Alexandra Barratt is professor emeritus at the University of Waikato in New Zealand. She studied at the Universities of Cambridge and Toronto and has published extensively on religious writing by medieval women in Latin and English. She has previously translated Books One and Two (CF035) and Book Three (CF063) of The Herald for the Cistercian Fathers series.

"Having now translated the first four books of Herald of God's Loving Kindness, Alexandra Barratt has made an invaluable contribution to studies on Gertrud the Great and the women religious at Helfta. Barratt's introduction and notes helpfully elucidate the role of liturgy and music especially central in this book of the Herald. Her translation achieves the delicate balance between being faithful to the singular charisma of Gertrud of Helfta and being accessible to the contemporary reader."Ella Johnson, Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology, St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry

• CONTENTSList of Abbreviations   ixIntroduction   xi THE HERALD OF GOD’S LOVING-KINDNESSPrologue   3Chapter 1: Preparation for the Birth of Christ   5Chapter 2: The Vigil of the Most Sweet Birth of Jesus   9Chapter 3: The Honey-Sweet Nativity of the Lord   21Chapter 4: Saint John Apostle and Evangelist   27Chapter 5: Salutation of the Name of Jesu on the Feast of the Circumcision   39Chapter 6: A Threefold Offering on the Epiphany of the Lord   43Chapter 7: Veneration of the Lord’s Face on Omnis Terra Sunday   49Chapter 8: Blessed Agnes, Virgin and Martyr   53Chapter 9: The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary   55Chapter 10: Saint Gregory the Pope   61Chapter 11: Blessed Benedict Our Father: How Blessed Are Those Who Protect the Monastic Life   65Chapter 12: The Lord’s Annunciation   69Chapter 13: The Intentions That Should Be Offered for the Church on Circumdederunt Sunday   77Chapter 14: Building the Ark: On Exurge Quare Sunday   81 Chapter 15: Relief from a Burden on Esto Mihi Sunday 87Chapter 16: The Recording of Good Works and How They Should Be Undertaken in Union with Christ’s Passion   93Chapter 17: The Lord’s Offering on Behalf of Trudi’s Soul, and Three Victories: Invocavit Sunday   99Chapter 18: Works of Spiritual Mercy: Monday   103Chapter 19: Offering for the Church on Reminiscere Sunday   105Chapter 20: Purchase of Christ’s Way of Life: On Oculi Mei Sunday   107Chapter 21: The Lord’s Supper: On Laetare Sunday   109Chapter 22: The Utility of Mindfulness of the Lord’s Passion: On Judica Sunday   113Chapter 23: Service and Hospitality for the Lord: On Palm Sunday   117Chapter 24: The Acceptability of Genuflection: Wednesday   127Chapter 25: The Liturgy at the Lord’s Supper   131Chapter 26: Good Friday   137Chapter 27: The Resurrection of the Lord   145Chapter 28: The Following Monday: Scrutiny of Her Life in Religion   149Chapter 29: Renewal of Her Spiritual Marriage   153Chapter 30: Wednesday: Spiritual Fertility   155Chapter 31: How Useful It Is to Entrust All One’s Works to God   157Chapter 32: On the Octave Day of Easter: How She Received the Holy Spirit   159Chapter 33: The Greater Litany on the Feast of Mark   161Chapter 34: Saint John before the Latin Gate   163Chapter 35: Preparation before the Feast of the Ascension   167Chapter 36: The Solemn Day of the Lord’s Ascension   175Chapter 37: Preparation for the Feast of Pentecost   179Chapter 38: The Honey-Sweet Feast of Pentecost   181Chapter 39: Compensation for Her Spiritual Attitude   187Chapter 40: The Grace of the Holy Spirit   189Chapter 41: The Feast of the Glorious Trinity   191Chapter 42: Saint John the Baptist   195Chapter 43: Saint Leo the Pope   197Chapter 44: The Holy Apostles Peter and Paul   201Chapter 45: Saint Margaret the Virgin   205Chapter 46: Saint Mary Magdalene   207Chapter 47: Saint James the Apostle   211Chapter 48: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin   213Chapter 49: Saint Bernard the Abbot   235Chapter 50: The Worth of Saint Augustine, Saint Dominic, and Saint Francis   239Chapter 51: The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary   249Chapter 52: The Dignity of the Holy Cross   257Chapter 53: On Angels: The Feast of Michael the Archangel   263Chapter 54: The Feast of the Eleven Thousand Virgins   267Chapter 55: The Feast of All Saints   273Chapter 56: Saint Elizabeth   277Chapter 57: Saint Catherine, Virgin and Martyr   279Chapter 58: The Feast of the Dedication of the Church   281Chapter 59: The Consecration of the Chapel   287Scriptural Index   291

Alexandra Barratt is professor emeritus at the University of Waikato in New Zealand. She studied at the Universities of Cambridge and Toronto and has published extensively on religious writing by medieval women in Latin and English. She has previously translated Books One and Two (CF035) and Book Three (CF063) of The Herald for the Cistercian Fathers series.

"Having now translated the first four books of Herald of God's Loving Kindness, Alexandra Barratt has made an invaluable contribution to studies on Gertrud the Great and the women religious at Helfta. Barratt's introduction and notes helpfully elucidate the role of liturgy and music especially central in this book of the Herald. Her translation achieves the delicate balance between being faithful to the singular charisma of Gertrud of Helfta and being accessible to the contemporary reader."Ella Johnson, Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology, St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry

• CONTENTSList of Abbreviations   ixIntroduction   xi THE HERALD OF GOD’S LOVING-KINDNESSPrologue   3Chapter 1: Preparation for the Birth of Christ   5Chapter 2: The Vigil of the Most Sweet Birth of Jesus   9Chapter 3: The Honey-Sweet Nativity of the Lord   21Chapter 4: Saint John Apostle and Evangelist   27Chapter 5: Salutation of the Name of Jesu on the Feast of the Circumcision   39Chapter 6: A Threefold Offering on the Epiphany of the Lord   43Chapter 7: Veneration of the Lord’s Face on Omnis Terra Sunday   49Chapter 8: Blessed Agnes, Virgin and Martyr   53Chapter 9: The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary   55Chapter 10: Saint Gregory the Pope   61Chapter 11: Blessed Benedict Our Father: How Blessed Are Those Who Protect the Monastic Life   65Chapter 12: The Lord’s Annunciation   69Chapter 13: The Intentions That Should Be Offered for the Church on Circumdederunt Sunday   77Chapter 14: Building the Ark: On Exurge Quare Sunday   81 Chapter 15: Relief from a Burden on Esto Mihi Sunday 87Chapter 16: The Recording of Good Works and How They Should Be Undertaken in Union with Christ’s Passion   93Chapter 17: The Lord’s Offering on Behalf of Trudi’s Soul, and Three Victories: Invocavit Sunday   99Chapter 18: Works of Spiritual Mercy: Monday   103Chapter 19: Offering for the Church on Reminiscere Sunday   105Chapter 20: Purchase of Christ’s Way of Life: On Oculi Mei Sunday   107Chapter 21: The Lord’s Supper: On Laetare Sunday   109Chapter 22: The Utility of Mindfulness of the Lord’s Passion: On Judica Sunday   113Chapter 23: Service and Hospitality for the Lord: On Palm Sunday   117Chapter 24: The Acceptability of Genuflection: Wednesday   127Chapter 25: The Liturgy at the Lord’s Supper   131Chapter 26: Good Friday   137Chapter 27: The Resurrection of the Lord   145Chapter 28: The Following Monday: Scrutiny of Her Life in Religion   149Chapter 29: Renewal of Her Spiritual Marriage   153Chapter 30: Wednesday: Spiritual Fertility   155Chapter 31: How Useful It Is to Entrust All One’s Works to God   157Chapter 32: On the Octave Day of Easter: How She Received the Holy Spirit   159Chapter 33: The Greater Litany on the Feast of Mark   161Chapter 34: Saint John before the Latin Gate   163Chapter 35: Preparation before the Feast of the Ascension   167Chapter 36: The Solemn Day of the Lord’s Ascension   175Chapter 37: Preparation for the Feast of Pentecost   179Chapter 38: The Honey-Sweet Feast of Pentecost   181Chapter 39: Compensation for Her Spiritual Attitude   187Chapter 40: The Grace of the Holy Spirit   189Chapter 41: The Feast of the Glorious Trinity   191Chapter 42: Saint John the Baptist   195Chapter 43: Saint Leo the Pope   197Chapter 44: The Holy Apostles Peter and Paul   201Chapter 45: Saint Margaret the Virgin   205Chapter 46: Saint Mary Magdalene   207Chapter 47: Saint James the Apostle   211Chapter 48: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin   213Chapter 49: Saint Bernard the Abbot   235Chapter 50: The Worth of Saint Augustine, Saint Dominic, and Saint Francis   239Chapter 51: The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary   249Chapter 52: The Dignity of the Holy Cross   257Chapter 53: On Angels: The Feast of Michael the Archangel   263Chapter 54: The Feast of the Eleven Thousand Virgins   267Chapter 55: The Feast of All Saints   273Chapter 56: Saint Elizabeth   277Chapter 57: Saint Catherine, Virgin and Martyr   279Chapter 58: The Feast of the Dedication of the Church   281Chapter 59: The Consecration of the Chapel   287Scriptural Index   291

Alexandra Barratt is professor emeritus at the University of Waikato in New Zealand. She studied at the Universities of Cambridge and Toronto and has published extensively on religious writing by medieval women in Latin and English. She has previously translated Books One and Two (CF035) and Book Three (CF063) of The Herald for the Cistercian Fathers series.

"Having now translated the first four books of Herald of God's Loving Kindness, Alexandra Barratt has made an invaluable contribution to studies on Gertrud the Great and the women religious at Helfta. Barratt's introduction and notes helpfully elucidate the role of liturgy and music especially central in this book of the Herald. Her translation achieves the delicate balance between being faithful to the singular charisma of Gertrud of Helfta and being accessible to the contemporary reader."Ella Johnson, Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology, St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry

• CONTENTSList of Abbreviations   ixIntroduction   xi THE HERALD OF GOD’S LOVING-KINDNESSPrologue   3Chapter 1: Preparation for the Birth of Christ   5Chapter 2: The Vigil of the Most Sweet Birth of Jesus   9Chapter 3: The Honey-Sweet Nativity of the Lord   21Chapter 4: Saint John Apostle and Evangelist   27Chapter 5: Salutation of the Name of Jesu on the Feast of the Circumcision   39Chapter 6: A Threefold Offering on the Epiphany of the Lord   43Chapter 7: Veneration of the Lord’s Face on Omnis Terra Sunday   49Chapter 8: Blessed Agnes, Virgin and Martyr   53Chapter 9: The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary   55Chapter 10: Saint Gregory the Pope   61Chapter 11: Blessed Benedict Our Father: How Blessed Are Those Who Protect the Monastic Life   65Chapter 12: The Lord’s Annunciation   69Chapter 13: The Intentions That Should Be Offered for the Church on Circumdederunt Sunday   77Chapter 14: Building the Ark: On Exurge Quare Sunday   81 Chapter 15: Relief from a Burden on Esto Mihi Sunday 87Chapter 16: The Recording of Good Works and How They Should Be Undertaken in Union with Christ’s Passion   93Chapter 17: The Lord’s Offering on Behalf of Trudi’s Soul, and Three Victories: Invocavit Sunday   99Chapter 18: Works of Spiritual Mercy: Monday   103Chapter 19: Offering for the Church on Reminiscere Sunday   105Chapter 20: Purchase of Christ’s Way of Life: On Oculi Mei Sunday   107Chapter 21: The Lord’s Supper: On Laetare Sunday   109Chapter 22: The Utility of Mindfulness of the Lord’s Passion: On Judica Sunday   113Chapter 23: Service and Hospitality for the Lord: On Palm Sunday   117Chapter 24: The Acceptability of Genuflection: Wednesday   127Chapter 25: The Liturgy at the Lord’s Supper   131Chapter 26: Good Friday   137Chapter 27: The Resurrection of the Lord   145Chapter 28: The Following Monday: Scrutiny of Her Life in Religion   149Chapter 29: Renewal of Her Spiritual Marriage   153Chapter 30: Wednesday: Spiritual Fertility   155Chapter 31: How Useful It Is to Entrust All One’s Works to God   157Chapter 32: On the Octave Day of Easter: How She Received the Holy Spirit   159Chapter 33: The Greater Litany on the Feast of Mark   161Chapter 34: Saint John before the Latin Gate   163Chapter 35: Preparation before the Feast of the Ascension   167Chapter 36: The Solemn Day of the Lord’s Ascension   175Chapter 37: Preparation for the Feast of Pentecost   179Chapter 38: The Honey-Sweet Feast of Pentecost   181Chapter 39: Compensation for Her Spiritual Attitude   187Chapter 40: The Grace of the Holy Spirit   189Chapter 41: The Feast of the Glorious Trinity   191Chapter 42: Saint John the Baptist   195Chapter 43: Saint Leo the Pope   197Chapter 44: The Holy Apostles Peter and Paul   201Chapter 45: Saint Margaret the Virgin   205Chapter 46: Saint Mary Magdalene   207Chapter 47: Saint James the Apostle   211Chapter 48: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin   213Chapter 49: Saint Bernard the Abbot   235Chapter 50: The Worth of Saint Augustine, Saint Dominic, and Saint Francis   239Chapter 51: The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary   249Chapter 52: The Dignity of the Holy Cross   257Chapter 53: On Angels: The Feast of Michael the Archangel   263Chapter 54: The Feast of the Eleven Thousand Virgins   267Chapter 55: The Feast of All Saints   273Chapter 56: Saint Elizabeth   277Chapter 57: Saint Catherine, Virgin and Martyr   279Chapter 58: The Feast of the Dedication of the Church   281Chapter 59: The Consecration of the Chapel   287Scriptural Index   291