St. Mechtilde is one of my favourite Saints. What I admire most about her, apart from her great charity, is her bold confidence in Almighty God. She expected everything from Him. He was ever in her heart, and she was ever in His.
Earlier today, the thought came to me to read some of the beautiful revelations that were given to St. Mechtilde. How consoled I was.
Later, it came to my attention that today is the Feast Day of St. Mechtilde! It is in gratitude to St. Mechtilde, therefore, that I dedicate this post.
Some Anecdotes from the Life of St. Mechtilde
+ “It was thought by those present at her birth that she was coming into this world only to leave it, and she was taken in great haste to be baptized by the priest who was about to celebrate Mass, probably, from this circumstance, in the castle and chaplain of the family. He was a man of remarkable holiness, and after he had performed the ceremony he turned to those around who trembled for the infant’s life and said:
“Why are you afraid? this child will not die, but will become a holy nun in whom God will work great marvels, and she will finish the days of her life in a good old age.”
+ “Another time this same Saint being in via said to our Lord in a spirit of great abasement: “The greatest of Thy miracles Lord I consider to be that the earth bears the weight of so great a sinner” and our Lord, who loves to exalt the humble, replied:
“Willingly may the earth bear thee, when the whole dignity of heaven expects with immense exultation that most joyful hour when the honour of bearing thee shall be given it.”
+ “…all her holiness, her zeal for the Work of God, and her union with Him, she had her very human difficulties; once during the ceremonies of a Solemn Mass she gave way to sloth and sleepiness, and afterwards being much ashamed of herself she bewailed her negligence with sorrow to God, who answered her:
“If you found nothing to displease you in yourself, in what would you recognise My goodness?”
And surely the little faults of so great a Saint are a great encouragement to us; they put her more within reach of our imitation, and draw our attention to that spiritual teaching which assures us that perfection and holiness are not always synonymous.”
+ And she said to Him: “O Lord, God who art the unfailing Truth, Thou hast deigned to declare to me, unworthy though I am, that Thou wilt increase Thy delights in us and our love for Thee, how then is it that some of us complain today of feeling more cold in our love towards Thee?”
He answered:
“I am He who contains in Myself all good things and I distribute them in their due time to each one as is best for him.”
+ “What thanksgiving can be rendered to Thee, only sweetness, for that wound of love which Thou didst receive on the cross for man, when love pierced Thy most sweet Heart with the dart of unconquerable love, whence flowed for our salvation water and blood: and thus, vanquished by the greatness of Thy love for Thy Spouse, Thou didst die a death of love?”
And the Lord answered:
“That a man should conform his entire will to Mine; and that My will should content him in and above everything.”
References
- To read her Life and Revelations (from which the anecdotes are taken): https://archive.org/details/lifeofstmechtild00rome
- To read some of her incredible prayers (and those of St. Gertrude, whose Feast Day was three days ago): https://archive.org/details/PrecesGertrudianae (Speaking of this book, Servant of God Fr. Paul of Moll said: “Of all prayer books, this is the most beautiful.”)
St. Mechtilde, pray for us!
St. Gertrude, pray for us!
Littlest Souls 