court of heaven delights therein; and this serves to increase his eternal glory in the life to come in proportion as he has practiced this act of devotion in this life.

On another occasion she learned that when any one turns towards a crucifix, he ought to persuade himself that our Lord speaks thus lovingly to his heart: “Behold how, for your love, I have been fastened to this cross, naked, despised, torn and wounded in My Body, and in all My members; and still My Heart has such tender charity for you, that were it necessary for your salvation, and were there no other means of saving you, I would even at this moment suffer for you alone all that I have suffered for the whole world.” By this reflection man ought to excite himself to gratitude, because it never happens that any one looks at a crucifix without a particular providence. There is no Christian, therefore, who is not guilty, if he is so ungrateful as to neglect the adorable price of his salvation, since we can never look at a crucifix thoughtfully without receiving great benefit thereby.

On another occasion, as she was occupied in considering the Passion of our Lord, it was made known to her that there is infinitely more merit in meditating attentively on the Passion of Jesus than in any other exercise. For as it is impossible to handle flour without attaching it to yourself, so also is it impossible to meditate devoutly on the Passion of the Lord without deriving great fruit thereby. And when any one reads anything concerning the Passion, they at least dispose their souls to receive the fruit of it, as it is more meritorious to meditate on it than on any subject. Let us, then, endeavor to reflect constantly on it, that it may be honey to your lips, music to our ears, and joy to our hearts.   Life; Part 3, Chapter 34.

From The Life and Revelations of St. Gertrude the Great available online Here.

The following efficacious prayer which is traditionally associated with St. Gertrude is not in the above book. She did produce other works, but most have been lost.

“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, for those in my own home and in my family. Amen.”

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