Gertrude the Great (January 6, 1256–November 17, 1301) was a German Benedictine and mystic writer. Gertrude was born January 6, 1256, in Eisleben, Thuringia, Holy Roman Empire). Nothing is known of her parents, so she was probably an orphan. As a young girl, she joined the Benedictine monastery in Helfta, under the direction of its abbess, Gertrude of Hackeborn. (In later years the monastery was mislabeled as a Cistercian monastery.) She dedicated herself to her studies, becoming an expert in literature and philosophy. She later experienced a conversion to God and began to strive for perfection in her religious life. She had various mystical experiences, including a vision of Jesus, who invited her to rest her head on his breast to hear the beating of his heart.

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She died at Helfta, near Eisleben, Saxony, 17 November, 1301 or 1302.

She is properly known as Saint Gertrude for, although never formally canonized, she was equipollently canonized in 1677 by Pope Clement XII when he inserted her name in the Roman Martyrology. Her feast was set for November 16.

Prayer of Saint Gertrude St. Gertrude the Great is invoked for souls in purgatory and for living sinners. Our Lord told St. Gertrude that the following prayer would release 1000 souls from purgatory each time it is said. The prayer was extended to include living sinners as well.

"Eternal Father, I offer You the most Precious Blood of Your Divine Son, Jesus Christ, 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, those in my own home and within my family. Amen."

Approval and Recommendation signed by M. Cardinal Pahiarca, Lisbon, Portugal March 4, 1936. The Approval and Recommendation does NOT include the extension.

Links:

The Life and Revelations of Saint Gertrude the Great - the full text online

A biographical note on St Gertrude and an excerpt from her book, The Herald of Divine Love, from the website of her recently refounded monastery at Helfta

May my soul bless you, Lord God, my creator; may my soul bless you and from the marrow of my innermost being may thanks be given for your mercies, with which your most intemperate love has so undeservedly surrounded me!

Libris Insinuationum divinae pietatis, by St. Gertrude

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