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Locations - Bethsur - Bet-Çur - Bethsour

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

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GRM 207.1 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

Simon of Jonah comes forward, he reaches Jesus’ group and asks: «Is this the road to Bethlehem? John says that the last time You took another road.»
«That is true» replies Jesus. «But that was because we were coming from Jerusalem. This one is shorter. At Rachel’s sepulchre, which the women wish to see, we will part, as you decided some time ago. We will meet later at Bethzur, where My Mother wishes to stop.»

Annotation

Are we going from here to Bethlehem? John says you took a different route last time. Journey of Jesus, John, Judas and Simon the Zealot. Cf. EMV 70 to EMV 74.

We'll meet again at Bet-çur: BET-ÇUR: (the watchman's house). Betsur (pronounced Betsour) in Maria Valtorta's original. Translated by Béthsur (1985) and Bet-Çur (2016) in French editions. Other spellings encountered: Bethsur, Beth-Tsur, Beth-Zur, Bethsour. Today Beit Sur, 6 km north of Hebron.

Where my Mother wishes to stop: To meet a friend from the Temple: Élise. See EMV 208 below.

Genesis 35:18-19 - Rachel, Laban's youngest daughter. She was very beautiful. Jacob met her at the well where she was watering her flock, near Haran in Mesopotamia. As soon as he saw her, he loved her. Jacob, who had no property of his own, could not pay the sum that every suitor would give to the parents of a young girl. So he served his father-in-law for 7 years, in order to obtain Rachel. At the same time, Jacob, isolated and fugitive, was happy to be attached to a patriarchal group. He entered into a contract, and was given a wife from the clan. From then on, he could not leave and take his wife and children without permission, even at the end of the contract. At the end of the first 7 years, Laban tricked Jacob into marrying Leah, his eldest daughter, who was apparently much less attractive. Isaac's son served another 7 years to get the youngest, the only one he loved. Rachel became his wife(Genesis 29:1-30), the mother of Joseph(Genesis 30:22-25), then of Benjamin; she died when Benjamin was born(Genesis 35:16-20; 48:7). Jacob buried her a little north of Ephrata, better known as Bethlehem. The tomb was in a place that travelers passing through on their way from Bethel to Bethlehem (source BibleOnLine).

Book of Genesis 35, 16-19

Gn 35, 16-19 : They set out from Bethel. There was still some distance to go before they reached Ephrathah, when Rachel gave birth, and her labor was painful. During the pains of childbirth, the midwife said to her, "Do not be afraid, for you are about to have another son." As her soul departed - for she was dying - she named him Benoni; but his father called him Benjamin. Rachel died, and was buried on the road to Ephrathah, which is Bethlehem. 20Jacob erected a monument over her grave; this is the monument of Rachel's Tomb, which still stands today.

Keywords

GRM 207.10 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«Come out here, now, near the stream, in the shade of the good tree, which, if it were later in summer, would give you its apples in addition to its shade; come. We shall eat before going… Where, Son?»
«To Jala. It is near. And tomorrow we shall go to Bethzur.»

Detail

The Virgin Mary speaks.

Annotation

In Jala: Beit Jala (the house of grassland). The name of this village does not appear in the Bible, nor in any current ancient source. It can therefore be considered a "rare acquaintance of Maria Valtorta" (Jean-François Lavère, Dictionnaire géographique de l'Évangile, after Maria Valtorta).

Keywords

GRM 208

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Chapter title: Mary sees shepherd Elijah again and goes to Elise of Bet-Çur (Bethsur).

Date of vision: Wednesday, July 4, 1945

Calendar: Friday, April 7, 28 (Nissan 24, 3788)

Location (map): Towards Bet-çur

Cycle: Journey to await Pentecost

Summary: Jesus sends the apostles ahead to look for Elijah and the shepherds of the Nativity. Marziam stays with him, along with the Virgin Mary, Mary of Alphaeus and Mary Salome. The child wants to learn more about the shepherds and is surprised that they have been treated badly. The Virgin and Marziam then talk about the massacre of the Innocents and Limbo, and Mary assures him that he won't be going to Sheol, since Jesus will have already opened the gates of Heaven when he dies. The young boy finally asks how we can be with God if the Father is in Heaven, and Jesus' Mother explains that God is omnipresent and loves us. The fact that the Lord can even love Doras disturbs the child, and when Mary suggests he pray for repentance, Marziam replies spiritedly that he would rather pray for the Pharisee to die. Everyone laughs at his repartee, and Mary later corrects him, saying that God cannot approve of such an attitude. But Marziam has suffered too much because of Doras, and after recounting some of his memories, he cries, screams and writhes in pain. Jesus intervenes and instructs him not to hate anyone, under any circumstances, and to ask the Father himself to think about what he wants. Peace is restored to the child's heart, and the group continues on its way.

Chapter contents: 208.1: Jesus sends the apostles to find the shepherds. 208.2: Mary tells Marziam about the Holy Innocents, Limbo and Heaven. 208.3: She tells him about forgiving even Doras, who has made him suffer so much, but Marziam can't help hating him. 208.4: Jesus convinces him not to hate, but to pray. 208.5: We arrive at Solomon's Pools, where his splendid gardens were located. 208.6: On the way to Bet-Çur. 208.7: In Bet-çur, Mary greets Elijah, who brings her bad news from Elise. 208.8: Mary and Jesus manage to enter her home. 208.9: Faced with Elise's grief, Mary tells her that her dead son brings her the Christ he was looking for. 208.10: Jesus confirms to her that his people live forever. 208.11: Tomorrow he will speak near her house. Mary remains at home. Faced with Elise's change of heart, the servant girl cries out for a miracle.

Previous edition: Tome 3, chapter 70

Keywords

GRM 209

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Chapter title: The fruitfulness of suffering in Jesus' discourse near Elise's house in Bet-Çur.

Date of vision: Thursday, July 5, 1945.

Calendar: Friday, April 7, 28 (Nissan 25, 3788)

Location (map): Bet-Çur

Cycle: Apostolate in Judea

Summary: The people of Bet-Çur learn that Elise has recovered from her illness, and they wish to see her, both out of friendship and curiosity. Jesus gently restrains them, as only he can, and then goes to see his Mother and Elise. The two women are both in the garden, but it is now neglected, and the Virgin promises that they will restore it to its former glory. So she gets to stay with her friend for a few days. Christ then goes to see the shepherds and tells them that he wishes to have them as disciples, but to do so, they must leave their present jobs. Since it wouldn't be right to leave everything just like that, they agree with Jesus to continue caring for their flocks until their employer knows how to take on new shepherds.

With this point settled, the Lord gives a discourse near Elise's house, in a place where she can hear him without being seen by the villagers. After discreetly mentioning Marziam's orphan sorrow and Elise's sad widowhood, He promises to call many men to follow Him, for He is no longer sufficient to meet the infinite needs of His brothers, and He must console them by bringing them the exact knowledge of God. He thus invites souls to come, through his disciples and apostles, to find comfort in their suffering.

Jesus then evokes the Book of Ruth and the grief of Naomi, who had lost her husband and children. Ruth, her daughter-in-law, refused to leave her, because she understood that her pain as a young widow was less burdensome than Naomi's pain at the loss of her children. Suffering is thus a cross, "but it is also a wing", and the Redeemer particularly insists on the value of charity, on stepping out of oneself, out of one's darkness, out of one's selfishness. He encourages us to reach out to the orphans, the sick, the isolated, and to forget ourselves in the midst of those who are forgotten. In this way, those who had nothing left will one day be able to bless the Lord thanks to these people who will have brought them out of their misfortune, their loneliness and their suffering.

Jesus concludes with the consequences of kindness, which can "provoke such a tide of love". He concludes his speech there, while Elise weeps, and he lets no one into the garden where she is.

Chapter contents: 209.1: Elise's healing arouses the curiosity of the people of Bet-Çur. 209.2: Respect Elise's convalescence. 209.3: Jesus enters Elise's garden. Mary will stay with her for a few days. 209.4: Jesus invites the three shepherds to follow him. 209.5: God alone relieves suffering. Come to me through my disciples. 209.6: Meditate on Naomi's pain and Ruth's love. 209.7: Pain is a cross and a wing. The unsuspected effects of kindness. Jesus protects Elise.

Previous edition: Tome 3, chapter 71

Keywords

GRM 214.4 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«Here, Son, Eliza’s greetings» says Mary, handing a small parchment roll to Jesus Who unfolds it and reads it, then says: «I knew. I was sure. Thank You, Mother. On My behalf and on Eliza’s. You really are the health of the sick!»
«I? You, Son. Not I.»
«You; and You are My greatest help.» He then turns to the apostles and women disciples and says: «Eliza writes: “Come back, my Peace. I want not only to love You, but to serve You”. So we have relieved a creature of her anguish and melancholy, and we have gained a disciple. Yes, we will go back.»
«She wishes to meet also the women disciples. She is recovering slowy, but without relapsing. Poor Eliza! She still undergoes moments of frightful bewilderment. Does she not, Simon? One day she wanted to try to come out with Me, but she saw a friend of Daniel’s… and we had great difficulty in calming her weeping. But Simon is so clever! And since Eliza expressed the desire to return to the world, but the world of Bethzur is too full of memories for her, Simon suggested we should call Johanna. And he went to call her. After the feast she went back to Bether, to her magnificent rose-garden in Judaea. Simon says that he seemed to be dreaming, while crossing the hills covered with rose-bushes, that he was already in Paradise. She came at once. She is in a position to understand and pity a mother mourning her sons! Eliza has become very fond of her and I came away. Johanna wants to persuade her to leave Bethzur and go to her castle. And she will succeed because she is as sweet as a dove but as firm as a rock in her decisions.»
«We shall go to Bethzur on our way back and then we shall part. You women disciples will stay with Eliza and Johanna for some time. We will go through Judaea and we shall meet in Jerusalem for Pentecost»…

Annotation

Come back, my Peace. I want not only to love you but to serve you. These words follow Jesus’ presence in EMV 208 and EMV 209. Mary then remained in Bet-Çur starting with EMV 210.

You are my greatest help. Jesus indeed desires that everyone help him save sinners and spread the Good News in people’s hearts. In this case, it is an example of Mary’s assistance in Jesus’ apostolate.