St. Gertrude wrote Latin with unusual elegance and force. As abbess she ruled her convent in sweetness and charity. She was one of the first saints to spread devotion to the Sacred Heart.

  O God, Who didst build up for Thyself a pleasant home in the heart of the holy virgin Gertrude: for the sake of her merits and prayers, do Thou wipe away from our hearts every stain of sin, nor refuse us a share in that happiness which is hers forevermore. –Collect.

  Verily, Thou art my Beloved, the choicest among thousands in Whom my soul is well pleased to dwell all the days of its life. –Imitation: Book IV.

  Ideal: Another splendid saint like St. Teresa whose feast we had on the fifteenth of last month, as you recall, St. Gertrude was very highly educated. Best of all, she was, like St. Teresa, an intense lover of our Lord. He once showed her a crown of roses and one of thorns and asked her to choose. “I have no will but Yours,” she said. “Will You choose for me?” What would you have done?

  Today: Devotion to the Sacred Heart is particularly one of love for Our Savior’s Passion, and then as a reparation. Young hearts are hungry for love, more than older ones. There is not a heart in the world where you will be so absolutely certain of never being deceived, where you will be loved in return with an infinitely satisfying love as the Sacred Heart of Jesus. If you have not a real enthusiastic love for the Sacred Heart, pray for that love today.

 Slogan: Sacred Heart Of Jesus, I implore that I may love Thee more and more.

~A Character Calendar
Sister Mary Fidelis, Sister Mary Charitas
Imprimatur 1931