Saint Gertrude the Great
Feast Day November 16
| Saint Gertrude the Great (1256-1302) was a 13th-century
German mystic. Born in Wisleben, Saxony, she was raised from
the age of
5 by the Benedictine nuns at Helfta, and she later entered that
order. The pretty young girl was also highly intelligent; she
became a good
Latin scholar and grammarian, and sang in the choir for prayers.
Her interest in literature included secular works as well as the
Bible and writings of St. Augustine, St. Gregory, and St. Bernard. Saint Gertrude worked in the scriptorium of the monastery, and often copied Bible passages and other spiritual works for the other sisters in her order. She frequently counseled others on spiritual matters, and prayed for their needs. Saint Gertrude was revered as a great scholar, and traditionally beloved by German families, who invoked her aid for educational endeavors. Her mystical experiences began at the age of 26, when, after suffering a serious depression, she had a vision of Jesus speaking to her. The spiritual visions and supernatural revelations continued throughout her life and made her name famous. She was a deeply spiritual person, and her experience with Scripture and the Eucharist gave her wisdom and insights that others did not have. The inspiration she received from reading Scripture led her to a dialogue with Jesus in prayer which was very intimate, personal, and loving. She was one of the earliest to express devotion to the Sacred Heart. She gathered her visions, as well as those of her teacher and mentor St. Mechtild, in several books including Herald of God's Loving Kindness. The connection between this saint and our school begins with the first sisters who traveled here from Germany. Before coming to Richmond, they arrived in Latrobe, PA (near Pittsburgh) and stayed with the Head family, whose daughter Harriet later joined the Benedictine order here. She took the religious name of her favorite saint, Gertrude, and when the school in Richmond was established, her family gave the money to build the convent on Stuart Avenue. Sister Gertrude later became the first principal of the school. Since Saint Gertrude was the patron saint of the Richmond Benedictine convent, the school was also named for this German scholar. If Saint Gertrude were alive today, she would probably be a teacher of religious studies, scripture scholar and writer of spiritual works. She would be a spiritual director for others. |