A find, a treasure found in a Thrift store. A treasure to me, but to another, it might have been tossed away, and forgotten. Think about the fact that for someone to have given it away just like that; furthermore by the grace of God this little treasure was found.
Found not be me, but a friend who gave it to me, knowing someday I would appreciate its contents.
A diary of a sort, or notebook of thoughts, prayers, a part of her life. She was born in 1885, married in 1912 and wrote beautiful meditations of the Mass, Stations of the Cross, Mysteries of the rosary. One phrase, in particular, written therein I had to research it on the Internet for the true meaning and origin. She speaks of the “princes of Thy Kingdom with an increase of Felicity and Beatitude.” (Princes = plural for angels) This phrase is mentioned over and over throughout her writings.
My research via the Internet brought me to this text in the publication titled “Life of St. Gertrude.” The book reads:
“As the Feast of St. Michael approached, St. Gertrude prepared herself for Holy Communion by meditation on the care which the angels had of her, by the divine command, notwithstanding her unworthiness. And as she desires to render some return to them, she offered in their honor the life-giving Body and Blood of Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament. Her words: “I offer You this most august Sacrament, O most loving Lord, for Your eternal glory, in honor of the princes of Your Kingdom and for the increase of their felicity and Beatitude.”
Then our Lord drew this oblation to Himself in an ineffable manner, thereby causing the greatest joy to these angel spirits, who appeared even as if they had never before experienced such blessedness and superabounded in delights. Then each of the choirs of angels, according to their rank, inclined respectfully before St. Gertrude, saying: “You have indeed honored us by this oblation, and we will, therefore, guard you with special care” ( Life of St. Gertrude, IV, ch. 54, p. 462).
Moreover, thereafter a representative from each of the first six choirs approached her to thank her and promised her special graces in gratitude: 1) the Angels promised special protection; 2) the Archangels, light into the divine mysteries; 3) the Virtues, assistance in her writings and meditations; 4) the Dominations, by their praise and intercession to make good any negligence on her part; 5) the Principalities, to adorn her and present her to God; 6) the Powers, to remove every impediment to her spiritual growth (ibid, pp. 463)
The more I study this little treasure, the more I feel as if I know this woman. Based on a few things she writes about herself, I know her name at birth was Iva Myrtle Fonts, she was born in 1885; if alive today she would be 133 years old this coming June. She married at age 27 becoming Myrtle Doyle (she addressed herself always as Myrtle Doyle) and widowed at the age of 51.
I am beginning to see a picture of the young Myrtle struggling with her path; choosing either a religious or married vocation. One of her entries she writes a personal note addressed to Mary, the mother of Jesus. “Please take me home Mary sweet mother, your wandering child who did not know her mother’s voice when she called her years ago. Mary, sweet mother, forgive me, please do and come with Jesus for me. The most unworthy one that God has made thirsty for flames of Divine Love to consume her … My God the life of my soul. Please consume me for I am no more but all Thine.”
There is also a tiny picture of a woman in nuns habit which she marked it Myrtle age 55.
Her meditations about the Latin Mass of All Times are quite inspirational; how she relates all to the sufferings of Jesus as an example when the priest enters the sanctuary he kisses the altar, she writes of how Jesus now betrayed with a kiss. The priest says Dominus Vobiscum, (The Lord be with you) Myrtle mentions of how when Jesus looked at Peter when Peter denied him, Peters conversion was elevated.
I can relate to this because it is my belief also that we convert in degrees according to grace, some are at a higher level as we progress closer to our goal. We continue to go forward as long as we are committed to God’s Will.
There are so many beautiful thoughts in this little booklet, the subject of this post and written in Myrtle’s hand. I hope that it is not only a treasure for Traditional Catholics who remember the Church before Vatican II adaptions to the world but to everyone reading this post.
