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Places in The Gospel as it was revealed to me

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Aa

GRM 16.1

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

What I see. Mary, a very young girl: She looks fifteen years old, at the most. She is in a small rectangular room: a room most suitable for a girl. Along one of the longer walls there is a bed: a low bed, without bedstead, covered with thick mats or carpets, which appear to be laid on boards or cane-trellis, because they are very stiff and without any curve, as is usual with our beds. Against the other wall there is a kind of bookcase with an oil lamp, some rolls of parchment, some needlework carefully folded: it seems to be embroidery work.

Beside the bookcase, towards the door, which opens onto the kitchen garden and which is now covered by a curtain gently moved by a light breeze, there is the Virgin sitting on a low stool. She is spinning some linen which is as white as snow and as soft as silk. Her little hands, just a little darker than linen, are whirling the spindle very quickly. Her beautiful young face is slightly bent forward and She is smiling gently as if She were caressing or following some sweet thought.

There is a great silence in the little house and in the kitchen garden. There is a great peace both on Mary’s face and in the surrounding place. There is peace and order. Everything is neat and tidy and the room, although very modest looking and very modestly furnished — it is almost as bare as a cell — has something austere and regal about it because of its cleanliness and the care with which everything is laid: the clothes on the bed, the rolls, the lamp, the copper pitcher near the lamp, with a bunch of branches in bloom in it. I do not know whether they are peach or pear branches. They are certainly branches of a fruit-tree, with pinkish white flowers.

GRM 18

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Chapter title: Mary announces Elizabeth's maternity to Joseph and entrusts God with the task of justifying hers.

Date of vision and dictation: Saturday, March 25, 1944 (Feast of the Annunciation).

Calendar: Wednesday, February 21, year -5

Location (map): Nazareth

Cycle: Birth and childhood of Jesus

Summary: Mary is alone in her house in Nazareth. It must be the evening of the Annunciation. She prays, then eats very simply. Joseph arrives after she has finished, and is greeted by his wife. He brings her grapes and eggs, which he wants to offer to Mary. The Full of Grace realizes that he hasn't eaten, so she brings him what he needs: he just refuses the eggs, which are for Mary, and only for her. The patriarch of the Holy Family eats and they talk together. Joseph tells the story of his day, then, when there is silence, Mary speaks up, announcing her cousin's maternity. Joseph is surprised, and asks how she found out, then when Mary answers, she asks permission to go and see Elizabeth. Joseph replied in the affirmative, but asked her to wait a few days, as he had to go to Jerusalem. So they made their way there together. Afterwards, Joseph returns home, but it will be easier for him if he accompanies her to the Holy City. Mary thanks him, and shortly afterwards, Jesus' future father leaves. Mary lets him go, then sighs and prays, no doubt because of her pain at not being able to tell him her secret.

Mary then gives dictation to Maria, and tells her that after coming to herself, during the ecstasy of the Annunciation, her first thought turned to Joseph. She no longer felt any fear in the presence of her husband, but how could she tell him of her maternity? The Holy Spirit commanded her to be silent, and the All-Holy One brought her creaturely confidence to perfection. She abandoned herself to God, and experienced her first sorrow as co-Redemptrix. She then enjoins us to let God defend our reputation...

Chapter contents: 18.1: Mary gets ready for the evening meal. 18.2: Joseph arrives. 18.3: She makes him eat. 18.4: They talk about everything and nothing. 18.5: Mary goes to help Elizabeth when she is pregnant. 18.6: The couple separate. 18.7: What should I tell Joseph? 18.8: Leave it to me to justify you. 18.9: My first sorrow as Coredemptrix. 18.10: Entrust to God the care of your reputation.

GRM 18.1

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

18.1 The little house of Nazareth appears to me with Mary in it. Mary, a young girl, as when the Angel of God appeared to Her. This simple sight fills my soul with the virginal perfume of the house. The scent still remains in the room where the Angel gently waved his golden wings. That divine perfume was all concentrated on Mary to make a mother of Her and it now emanates from Her.

It is evening, because shadows begin to invade the room into which so much heavenly light had descended.

Mary is kneeling near Her little bed and is praying with Her arms crossed over Her breast and Her face bowed down very low. She is still dressed as She was at the moment of the Annunciation. Everything is exactly as it was then. The flowery branch is in its vase, the furniture in the same position. Only the distaff and the spindle are now leaning in a corner, the former with its flax, the latter with its bright thread wrapped around it.

Mary stops praying and stands up, Her face is flushed as if it were lit up by a flame. Her lips are smiling, but Her eyes are shining with tears. She takes the oil lamp and lights it with a flint. She checks that everything is in good order in the room. She straightens up the blanket on the bed as it had been displaced. She adds some water to the vase containing the flowery branch and She places it outside, in the cool of the night. She then comes back in. She takes the folded embroidery from the bookcase and the lamp and goes out closing the door. She takes a few steps in the little kitchen garden, along the side of the house and then goes into the little room where I saw the parting goodbye of Jesus and Mary. I recognise it although some pieces of furniture which were there previously are now missing.

Mary disappears into another small adjoining room, taking the lamp with Her, and I am left alone in the company of the embroidery work laid on the corner of the table. I can hear Mary’s light steps moving to and fro, She then makes a noise with water as if She were washing something. Then there is the noise of broken sticks and I understand that She is lighting the fire.

Then She comes back and goes into the little garden. She comes in once again with some apples and vegetables. She puts the apples on the table, on an engraved metal tray, possibly made of copper. She goes back into the kitchen, (the kitchen is definitely over there). Now the flames of the fireplace are merrily casting light through the open door into this room and make dancing shadows on the wall.

Some time goes by and Mary comes in with a small brown loaf and a bowl of hot milk. She sits down and dips some small slices of bread into the milk. She eats them slowly. Then leaving half of the bowl of milk, She goes into the kitchen and comes back with the vegetables on which She pours some oil and She eats them with the bread. She quenches Her thirst with the milk. She then takes an apple and eats it. The meal of a little girl.

GRM 19

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Chapter title: Mary and Joseph go to Jerusalem.

Date of vision: Monday, March 27, 1944

Calendar: Tuesday, March 19, A.D. -5

Location (map): Departure from Nazareth and journey to Jerusalem

Cycle: Birth and childhood of Jesus

Summary: Joseph and Mary set out for Jerusalem. They leave Nazareth with two donkeys. Joseph has brought a sort of luggage rack, and Mary thanks him for his foresight. They set off just as dawn was breaking. The two travelers meet a shepherd leading his flock: he has a newborn lamb in his arms, crying for its mother, but she follows her baby attentively. The flock passes by, and Joseph and Mary set off again. Arriving in the countryside, they speak little. The streets are busier as they approach hamlets, but the couple pay no attention to those they meet. They stop just in time for a heavy downpour, which turns into a light rain. Joseph takes care that Mary doesn't catch cold. Then they continue their journey.

Chapter contents: 19.1: Joseph picks Mary up with two gray donkeys. 19.2: Early-morning encounter with a flock of sheep and a lamb. 19.3: Quiet journey on more frequented roads, stopping to take shelter from a storm.

GRM 20

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Chapter title: Leaving Jerusalem. The beatific aspect of Mary. Importance of prayer for Mary and Joseph.

Date of vision: Tuesday, March 28, 1944

Calendar: Sunday, March 24, A.D. -5

Location (map): Jerusalem to Hebron

Cycle: Birth and childhood of Jesus

Summary: Joseph and Mary arrive in Jerusalem. They head for the Temple, stopping at a stable where Joseph left his horse during the Presentation in the Temple. They then go to an acquaintance's house for a bite to eat. Mary rests for a while, and Joseph returns with an old man who takes the same route as her. So she had to travel only a short distance on her own. Together they go to another gate of the Holy City, and then the couple say goodbye. The old man is very talkative, and Marie responds patiently. When he falls silent, she recollects herself in prayer.

Maria then describes the Virgin as she sees her in her bedroom, with her glorified body. La Pleine de Grace is very beautiful. Maria concludes with a dictation, drawing attention to the ardent prayer of Joseph and Mary. It invites the soul never to divest itself of the protection of prayer. She urges us to invoke the name of the Lord, even if we are imperfect, to call upon him to communicate his holiness to us. We must imitate the people who endlessly sing the Sanctus.

Chapter contents: 20.1: Joseph presents Mary with a travelling companion. 20.2: The talkative old man ends up dozing off. Mary prays. 20.3: Maria Valtorta lingers to contemplate the chaste Mary. 20.4: Contrast with the tragic hours of the Passion. 20.5: Presence gives great peace. Maria Valtorta recalls Jesus' suffering in Gethsemane. 20.6: Mary and Joseph always give first place to prayer. 20.7 : In weakness or holiness, always invoke the Lord's holiness. 20.8 : Living prayer has its source in love and suffering united to that of Mary and Jesus.

GRM 20.1-2

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

20.1 We are in Jerusalem. I know the town very well now, with its streets and gates.

The first thing Mary and Joseph do is to go to the Temple. I recognise the stable where Joseph left his donkey on the day of Jesus’ presentation in the Temple. Also now he leaves the two donkeys there, after feeding them, and then he goes with Mary to worship the Lord.

When they come out, they enter a house which apparently belongs to people they know. They take some refreshment there and Mary rests until Joseph comes back with a little old man. «This man is going Your way. You will not have to travel a long way by Yourself to get to Your relatives. You can trust him because I know him.»

20.2

They get on their donkeys again and Joseph goes with Mary as far as the Gate (it is not the one they entered but a different one) and they part there. Mary proceeds with the little old man who is as chatty as Joseph was silent and takes an interest in many things. Mary answers him patiently. In front of the saddle She now has the little trunk which Joseph’s donkey had carried earlier and She is no longer wearing the large mantle.

Detail

Joseph accompanied Mary to the Holy City. His wife then went to Hebron, to Elisabeth's home, where she experienced the visitation.

GRM 21

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Chapter title: Visitation to Elizabeth

Date of vision: Saturday, April 1, 1944

Calendar: Sunday, March 24, A.D. -5

Location (map): Hebron

Cycle: Birth and childhood of Jesus

Summary: Mary arrives in Hebron. Maria describes the place, then more specifically the Virgin's arrival. She stops in front of a rather luxurious house, where nothing is lacking, and the Immaculate Conception tries to make her presence known. An inquisitive little old lady presents her with a bell and asks her questions. Fortunately, a servant arrives - presumably a gardener - and saves the Mother from the gossip. Mary quickly goes inside after thanking the little old lady. The servant leads her inside and tells her about what has happened in the house: he mentions Elizabeth's childbirth, but also Zechariah's silence, for he is no longer able to speak. He tries to call his wife, Sarah, who is another servant, but instead, Elizabeth arrives. She sees Mary, Mary sees Elizabeth, and they both run to each other. They embrace in a warm embrace, and it's then that the Holy Spirit envelops Elizabeth. The Forerunner is sanctified, and John the Baptist becomes spotless. Elizabeth and Mary speak the words of the Gospel, then Zacharias arrives, but he doesn't realize Mary's spiritual state. Instead, he asks about the Virgin and Joseph, and Elizabeth simply reveals that she is a mother. But neither of them say more.

Maria then writes of how she received the vision, and declares that she saw Mary at Christ's burial.

Chapter contents: 21.1: Through the mountains of Judea. 21.2: Zechariah's wealthy estate in Hebron. 21.3: The strange bell and the opening of the gate. 21.4: Old Samuel gives news of Zechariah and Elizabeth. 21.5: Elizabeth and Mary's embrace, inner illumination, the Magnificat. 21.6: The arrival of Zechariah. 21.7: Visions according to his spiritual needs.

GRM 21.1-2

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

21.1 I am now in a mountainous place. They are not high mountains, neither are they just hills. There are ridges and creeks as we see in our Apennines in Tuscany and Umbria. The vegetation is thick and beautiful and there is plenty of fresh water that keeps the pastures green and the orchards fruitful: apple and fig-trees are mostly cultivated in the orchards and grapes near the houses. It must be springtime because the grapes are rather big, about the size of vetch grains, and the apple-blossoms have already sprung and they look like so many little green pellets; on top of the fig branches the first fruits can be seen, still in the embryo stage, but already well formed. The meadows are real soft multicoloured carpets. Sheep are grazing or resting on them and they look like white spots on the emerald of the grass.

21.2 Mary, on Her donkey, is climbing up a rather well kept road, probably the main road. She is climbing because the village is higher up and it looks quite tidy. My internal warner says to me: “This place is Hebron.” You spoke to me of Montana. I cannot help it. It is indicated to me with this name. I do not know whether Hebron is the whole area or only the village. That is what I hear and that is what I say.

GRM 21.2

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

Mary is now entering the village. It is evening. Some women on their doorsteps watch the arrival of the stranger and gossip with one another. Their eyes follow Her and they are not happy until they see Her stop in front of one of the prettiest houses, in the centre of the village, with a kitchen garden in the front, and a well cultivated orchard in the rear and around it. The orchard continues into a large meadow that rises and slopes according to the sinuosity of the mountain and ends in a wood of tall trees, beyond which I do not know what there is. The whole place is surrounded by a hedge of blackberries or wild roses. I cannot tell exactly which, because, if you remember, the flowers and leaves of these two thorny hedges are very much alike and until their branches bear fruit it is easy to confuse them. In front of the house, that is on the side that skirts the village, the place is enclosed by a small low white wall, on top of which there are rows of rose-bushes, at present without flowers, but already full of buds. In the centre there is an iron gate. It is easily understood that it is the house of a notable of the village and a well-to-do family, because everything shows comfort and great order, if not riches and pomp.

GRM 22

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Chapter title: The days spent in Hebron. The fruits of Mary's charity towards Elizabeth.

Date of vision and dictation: Sunday, April 2, 1944

Calendar: April of year -5

Location (map): Hebron

Cycle: Birth and childhood of Jesus

Summary: Mary lives in Hebron. Elisabeth arrives near her and talks about their respective maternities. Zechariah's wife is no longer in pain now that the Virgin is here, but before that she suffered greatly because of her old age. Mary, by comparison, does not suffer, but she does not have the weight of the Fault.

Elizabeth wants to spin clothes for John the Baptist, but Mary says she will do the work for him. The Virgin argues that she has all the time in the world and that she will think of her cousin first, since the Precursor's birth is imminent. Then she'll think of her child, Jesus.

It is at this point that the Immaculate Conception reveals the name of her Son to Elizabeth, and reveals to her her anguish. Mary knows the prophets, and already senses that Jesus will be the Lamb, the Man of Sorrows. Nevertheless, Elizabeth consoles her, saying that God will be with her, and that her child will be loved for ever and ever.

The two women then speak of Zechariah, who is mute. This is a great sorrow for his wife. She hopes that when the child is born, he will be able to speak again. The blessed mother would like her son to be called John, and she reveals her suffering to her cousin. To take her mind off it, Mary suggests they go outside, and they find themselves near a small flock of lambs.

The vision changes; this time, time has passed. Mary leaves for Elizabeth. They talk about Jesus and his appearance. Then they talk about Joseph, and Mary reveals that she has left it to God to intervene. Apart from Elizabeth, no one must know of her divine maternity, and Elizabeth, who understands, points out that she has even told Zechariah. He enters and Mary says the prayers. She urges the priest to believe in God's mercy, for the man believes he will never be able to speak again.

Finally, Mary gives a lesson on charity, on making God's gifts grow within us. We must always be charitable, not selfish. She also gives us a lesson about the passage of time: God is its master, and he helps those who hope in him. "Selfishness advances nothing, it delays everything. Charity doesn't delay anything, it advances things". Finally, the Mother points out that she found much peace in Elizabeth's home, and that if she had not been tormented by the thought of Joseph and her Son, Redeemer of the world, she would have been happy. But Mary means both light and bitterness...

Chapter contents: 22.1: Mary sews for Elisabeth's child. 22.2: Elisabeth feels much better since Mary's visit. 22.3: Mary is moved by the thought of Isaiah's Man of Sorrows. 22.4: Elisabeth is distressed by Zechariah's silence. 22.5: A walk in the garden among the doves, kids and lambs. 22.6: Mary spins and weaves. 22.7: She imagines what her child will be like. 22.8: God reveals the mystery to Joseph. 22.9: Zechariah speaks again. The Messiah will be born in Bethlehem. 22.10: Love of neighbor. 22.11: My love of neighbor and my love of God. 22.12: Charity advances the realization of things. 22.13: Bitterness mixed with sweetness.