About St. Gertrude
St. Gertrude the Great was a 13th-century German Benedictine nun and mystic whose profound visions and writings about the Sacred Heart of Jesus deeply influenced Catholic spirituality and devotion. Given to the monastery of Helfta at age five for education, she showed remarkable intellectual gifts but initially focused more on secular studies than spiritual matters. At age 25, she experienced a powerful conversion through a vision of Christ, leading to an intense mystical life documented in her writings, particularly “The Herald of Divine Love.” Christ reportedly told her that to pronounce her name gave him joy, and he revealed to her his heart as a burning furnace of love. She was one of the first saints to advocate devotion to the Sacred Heart and was known for her special concern for the souls in purgatory, with Christ telling her that each time her prayer “O Sacred Heart of Jesus” is said with love, 1,000 souls would be released. Despite never being formally canonized, she was proclaimed a saint through centuries of cultus (popular devotion), and her feast day is celebrated on November 16th. She is often depicted in Benedictine habit with a flaming heart, symbolic of her mystical union with Christ.
Prayers & Devotions
