Contemplative Haven

Jan 06 2008

Epiphany Gifts

Published by gabrielle at 11:00 pm under Christmas, Feastdays, Saints

“On the Feast of the Epiphany this holy soul offered to God, in imitation of the Three Kings – for myrrh, the Body of Jesus Christ, with all the merits of His Passion, for the remission of all the sins of men, from the first to the last of the human race; for incense, the Soul of Jesus Christ, with all His holy actions, for the negligences of the whole world; for gold, His Divinity, with all its perfections and joys, in satisfaction for the defects of all creatures. Then Our Lord appeared and presented her offering as a most worthy New Year’s gift to the Most Holy and august Trinity. As He passed through the midst of Heaven, all the celestial court inclined profoundly before Him to honor this gift, as men prostrate before the Holy Sacrament when it is present.”

[From: The Life and Revelations of St. Gertrude the Great, 1256-1302]

8 responses so far

8 Responses to “Epiphany Gifts”

# C.O.on 07 Jan 2008 at 1:22 am

St. Gertrude was granted such a signal grace in this. To offer Him to the Trinity.. Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity. What an insight. It reminds me a little of some old prayers, not least of all the Anima Christi, and of newer ones, most of all the Divine Mercy Novena/Chaplet.
# gabrielleon 07 Jan 2008 at 1:57 am

Gertrude was the forerunner of the devotion to the Sacred Heart and also of the Divine Mercy, and that is why we see the relationship here to the Divine Mercy Chaplet. There is nothing new under the sun – only new eyes, new ears, and new hearts with which to see, hear and know…
# C.O.on 07 Jan 2008 at 2:57 am

Why did I gasp just now? Don’t I already know synchronicity bounds through here regularly? I had erased much in that comment, so as to keep it humanely smaller.. but yes..the Sacred Heart. : – )
# Annon 07 Jan 2008 at 3:07 am

It’s becoming clearer to me, Gabrielle, through your site alone why this lovely lady has been given the title St Gertrude the Great.
# Gabrielleon 08 Jan 2008 at 12:06 am

C.O. and Ann, I’ve been re-reading this passage, and in light of C.O.’s first comment, it now holds much more significance for me than it did when I posted it.

It doesn’t just have a “relationship” to the Divine Mercy Chaplet, it actually contains the whole thing -”Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.” We can see all of these elements in the St. Gertrude quotation. I see much more clearly now that she truly articulated the essence of the Divine Mercy Chaplet to mankind.

You know how people ask, if you were stranded on a desert island what book would you want with you? I think I could meditate on this little passage alone for the rest of my life and be drawn into contemplation of the Holy Trinity forever. Look how Gertrude (we) offer Jesus to the Father, but Jesus takes our gift (Him) and offers it Himself to the Holy Trinity, and He is adored as in the Eucharist or the Blessed Sacrament. This is such a powerful passage. Thanks, C.O., for awakening me to it in a way I wasn’t thinking of when I selected it.
# C.O.on 08 Jan 2008 at 3:47 pm

I think I would not need a book for a desert island, but would simply muse the memories of the gifts of my life, not only the Eucharist and the whole Church and family et al, but people who even laid down their own shadows, who took themselves out of the sunlight so that it would fall on me now and then. Wow. If anyone needs a proof of God, there it is. Love– utterly inexplicable, utterly selfless, utterly fecund. What an example for me to see and learn from and also one day give.

But indeed, this passage is astounding enough for a lifelong musing.
# mrs jackie parkeson 09 Jan 2008 at 11:31 am

Wonderful..
# Gabrielleon 09 Jan 2008 at 10:16 pm

That’s beautiful, C.O., just musing on the gifts of your life with gratitude. That could take us about, well, an eternity…

Jackie, thanks. St. Gertrude the Great’s revelations are truly wonderful, aren’t they.