Saint Gertrude

Saint Gertrude is also known as Gertrude the Great. She was a nun, a writer, and a mystic. She lived in the 1200s in what is now Germany. She is remembered for her deep love for Jesus and her many visions of Him.

Gertrude was not well-known during her life. But her writings helped many people grow in faith. Today, she is one of the most loved saints in the Church. Many people still read her prayers and stories.

Gertrude had a strong devotion to Jesus. She especially loved to think about His love for people. She spent much of her life in prayer and writing about this love.

She is called “the Great” not because she did big things, but because of her deep love for God. Not many women in the Church are given this title. It shows how important her life and writings are.

Gertrude also had a special love for the souls in purgatory. She often prayed for them. Many people now say a prayer known as the “Prayer of Saint Gertrude” for this reason.

Gertrude was born in 1256 in the town of Eisleben. This is in modern-day Germany. We do not know much about her family. She may have been an orphan.

At the age of five, she was sent to live at the monastery of Helfta. It was a home for nuns. She stayed there for the rest of her life. The nuns there were well-educated and kind.

At Helfta, she learned how to read, write, and pray. She was a smart girl and loved to study. She became especially good at Latin and the Bible.

As she grew older, she felt God calling her to become a nun. She gave her life to prayer, study, and work. At first, she did not feel close to God. She cared more about learning than praying.

But when she was about 25 years old, everything changed. She had a vision of Jesus. He told her to stop focusing only on books and to follow Him. This moment changed her whole life.

After her vision, Gertrude gave her heart to Jesus. She spent more time in prayer and less time in study. She began to feel very close to Jesus in her daily life.

She had many visions of Jesus. In these visions, He showed her His love for her and for all people. She wrote these visions down. The other nuns read them and were inspired.

Gertrude also had strong devotion to the humanity of Jesus. She liked to think of Jesus as a person, not just as God. This made her feel close to Him.

She also had a deep love for the Mass and the Eucharist. She believed Jesus was very near during these times. She often wrote about what she felt and saw during Mass.

Her visions were not only for her. She believed Jesus wanted her to share them. She wrote them in simple ways so others could understand.

Gertrude wrote many prayers and books. Her most famous writing is called The Herald of God’s Love. It tells the story of her visions and her love for Jesus.

In this book, Gertrude shows how much Jesus cares for each person. She writes about how He wants to be close to us. She also talks about the joy of prayer and being with God.

She did not write all of it by herself. Some of it was written down by other nuns who heard her speak. But the thoughts and stories came from her life and prayer.

Her writings were not famous right away. But over time, more people found them. Many saints and writers have read her work and found hope in it.

Her prayers are still used today. Some are short and simple. Others are longer and speak of her deep love for Jesus. People say them to feel close to Him.

Gertrude’s writings helped bring new love for Jesus into the Church. She helped people remember how close He is to us. She also helped others care more about prayer and worship.

She had a special devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This means she loved to think about His love for all people. This devotion became more popular many years later, but Gertrude was one of the first to write about it.

Saints like Teresa of Ávila and Thérèse of Lisieux looked up to her. So did others who had visions or who wrote about prayer. Her simple words gave people comfort.

Gertrude also prayed often for souls in purgatory. She believed Jesus wanted her to help them. Today, many people pray for the dead using a prayer that comes from her writings.

Her life shows that you do not need to do big things to be a saint. You only need to love Jesus and stay close to Him in daily life.

Saint Gertrude was never formally canonized by a pope, but the Church still honors her as a saint. In 1677, Pope Innocent XI gave her the title “the Great.” This shows how much the Church respects her.

Her feast day is November 16. On this day, many people remember her life, her writings, and her love for Jesus. Some people pray the “Prayer of Saint Gertrude” on this day for the souls in purgatory.

She is the patron saint of the West Indies, and many people pray to her for help with growing in faith and prayer. She is also a special saint for those who love the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Even today, people read her writings and find peace. Her words are full of trust in Jesus and His care. She helps people feel close to Him.

Gertrude did not look for fame. She lived quietly in her monastery. But her love for Jesus has spread far beyond the walls of Helfta. Her story still touches hearts all over the world.

A Heart-Changing Love

Saint Gertrude had visions of Jesus that changed her life. In one of them, Jesus traded His Sacred Heart for hers. From that moment on, she lived completely for Him—praying, writing, and helping others grow in faith. Gertrude came to understand just how deeply and unconditionally God loves each of us.

God’s love is not like the love we see in the world. It’s not based on what we do or don’t do. It is steady, sacrificial, and never-ending. Jesus showed this love by dying on the Cross for us. Like Gertrude, we are invited to let that love change our hearts.

The Life and Revelations of Saint Gertrude the Great

The Life and Revelations of Saint Gertrude the Great is a book filled with Saint Gertrude’s talks with Jesus. In these talks, He shows how much He loves all people and wants to help them. He shares ways to grow closer to Him and how even small good acts matter. Jesus said He loved being in Gertrude’s heart and called her “My beloved.” The book gives simple lessons that anyone can understand. It also shows how prayers and good works on earth have meaning in Heaven. This book has helped people for many years and still speaks to us today.