From this book
Page 356
CHAPTER XV.
For the Monday after the First Sunday of Lent.
Of the true manner of
spiritually performing the corporal works of
mercy, the second
feria after the Sunday Invocalit, as these words
were read in the
Gospel, "Come, ye blessed of My Father ;
for I was
hungry," St. Gertrude said to our Lord : "
my Lord, since we cannot feed the hungry and give drink
to the
thirsty, because our Rule forbids us to possess any-
thing of our own, teach me how we may participate in the
sweet
blessings with which Thou hast promised in this
Gospel to reward works of mercy." Our Lord replied : "As
I am the Salvation and Life of the soul, and as I continu
ally hunger and thirst for the salvation of men, if you
endeavour to
study some words of Scripture every day for
the benefit of
others, you will bestow on Me a most sweet
refection. If
you read with the intention of obtaining the
grace of compunction or devotion,
you appease My thirstby giving Me an agreeable beverage to drink. If you employ yourself in recollection for an hour each day, you giveMehospitality ; and if you apply yourself daily to acquiresome new virtue, you clothe Me. You visit Me when sick,by striving to overcome temptation, and to conquer yourevil inclinations;andyou visit Me in prison, and solace Myafflictions with the sweetest consolations, when you prayfor sinners and for the souls inpurgatory." He added :" Those whoperform these devotions daily for My love,especially during the holy season of Lent, will most certainly receive the tenderest and most bountiful recompensewhich My incomprehensible omnipotence, My inscrutable
wisdom, and My most loving benevolence, can bestow."