Benedictine and mystic writer; born in Germany, died at Helfta, near Eisleben, Saxony, was one of the great mystics of the 13th century.

    Gertrude, a Benedictine nun in Helfta (Saxony), Together with her friend and teacher St. Mechtild, she practiced a spirituality called "nuptial mysticism," that is, she came to see herself as the bride of Christ. Her spiritual life was a deep personal union with Jesus and his Sacred Heart, leading her into the very life of the Trinity.

    But this was no individualistic piety. Gertrude lived the rhythm of the liturgy, where she found Christ. In the liturgy and Scripture, she found the themes and images to enrich and express her piety. There was no clash between her personal prayer life and the liturgy. She had the gift of miracles as well as that of prophecy.

    Many of the writings of St. Gertrude have unfortunately perished. Those now extant are:

• The "Legatus Divinae Pietatis",
• The "Exercises of St. Gertrude";
• The "Liber Specialis Gratiae" of St. Mechtilde.

  The writings were warmly received especially in Spain, and among the long list of holy and learned authorities who used and recommended her works may be mentioned St. Teresa, who chose her as her model and guide, the Discalced Carmelite Friars of France, St. Francis de Sales.

Comment: Gertrude's life is another reminder that the heart of the Christian life is prayer: private and liturgical, ordinary or mystical, always personal.

http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1199   http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06534a.htm
St. Gertrude the Great
http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/1116.htm 

    They had six sons and two daughters. Margaret personally supervised their religious instruction and their other studies.

    Although she was very much caught up in the affairs of the household and country, she remained detached from the world. Her private life was austere. She had certain times for prayer and reading Scripture. She ate sparingly and slept little in order to have time for devotions.
    She and Malcolm kept two Lents, one before Easter and one before Christmas. During these times she always rose at midnight for Mass. On the way home she would wash the feet of six poor persons and give them alms.
    She was always surrounded by beggars in public and never refused them. It is recorded that she never sat down to eat without first feeding nine orphans and 24 adults.   

    Comment: There are two ways to be charitable: the "clean way" and the "messy way." The "clean way" is to give money or clothing to organizations that serve the poor. The "messy way" is dirtying your own hands in personal service to the poor. Margaret's outstanding virtue was her love of the poor. Although very generous with material gifts, Margaret also visited the sick and nursed them with her own hands. She and her husband served orphans and the poor on their knees during Advent and Lent. Like Christ, she was charitable the "messy way."

Born 1045 in Hungary

Died 16 November 1093 at Edinburgh Castle, Scotland, four days after her husband and son died in defense of the castle; buried in front of the high altar at Dunfermline, Scotland; relics later removed to a nearby shrine; the bulk of her relics were destroyed in stages during the Protestant Reformation and the French Revolution

Canonized 1251 by Pope Innocent IV

More Information:
    http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1201
    Margaret of Scotland
    http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/1116.htm