November 16 + Saint Gertrude the Great and Saint Mechtilde

Gertrude was born in 1256 in Germany and chose to follow the Lord by pursuing a vocation as a Benedictine nun. Her deep relationship with the Lord in prayer led to her being hailed as a mystic. She was also regarded as a great theologian.

When she was 25 years old, Gertrude experienced her first series of visions that would continue until the day she died. Her visions altered her life and she saw this moment as her new birth. Her priorities turned away from secular teachings and focused more on studying Scripture and theology. Her life became full with this awakening and she was an enthusiastic student, writing for the spiritual benefit of others.

Gertrude once had a vision on the feast of Saint John the Evangelist, described in Gertrude's writings. As she rested her head near Jesus' wound on His side, she could hear the beating of His heart. She asked John if he, too, felt the beating of Jesus' Divine Heart on the night of the Last Supper. He told her he was saving this revelation for a time when the world needed it to rekindle its love.

Gertrude shares a feast day with one of her close friends, Mechtilde. Mechtilde was a nun, a visionary, a mystic and a novice mistress for Gertrude who wrote a book about Mechtilde’s teachings. She was initially terrified that the book might cause trouble, but Christ appeared to her in prayer and told her not to worry. She became a much sought spiritual advisor to her sister nuns, laity and learned Dominicans.

The lives of Mechtilde and Gertrude seem to have been one long series of visions and conversations with Our Lord and His Mother, whom they loved and served. At the express command of Christ Himself, despite all the humble objections of the two Saints, their beautiful revelations were carefully recorded in two precious books, The Book of Special Grace of St. Mechtilde, and The Herald of Divine Love of St. Gertrude, in order that "in the far future," as Jesus said to the latter, "these writings may be a pledge of My Divine bounty ... through them I will benefit innumerable souls."