St Gertrude the Great (1256-1302) was a Benedictine mystic and she is patroness of the West Indies. She was born in Germany and placed in a Benedictine convent at the age of five. She had a vision of Jesus at the age of twenty-six. She wrote a number of books and many prayers, spreading devotion of the Sacred Heart. She is also credited with this special prayer for the souls in Purgatory. Jesus, Himself told her that He would ease the suffering of 1000 souls, release them from purgatory and welcome them into Heaven, each time this prayer is prayed devoutly!
