_The Novena of St. Gertrude to the Blessed Virgin._
St. Gertrude, a Benedictine nun, cherished a great devotion to the
Most Blessed Virgin. On the eve of the Annunciation she had a vision,
in which she seemed to see her religious Sisters offering nosegays of
sweet flowers to Our Lady. These were collected by Our Lady and placed
on her bosom, and she then adorned them with precious stones, and
offered them to her Divine Son. The Saint understood that those
flowers were the afflictions which these Daughters of Mary and Spouses
of Jesus had endured with Christian resignation, during the course of
the Novena, preceding the festival.
Another time, whilst St. Gertrude was reciting the _Ave Maria_ in
choir with her religious Sisters, she saw three streams come forth
from the Most Holy Trinity and meet together in the heart of the
Blessed Virgin, descending from her and flowing over those who during
these days recited this angelical salutation. It was on this occasion
that she was taught to salute Our Lady, at least once a day, in these
words: _Illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte_, and was
promised that, if she per severed in this practice during her whole
life, she would receive the greatest consolations at the hour of her
death.
_Prayer._--O Mary, sovereign of the universe! our joy, our support and
our defence! interest yourself in my favour before God, and obtain
that I may be one day called to enjoy the happiness of heaven! I
beseech you, O ever immaculate Virgin; I know you to be omnipotent
with your Divine Son, for the salvation of sinners, and for the
consolation of the afflicted, and I also know that you have need of no
other recommendation than that of our miseries, for you are by
excellence the Mother of Mercy. Amen.
_Ejaculation._--O my tender Mother! help me to live always united to
your Divine Son Jesus.
_Practice._--Consecrate yourself generously to Mary, and renew this
consecration every Saturday.