St. Gertrude the Great

 So, a friend took pity on me today and gave me a suggestion for today's post. Actually, she said, "Don't forget today is St. Gertrude's Feast Day!!!"  I rarely post about a Saint on their Feast Day, but what a blessing it is to be given the gifts of feast days to get to know and celebrate our friends who have completed their race. 

Getrude was born on the Feast of the Epiphany in 1256. At the age of, she entered the monastery school of St. Mary at Helfta. It is speculated that she was offered as a child oblate by very devout parents. However, it is also possible (maybe even more probable) that she entered the monastery school as an orphan. 

Gertrude was entrusted to the care of the younger sister of the Abbess, Mechtilde, who became her teacher and friend (and is also a Saint). She was well educated in a range of subjects. Her writings show that she was very familiar with scripture, with the Church Fathers and also with more contemporary spiritual writers. She also showed that she was well versed in rhetoric and fluent in Latin. 

At the age of 25, she received the first of a series of visions that continued for the rest of her life. Her focus shifted from secular knowledge toward the study of scripture and theology. She devoted herself to personal prayer and meditation and wrote spiritual treaties for the benefit of her fellow nuns. She was one of the great mystics of the 13th century and, with her friend, Mechtilde, practiced a spirituality called "nuptial mysticism" as a Bride of Christ. She died in Helfta (near Eisleben, Saxony) around 1302 - the exact date is not known. 

St. Gertrude was never solemnly canonized, but a liturgical office of prayers, readings and hymns in her honor was approved by Rome in 1606, which is considered the equivalent of canonization.  Pope Benedict XIV gave her the title "the Great" to distinguish her from St. Gertrude of Hackeborn and to recognize the depth of her spiritual and theological insight. (Note: this is the only time in the Liturgical year that we celebrate the feasts of two Saints known as "the Great" back-to-back - the feast of St. Albert the Great was yesterday.)

St. Gertrude's feast day is today - November 16! St. Gertrude, pray for us.