St. Gertrude (1256-1302) was a German Benedictine. Along with her mentor St. Mechtilde, she developed a spirituality of “nuptial mysticism” by seeing herself as the Bride of Christ. Gertrude began experiencing visions at the age of 26, and she was an early devotee of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Her reflections were a major influence for other Christian mystics, including St. Teresa of Ávila. In recognition of her role as one of the mothers of Christian spirituality, she is known as St. Gertrude the Great. Her feast day is November 16.
Questions for Reflection:
- How do you express your intimacy with God? How can you share your life with Christ the way that spouses share their lives?
- What spiritual practices do you do on a daily/weekly basis to stay close to God? What distractions try to get in the way and what do you do to overcome them?