Flower of Devotion

On one occasion St. Gertrude rejoiced in the charming and frequent praise which St. John the Evangelist received because of his perfect virginity. And she asked him to obtain from God the grace of his cause, so that we might be able to preserve our purity to such an extent that one day (…) we would be able to share in his eternal happiness in his merits. Then the saint said to her: “Whoever desires to have an equal crown with me in heaven must also fight and work as I do in this life. As for me, I have always had before my eyes the happiness of the sweet familiarity with which the Lord Jesus worshipped me and rewarded my chastity. Throughout my life I have endeavored to watch my words and deeds as earnestly as possible, lest I should be the cause of the slightest offense to myself or to others, to that Divine Master of mine who is so pleasing to purity. And although all the apostles were wary of the company of suspicious persons, they were nevertheless willing to associate with persons whose virtues could not be doubted (as it is stated in the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles that they were with holy women and with Mary, the mother of Jesus); As for me, when I was with them, I always behaved very modestly and cautiously. Though I have never shunned women in my spiritual and bodily ministry, yet I have always been as careful as possible for myself, and on every occasion when I was bound by love to render them a service, I have always implored God’s help. That is why Holy Church sings on my Solemnity: “You called on me in tribulation, and I saved you” (Psalm 80:8). For God has never permitted my friendship to be injurious to anyone, or to offend anyone’s innocence.
Wherefore my Master Jesus Christ has given me this reward, that my purity is more glorified than that of the other saints. As a token of this privilege, I have received an excellent place in Heaven, where, by a special manifestation of God’s graciousness, I receive in eternal splendor the rays of that love which is a mirror without blemish and a reflection of eternal light (Wise 7). For whenever my chastity is mentioned in the Church, my most gracious Saviour greets me very kindly and graciously, and fills the interior of my soul with such perfect joy that, like a precious drink, it pervades all its affections and strength.