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Elisabeth Maternity Hospital

Theme: Characters in The Gospel as it was revealed to me

Reading comfort

Aa

GRM 22.1-2

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

22.1 It is morning. I see Mary sewing, sitting in the room on the ground floor. Elizabeth is going to and fro, busy with the housework. And when she comes into Mary’s room, she never fails to go and caress Her fair head, which looks even more fair against the rather dark walls and in the beautiful sun rays that enter through the door open onto the garden.

Elizabeth bends down to look at Mary’s work — the embroidery She had in Nazareth — and she praises its beauty.

«I have also some linen to spin,» says Mary.

«For your Child?»

«No. I had it already when I never thought…» Mary does not say anything else. But I understand: «…when I never thought I was to be the Mother of God.»

«But now You will have to use it for Him. Is it good? Fine? Children, You know, need very soft material.»

«I know.»

«I had begun… Late, because I wanted to be sure that it was not a deception of the Evil One. Although… I felt such a joy within me, that it could not possibly come from Satan. After… I suffered so much. I am old, Mary, really old, to be in this state.

22.2 I suffered so much. Don’t You suffer…»

«No. I don’t. I have never been so well.»

«Of course. Quite right. You… there is no stain in You, as God chose You for His Mother. And that is why You are not subject to Eve’s sufferings. The One You bear is holy.»

«I feel as if I had a wing in My heart and not a burden. I seem to have within Me all the flowers and all the birds that sing in springtime, and all the honey and all the sunshine… Oh! I am so happy!»

«Blessed Mary! Neither do I any longer feel burden, tiredness or pain, since I saw You. I seem to be new, young, freed from the miseries of woman’s flesh. My child, after leaping happily at the sound of Your voice, is now quiet in his joy. And I seem to have him, in me, as in a living cradle, and I see him sleeping satisfied and happy, breathing like a little bird under the wing of its mother…»

GRM 22.4

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

I feel a joy in me since You came here. I feel that my test is about to end and that I shall soon be completely happy.

GRM 22.6

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

22.6 I see Mary Who is spinning very quickly under the pergola, where the grapes are growing bigger and bigger. Some time must have elapsed because the apples are beginning to redden on the trees and the bees are humming near the fig flowers already mature.

Elizabeth is now quite stout, and she is walking heavily. Mary looks at her carefully and lovingly. Also Mary’s sides appear more round when She gets up to pick up the spindle which has fallen far away from Her. The expression on Her face has changed. It is more mature; before She was a girl, now She is a woman.

The women go into the house because it is now getting dark, and the lamps are lit in the room. While waiting for supper, Mary begins to weave.

«Do You never get tired?» asks Elizabeth, pointing to the loom.

«No, you can be sure of that.»

«I am exhausted by this heat. I have not suffered any longer, but now the weight is too heavy for my old kidneys.»

«Take courage. You will soon be free. How happy you will then be.»