Flower of Devotion

On the first Sunday of Lent, in which the Church reads the Gospel of the temptation of the Lord Jesus, the Lord Jesus presented to St. Gertrude the three victories mentioned in the Gospel. He pointed out how they should be used as perfect remedies against the three vices to which men are most susceptible, namely, the love of amusements, the consent to sin, and the lust.
First, He showed her the glorious victory he had won over Satan when Satan told Him to turn a stone into bread. The Lord Jesus wisely replied that man does not live by bread alone. Explaining this victory to her, he told her to take from it the means of making amends for all the mistakes she had made in her desire to enjoy amusements, and to draw strength to overcome all temptations with which she might be tempted in this direction. For it must be remembered that the more a man ignores the temptations which lead him to amusements, the less able he is to resist them.
Every man, therefore, can offer to God the Father this victory of his divine Son, in satisfaction of his justice, for all the sins which he has committed through the good pleasure he has had in any creature. Also to the humble supplication of the Lord for strength to resist the temptations that would lead him to such sins.
Then the Lord told St. Gertrude that from His second victory she should obtain an indulgence and forgiveness of all her sins which she had committed by permission, and that she should draw from it the strength to resist all future temptations of this kind.
Every man can offer to God the Father this victory of his Son in order to obtain the same grace from God, namely, the forgiveness of all sins committed by permission in thoughts, words and deeds which burden his conscience. He can call for the help he needs so that he does not commit these sins again.
Finally, the Lord told St. Gertrude that from his third victory she should gain for herself a remedy against all that she desired through concupiscence. And he can gain the strength to resist that concupiscence henceforth. Every human being can also ask God for the same.