While sick, St. Gertrude deepened her devotion to the Lord by decorating pictures of Jesus and preparing a miniature tomb for Him. Read this excerpt to see how Jesus responded to this small act of love.
Gertrude’s Miniatures
St. Gertrude, being very infirm, several persons advised her to forego for a time the delights of contemplation, until she had recovered her health, and she, always preferring to follow the judgment of others, acquiesced to their desire, on condition, however, that they would allow her the pleasure of decorating the pictures of the Cross of Jesus, and the lively joy she experienced in thus consoling her beloved Spouse.
One night, not being able to sleep, she quietly occupied herself in preparing with straws the little tomb in which the Crucifix was to be placed on Good Friday.
Jesus Thanks Gertrude for Her Friendship
The God of goodness who takes pleasure in the most trivial acts of those who love Him, bent over her, and said, “Delight in the Lord, My beloved, and He will give thee the requests of thy heart,” teaching her by these words, that when a soul takes delight in Him, whether in joyously accomplishing what regards His service, or in seeking some little natural pleasure in things that refer to Him, He, who is full of kindness, looks at her with complacency, rejoices in her as a father who finds happiness in that of his children, and is ready to grant her whatever she may desire, that so her joy may be full.
Gertrude then said: And what glory canst Thou derive, O most loving God, from a joy in which nature has more share than the soul?
Jesus answered: Does not an avaricious usurer take advantage of every occasion for increasing his capital? Well, I, who have resolved to find my delight in thee, am much more eager not to lose anything of what thou givest Me with the wish to afford Me pleasure and win My favor, were it but a simple thought or a movement of thy little finger.
Gertrude asked: If Thy immense goodness deigns to take such satisfaction in these trifles, how much more wilt Thou be pleased with the little poem I composed in order to console Thee for the sufferings of Thy Passion?
Jesus answered: I take as much pleasure in it as one whom a friend, with the most affectionate caresses, led into a beautiful garden, to make him breathe the softest air, delight his eye with the sight of various flowers, charm his ear with the sound of sweet music, and refresh him with fruits of exquisite taste. I will return thee faithfully joy for joy, pleasure for pleasure, consolation for consolation. I will act in like manner towards those who read thy book with the same dispositions as thou hadst when composing it.
Such is the friendship of Jesus. Such is joy! Oh, why should we not act like Gertrude in little things as well as in great? Let us treat Jesus as with a friend, gladdening Him by our joy, winning His love to us by the delight which we take in Him!
3 Ways to Deepen Your Friendship With Christ
1. Make frequent acts of joy in the thought that God is ever joyous, and that we are united to Him by love.
2. Offer all our sacrifices to Him with a joyous heart.
3. Rejoice on all occasions at the happiness of the Saints and the graces bestowed upon our fellow-creatures.
ooo
This article is taken from a chapter in Love, Peace, and Joy by Fr. Andre Prevot which is available from TAN Books.
