Novena of Reparation

Having been reading the Life and Revelations of Saint Gertrude the Great I was struck by the following passage the other day:

Reparation for the Disorders of the Carnival.

On Quinquagesima Sunday St. Gertrude saw that Our Lord had all the reparations which she and her Sisters offered Him during the Carnival marked in the Book of Life. "I will give thee" said Jesus "in return for all these services, a measure full, pressed down, heaped up and overflowing; for My human Heart, like thine own, feels more deeply the kindnesses shown to Me in times of sorrow than those I may receive in the time of prosperity. Like David, who deigned to admit into his palace and to his table the children of Berzellari (who had assisted him when he fled from the persecution of Absalom), and showed them his gratitude even til death - in like manner I will admit these to the table of My delights, and for all eternity will be grateful to those who show Me honour now, when I am persecuted by the world."

Jesus then recomended her to offer all her works of atonement in union with his Passion, from which they derive all their merit, and how St. Gertrude begging Him to teach her how He wished her to do this, He indicated to her for this effect to pray with her arms extended in the form of a cross, by which we represent to the eyes of God the figure of His Divine and crucified Son.



Immediately this reminded me of the Divine Mercy because this is how the sisters of mercy pray with their arms outstretched and Jesus was saying this to Saint Gertrude centuries before Saint Faustina!

The carnival put into my mind the thought of the yearly Gay Pride March which takes place in Brighton in Sussex on August 1st.

Since Gertrude and her nuns were making reparation for Jesus so offended back then in the thirteenth century how much reparation is needed now because of what goes on today throughout the world.

A specific novena of reparation for many of the things that take place during these marches and also to give support to the many people who are striving to lead a good life through groups such as Courage would be a good thing to do this year.