Words of the Virgin Mary

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.

22.7 I am longing to be a mother. My Child! My Jesus! What will He be like?»

«As beautiful as You are, Mary.»

«Oh no! More beautiful! He is God. I am His maid. What I meant is, will He be fair or dark? Will His eyes be like a clear sky, or like the eyes of a mountain deer? I imagine Him more beautiful than a cherub, with golden curly hair, His eyes the same colour as the Sea of Galilee when the stars begin to peep on the horizon, His tiny little mouth as red as a pomegranate that bursts when it matures in the sun, and His cheeks as pink as this pale rose, with two little hands that could be contained in the hollow of a lily, they are so small and tiny, and two tiny feet that I can hold in the hollow of My hand, so soft and smooth, even more so than the petal of a flower. See. The idea I have of Him is taken from all the beautiful things that nature suggests to Me. And I can hear His voice. When He cries — because My Child will cry a little when He is hungry or sleepy, and it will always be a great pain for His Mummy Whose heart will be pierced every time She hears Him cry — when He cries, His voice will be like the bleating that now comes from a little lamb, only a few hours old, when it seeks its mother’s breast, and her warm maternal fleece to sleep. When He laughs — and My heart in love with my Creature will then be full of Heaven, for I can be in love with Him, because He is My God, and it will not be against My consecrated virginity to love Him as a lover — His voice when He laughs will be like the merry cooing of a happy little dove which is full and content in its cosy little nest. And I think of Him when He is taking His first steps… a little bird hopping on a flowery meadow. The meadow will be His Mother’s heart, it will be laid under His tiny pink feet with all Her love, so that He may not tread on anything that may hurt Him. Oh, how I will love My Child! My Son!

22.8 Also Joseph will love Him.»

«But You will have to tell Joseph.»

Mary’s face darkens, and She sighs. «Yes, I will have to tell him… I wish Heaven would tell him, because it is so difficult to tell.»

«Shall I tell him? We will ask him to come for John’s circumcision…»

«No. I have entrusted God with the task of informing him of his happy destiny of putative father of the Son of God, and He will do so. The Spirit said to Me that evening: ‘Be silent. Entrust Me with the task of justifying You’. And He will do so. God never lies. It is a great trial, but with the help of the Eternal Father, it will be overcome. No one must learn from My mouth what the goodness of the Lord has done. Certainly you are the exception, because the Spirit revealed it to you.»

«I have not mentioned it to anybody, not even to Zacharias who would have been very happy. He thinks you are a mother according to nature.»

«I know. And I decided that out of prudence. The secrets of God are holy. The angel of the Lord did not reveal My divine maternity to Zacharias. He could have done so, if God had wanted, because God knew that the time for the Incarnation of His Word in Me was already imminent. But God hid this joyful light from Zacharias, who rejected your late maternity as something impossible. I have complied with the will of God, as you have seen. You perceived the secret living in Me. He did not perceive anything. Until the screen of his incredulity does not fall before the power of God, he will be separated from supernatural lights.»

Elizabeth sighs and turns silent.

22.9 Zacharias comes in. He offers some parchment rolls to Mary. It is the hour of prayer before supper. Mary prays in a loud voice instead of Zacharias. Then they settle down at the table.

«When You are no longer with us, how we shall regret having no longer anyone to pray for us,» says Elizabeth, looking at her dumb husband.

«You will pray then, Zacharias,» says Mary.

He shakes his head and writes: «I will never be able to pray again for other people. I became unworthy when I doubted of my God.»

«Zacharias, you will pray. God forgives.»

The old man wipes a tear and sighs.

After supper, Mary goes back to the loom.

«That’s enough!» says Elizabeth. «You will become too tired.»

«Your time is approaching, Elizabeth. I want to prepare for your child clothes worthy of him who will precede the King of the House of David.»

Zacharias writes: «Of whom will He be born? And where?»

Mary replies: «Where the Prophets said, and of whom the Eternal Father will choose. Whatever our Most High Lord does, is well done.»

Zacharias writes: «Well, in Bethlehem then! In Judah. We shall go and worship Him, woman. And You will come to Bethlehem, too, with Joseph.»

And Mary, bowing Her head over the loom says: «I will come.»

The vision ends thus.

• Elizabeth of Hebron (mother of John the Baptist)
• The Virgin Mary
• Words of the Virgin Mary

23.2 We are still in Elizabeth’s house. It is a beautiful summer evening, still clear in the last rays of the sun, and yet the sky is already decorated with a falcated moon that looks like a silver comma attached to a large deep blue cloth.

The rose-bushes let off strong perfume and the bees, like humming gold drops, are making their last flights in the quiet warm evening air. From the meadows, there is a strong smell of hay dried in the sun, it is almost like that of bread, of warm bread, just taken out of the oven. Perhaps it comes also from the many sheets hanging everywhere to dry, and which Sarah is now folding.

Mary is walking with Her cousin, linking arms with her. They go up and down very slowly, under the semi-dark pergola.

But Mary watches everything and, while taking care of Elizabeth, She sees that Sarah is in difficulty folding a long sheet which she has taken off a hedge. «Sit down here, and wait for me», She says to her relative. And She goes to help the old servant, pulling the sheet to straighten it, and then folding it carefully. «They still smell of sun, they are warm», She says with a smile. And to make the old lady happy, She adds: «This sheet, after your bleaching, has become as beautiful as ever. You are the only one who knows how to do things so well.» Sarah goes away, overjoyed, with her load of scented sheets.

• Charity of the Virgin Mary
• Sarah of Hebron - Servant of Zacharias and Elizabeth
• The Virgin Mary
• Words of the Virgin Mary

«Let us take a few more steps. They will do you good.» And as Elizabeth is tired, and does not wish to move, Mary says to her: «Let us go only to see if your doves are all in their nests, and if the water in their tub is clear. We shall then go back home.»

23.3

Doves must be the favourite pets of Elizabeth. When they are in front of the rustic tower where all the doves are gathered, Elizabeth is deeply moved; in fact the hens are in the nests and the cocks are in front of them, but neither of them move, instead they all start cooing loudly when they see the two women: a gentle form of greeting. Elizabeth is overcome by the weakness of her condition and by fears that make her cry. She expresses her fears to her cousin. «If I should die… what will happen to my poor little doves? You will not be staying here. If You were to remain in my house, it would not matter if I died. I have had the greatest joy a woman can possibly have. The joy which I was no longer expecting to have, and I cannot even complain of death with the Lord, because He has overwhelmed me with His benignity, may He be blessed for it. But there is Zacharias… and then there will be the child. An old man who would feel as though he were lost in a desert without his woman. And the other is so small, that he would be like a flower, condemned to die of cold because he is without his mother. Poor baby, without the caresses of his mother!…»

«But why are you so sad? God has given you the joy of being a mother, and He will not take it away from you when it is full. Little John will receive all the kisses of his mummy, and Zacharias all the attentions of his faithful wife until the very end of his long life. You are two branches of the same tree. One will not die, leaving the other alone.»

«You are good, and You comfort me. But I am so old to have a son. And now that I am about to have one, I am afraid.»

«Oh! No! Jesus is here. We must not be afraid where Jesus is. My Child relieved your pain, you said that yourself, when He was just a newly formed bud. Now that He is becoming more and more mature, and He already lives as My Creature — I can feel in My throat the beating of His little heart, and I feel as if a little nestling with a light pulsating heart were resting on My throat — He will remove all dangers from you. You must have faith.»

«I have. But if I should die… don’t leave Zacharias straightaway. I know that You are concerned with Your own house. But please remain here a little longer to help my husband in his first days of sorrow.»

«I shall stay to take delight in your joy and in the joy of your husband, and I will leave you when you are strong and happy. But now be quiet, Elizabeth. Everything will be alright. Nothing will happen to your household while you are suffering. Zacharias will be served by the most loving maid, your flowers will be looked after, and your doves will be attended to, and you will find them all beautiful and happy to rejoice with, when their beloved mistress comes back.

23.4

Let us go in now, because you are getting pale…»

«Yes, I think I am beginning to suffer again. Perhaps my time has come. Mary, pray for me.»

«I will support you with My prayer until your labour ends in joy.»

• Prescience of the Virgin Mary
• Words of the Virgin Mary
• Zacharie (father of John the Baptist)

23.5 Sarah comes in and invites Her to go out. Mary goes out barefooted into the garden. «My mistress wants You,» she says.

«I am coming.» And Mary walks along the house, goes upstairs… She looks like a white angel, wandering in the peaceful starry night. She goes into Elizabeth’s room.

«Oh! Mary! Mary! What pain! I can’t stand it any longer, Mary! How much pain one must suffer to be a mother!»

Mary caresses her lovingly, and kisses her.

«Mary! Mary! Let me put my hands on Your bosom!»

Mary takes the two wrinkled and swollen hands, and lays them on Her round abdomen, pressing them tightly with Her smooth, slender little hands. And She speaks in a low voice, now that they are alone: «Jesus is here, and He hears and sees you. Have faith, Elizabeth. His holy heart is beating more strongly because He is acting for your good. I can feel it throbbing as though I were holding it in My hands. And I understand the words that My Child says to Me. He is now saying: ‘Tell the woman not to be afraid. Only a little more pain. And then, with the first rays of the sun, among the many roses awaiting the morning’s rays to open out on their stems, her house will have the most beautiful rose, and it will be John, My Predecessor’.»

Elizabeth now also presses her face against Mary’s bosom, and weeps gently.

Mary stands for some time in that position because the pain seems to ease giving a moments relief. And she beckons everybody to be quiet. She remains standing, beautiful and white in the pale, faint light of an oil lamp, like an angel near a person who suffers. She is praying. I can see Her moving Her lips. But even if I did not see them move, I would understand that She is praying from the enraptured expression on Her face.

23.6 Some time goes by, and Elizabeth is in labour once again. Mary kisses her again, and goes out.

• Charity of the Virgin Mary
• Elizabeth of Hebron (mother of John the Baptist)
• Prayer of the Virgin Mary
• Sarah of Hebron - Servant of Zacharias and Elizabeth
• The Virgin Mary
• Words of the Virgin Mary

23.6 Some time goes by, and Elizabeth is in labour once again. Mary kisses her again, and goes out. She goes downstairs very quickly in the moonlight, and goes to see if the old man is still sleeping. He is sleeping, and moaning in his sleep. Mary makes a gesture of compassion, and starts to pray once again.

More time passes. The old man awakes from his sleep and lifts up his head, and he is confused, because he does not recollect why he is there. Then he remembers, makes a gesture, and utters a gutteral exclamation. He then writes: «Is he not born yet?» Mary shakes Her head in denial. Zacharias writes: «How much pain! Oh my poor woman! Will she manage without dying?»

Mary takes the hand of the old man, and reassures him: «At dawn, in a short while, the baby will be born. Everything will be alright. Elizabeth is strong. How beautiful this day will be

— it will soon be daybreak — how beautiful this day will be when the child sees the light! It will be the best day of your life! The Lord has kept aside great graces for you and your child is the announcer of them.»

Zacharias shakes his head sadly, and points to his dumb mouth. He would like to say many things, but cannot.

Mary understands, and replies: «The Lord will complete your joy. Believe in Him completely, hope in Him indefinitely, love Him totally. The Most High will grant you more than you dare hope for. He wants this total faith from you, to wash out your past mistrust. Say in your heart with me: ‘I believe’. Say it with every beat of your heart. The treasures of God are opened for those who believe in Him and in His powerful bounty.»

• Prayer of the Virgin Mary
• Prescience of the Virgin Mary
• The Virgin Mary
• Words of the Virgin Mary
• Zacharie (father of John the Baptist)

25.3 After all the congratulations, most of them go out onto the road. Mary wants to go to the stable to see whether Joseph has arrived. He has not. Mary is disappointed and worried.

Elizabeth is anxious about Her. «We can stay until midday, then we must go, to be home before night. He is too young to be out at night.»

And Mary, calm and sad: «I will stay in one of the yards of the Temple. I will go to My teachers… I do not know. I will do something.»

Zacharias makes a proposal which is immediately accepted as a good solution: «Let us go to Zebedee’s relatives. Joseph will certainly look for You there. If he should not come there, it will be quite easy for You to find someone who will accompany You to Galilee, because the fishermen from Gennesaret are continuously going to and coming from that house.»

They take the little donkey and go to Zebedee’s relatives, who are the very same people with whom Joseph and Mary stayed four months before.

The time passes quickly, but there is no sign of Joseph. Mary controls Her grief lulling the baby, but it is obvious that She is worried. Although it is so warm that everybody is perspiring, She has not taken off Her mantle, concerned as She is to conceal Her condition.

25.4 At long last, Joseph is announced by a loud knocking at the door. Mary’s face shines, cheerful again.

Joseph greets Her, because She is the first to go and meet him and greet him reverently. «The Lord’s blessing on you, Mary!»

«And on you, Joseph. And praised be the Lord that you have come! Here, Zacharias and Elizabeth were about to leave, to be at home before night.»

«Your messenger arrived in Nazareth, when I was at Cana, working there. I was told the other evening. And I left at once. But although I have travelled without stopping, I am late, because the donkey lost one of his shoes. Please forgive me.»

«I am to be forgiven by you, because I have been away from Nazareth for such a long time! But see, they were so happy to have Me with them, that I decided to please them up till now.»

«You have done well, Woman. Where is the baby?»

They enter the room where Elizabeth is giving milk to little John, before departing. Joseph congratulates the parents on the sturdiness of the child, who screams and kicks, as if they were thrashing him, because he has been taken away from his mother’s breast to be shown to Joseph. They all laugh at his protests. Also Zebedee’s relatives, who have come in with fresh fruit, milk and bread for everybody, and a large tray of fish, laugh and join in the conversation.

25.5 Mary speaks very little. She is sitting quiet and silent in Her little corner, with Her hands on Her lap under Her mantle. Even when She drinks a cup of milk, and eats a bunch of golden grapes with a little bread, She speaks very little, and hardly moves. Her looks at Joseph are a mixture of pain and enquiry.

He also looks at Her. And after some time, bending over Her shoulder, he asks Her: «Are You tired or are You not well? You look pale and sad.»

«I am sorry I have to part from little John. I am very fond of him. I held him on My heart only a few minutes after he was born…»

Joseph does not ask any more questions.

It is time for Zacharias to depart. The waggon stops at the door and they all go towards it. The two cousins embrace each other fondly. Mary kisses the baby many times before putting him in the lap of his mother, who is already sitting in the waggon. She then says goodbye to Zacharias, and asks him to bless Her. When kneeling before the priest, Her mantle slips off Her shoulders, and Her figure appears in the bright light of the summer afternoon. I do not know whether Joseph notices Her figure at this moment, because he is intent on saying goodbye to Elizabeth. The waggon leaves.

• Elizabeth of Hebron (mother of John the Baptist)
• Joseph of Jacob (Saint Joseph)
• The Virgin Mary
• Words of the Virgin Mary
• Zacharie (father of John the Baptist)

25.6 Joseph goes back into the house with Mary, Who sits down again in the dim corner. «If You do not mind travelling by night, I would suggest we leave at sunset. It is very warm during the day. The night instead is cool and quiet. I am saying that for You, because I don’t want You to get sunstroke. It makes no difference to me to be in a scorching sun. But You…»

«As you wish, Joseph. I also think it is better to travel by night.»

«The house has been all tidied up. And the little orchard. The flowers are beautiful, as You will see. You are arriving just in time to see them all in bloom. The apple-tree, the fig-tree, the vines are laden with fruit as never seen before, and I had to put a support for the pomegranate, because its branches were so heavily laden with fruit already fully grown, something which has never been seen before at this time of the year. The olive-tree… You will have plenty of oil. It blossomed in a miraculous way, and not one flower was lost. All the flowers are now little olives. When they are mature, the tree will seem full of dark pearls. There isn’t another orchard as beautiful in the whole of Nazareth. Also Your relatives are surprised. Alphaeus says it is a miracle.»

«Your hands have worked it!»

«Oh! no! Poor me! What can I have done? I took care of the trees and I gave some water to the flowers… Do You know? I built a fountain for You down at the end, near the grotto, and I put a large basin there. So You will not have to go out to get water. I brought the water down from the spring which is above Matthew’s olive-grove. It is pure and plentiful. I brought a little stream down to You. I dug a small duct in the ground, I covered it properly, and now the water comes down, singing like a harp. I was not happy that You should go to the village fountain, and then carry the jars full of water back home.»

«Thank you, Joseph. You are so good!»

Joseph and Mary are now silent, as if they are tired. Joseph is also dozing. Mary is praying.

25.7 It is now evening. The host insists that they should eat something before leaving. Joseph, in fact, eats some bread and fish, while Mary takes only some milk and fruit.

They then depart. They get on their donkeys. Joseph has fastened Mary’s little trunk to his saddle, as he had done when coming to Jerusalem. And before She gets on Her donkey, he makes sure that Her saddle is properly fastened. I see that Joseph looks at Mary when she mounts Her saddle. But he does not say anything.

Their journey starts when the first stars begin to twinkle in the sky. They hurry to the town gates to reach them before they close. When they come out of Jerusalem, and they take the main road towards Galilee, the clear sky is already crowded with stars. There is solemn quietness in the country. One can hear only a few nightingales singing, and the beating of the hooves of the two donkeys on the hard road, baked by the sun.

• Joseph of Jacob (Saint Joseph)
• The Virgin Mary
• Words of the Virgin Mary

Mary jolts at a loud firm knock at the door. She lays the distaff and spindle down and rises to go and open. Although Her dress is loose and wide it does not conceal the roundness of Her pelvis.

Joseph is standing in front of Her. Mary turns pale, also in Her lips. Her face is so white that it looks like a host. Mary looks at Joseph with sad enquiring eyes. Joseph looks at Her with imploring ones. They are both silent, looking at each other. Then Mary says: «At this time, Joseph? Is there anything you need? What do you want to tell Me? Come in.»

Joseph enters and closes the door. He is still silent.

«Speak, Joseph. What is it you want from Me?»

«I want You to forgive me.» Joseph bends down as if he wanted to kneel down. But Mary, Who is always so reserved in touching him, seizes him resolutely by his shoulders and stops him.

Mary’s face blushes and blanches in rapid succession, one moment it is all red and immediately afterwards it is as white as snow, as it was before. «You want Me to forgive you? I have nothing to forgive you, Joseph. I can but thank you once again for everything you have done here while I was away and for your love for Me.»

Joseph looks at Her, and I can see two large tears welling up in the cavity of his deep eyes, they remain there as if they were on the rim of a vase, and they then roll down on to his cheeks and his beard. «Forgive me, Mary. I mistrusted You. Now I know. I am not worthy of having such a treasure. I lacked in charity, I accused You in my heart, I accused You unfairly, because I did not ask You to tell me the truth. I sinned against God’s law, because I did not love You as I loved myself…»

«Oh! no! You have not sinned!»

«Yes, I have, Mary. If I had been accused of such a crime, I would have defended myself. But You… I was not giving You the possibility of defending Yourself, because I was about to take a decision without questioning You. I have been unfair to You, because I offended You with my suspicion. Also a single suspicion is an offence, Mary. Who suspects does not know. And I did not know You as I should have done. But for the torment I suffered… three days of torture, forgive me, Mary.»

«I have nothing for which to forgive you. On the contrary, I ask you to forgive Me for the pain I caused you.»

«Oh! Yes, it was a great pain! What a torture! Look! I was told this morning that my temples are white haired and my face wrinkled. These past days have been more than ten years of my life!

26.4 But why, Mary, have You been so humble as to conceal Your glory from me, Your spouse, and thus allow me to suspect You?»

Joseph is not on his knees, but he is bent so low that he is as good as kneeling down, and Mary lays Her tiny hand on his head and smiles. She seems to be absolving him. And She whispers: «If I had not been humble in the most perfect manner, I would not have deserved to conceive the Expected One, Who is coming to pay for the sin of pride that ruined man. And then I obeyed… God had requested such obedience. It cost Me so much… because of you, because of the pain that you were to suffer. But I could but obey. I am the handmaiden of the Lord, and servants do not discuss the orders they receive. They fulfil them, Joseph, even if they cause bitter tears.»

Mary weeps quietly while speaking. So quietly that Joseph, bent down as he is, does not notice it until a tear falls on the floor. He then lifts his head and — it is the first time I see him do this — he presses Mary’s little hands in his dark strong ones and he kisses the tips of the rosy slender fingers that protrude like fresh buds of a peach-tree from the circle formed by his own hands.

26.5 «Now we shall have to arrange for…» Joseph does not say anything else, but he looks at Mary’s body and She becomes purple and sits suddenly, to avoid Her figure being exposed to eyes watching Her. «We shall have to make haste. I will come here… We will complete the wedding… Next week. Is that alright?»

«Whatever you do is alright, Joseph. You are the head of the family, I am your servant.»

«No. I am Your servant. I am the happy servant of my Lord Who is growing in Your womb. You are blessed amongst all the women of Israel. This evening I will warn my relatives. And after… when I am here, we will work to prepare everything to receive… Oh! How can I receive God in my house? God… in my arms? I will die of joy!… I will never dare touch Him! I will never be able…!»

«You will be able, as I will, by the grace of God.»

«But You are… I am a poor man, the poorest of God’s children!…»

«Jesus is coming to us, poor people, to make us rich in God, He is coming to us two, because we are the poorest and we admit it. Rejoice, Joseph. The House of David has the King long waited for and our home will become more splendid than Solomon’s palace, because Heaven will be here and we shall share with God the secret of peace that men will be acquainted with later. He will grow among us, our arms will be the cradle for the Redeemer and our work will procure bread for Him… Oh! Joseph! We shall hear the voice of God calling us ‘father and Mother!’ Oh!…»

Mary cries with joy. Such happy tears! And Joseph, who is now kneeling at Her feet, is weeping with his head almost hidden in Mary’s wide dress, which falls in folds on to the plain floor of the room.

The vision ends here.

• Joseph of Jacob (Saint Joseph)
• Suffering and pain of the Virgin Mary
• The Virgin Mary
• Words of the Virgin Mary

27.2 Joseph comes in. He seems to be coming from the village, because he comes in through the main door, not from the workshop. Mary lifts Her head and smiles at him. Also Joseph smiles. But his smile seems to be a forced one, as if he were worried. Mary looks at him inquisitively. She then gets up to take the mantle that Joseph is taking off and She folds it and lays it on a chest.

Joseph sits at the table. He rests one elbow on it and lays his head on one hand, while with the other hand, absentmindedly, he combs and ruffles his beard with alternate strokes.

«Is there anything worrying you?» asks Mary. «Can I help you?»

«You always comfort me, Mary. But this time, I have a big problem… that concerns You.»

«Me, Joseph. And what is it?»

«They have posted an edict on the synagogue door. It orders the census of all Palestinians. And everybody must go and register in his place of origin. We must go to Bethlehem…»

27.3 «Oh!» exclaims Mary, interrupting him and putting one hand on Her bosom.

«It’s a shock, isn’t it? And a sad one. I know!»

«No, Joseph. That’s not it. I am thinking… I am thinking of the Holy Scriptures: Rachel, Benjamin’s mother and Jacob’s wife of whom the Star will be born: the Saviour. Rachel buried in Bethlehem, of which it is said: ‘But you, Bethlehem, Ephrathah, the least of the clans of Judah, out of you will be born the Ruler’. The Ruler who was promised to the House of David. He will be born there…»

«Do You… do You think it is already the time?… Oh! What shall we do?» Joseph is completely dismayed. He looks at Mary with two pitiful eyes.

She realises this and smiles. But She smiles more at Herself than at him. A smile that seems to say: «He is a man, a just man, but a man. And he sees as a man. He thinks as a man. Have pity on him, o soul of Mine, and guide him so that he may see as a spirit.» But Her kindness induces Her to reassure him. She is not untruthful. She simply diverts his anxiety. «I do not know, Joseph. My time is very close. But could the Lord not delay it to relieve you from this worry? He can do everything. Don’t fear.»

«But the journey!… Think of the crowds. Shall we find good lodgings? Shall we be in time to come back? And if… if You are to become a Mother there, what will we do? We have no home there… We do not know anybody anymore.»

«Don’t be afraid. Everything will be alright. God finds a shelter for the animal about to give birth. Do you think He will not find one for His Messiah? We trust in Him, don’t we? We always trust in Him. The harder the trial, the more we trust. Like two children we put our hands in His fatherly ones. He is our guide. We rely entirely on Him. Consider how He has led us with love so far. A father, even the best of fathers, could not do it with greater care. We are His children and His servants. We fulfil His will. No harm can befall us. Also this edict is His will. What is Caesar after all? An instrument in the hands of God. Since the time when the Father decided to forgive man, He pre-arranged the events so that His Christ may be born in Bethlehem. Bethlehem, the smallest town in Judah, did not yet exist and its glory was already destined. And there… a powerful man has risen, very far from here, and he conquered us, and now he wants to know all his subjects, now, while the world is in peace… so that the glory of Bethlehem may be accomplished and the word of God may not be belied, — as it would be if the Messiah were to be born elsewhere. Oh! What is our small trouble if we consider the beauty of this moment of peace? Just think, Joseph: a period of time when there is no hatred in the world! Can there be a happier hour for the rising of the ‘Star’, the light of which is divine and its influence is redemption? Oh! Do not be afraid, Joseph. If the roads are not safe, if the crowds will make the journey a difficult one, the angels will defend and protect us. Not us: but their King. If we find no accomodation, their wings will be our tents. No mishap will befall us. It cannot: God is with us.»

27.4 Joseph looks at Her and listens to Her, happily. The wrinkles on his forehead smooth away. He gets up, no longer tired or worried. He smiles. «You are blessed, Sun of my soul! You are blessed, because You see everything through the Grace of which You are full! Don’t let us waste time, then. Because we must leave as soon as possible, and come back as soon as possible, because everything is ready here for the… for the…»

«For our Son, Joseph. He must be such in the eyes of the world, remember that. The Father has covered His coming with the veil of mystery and we must not lift that veil. Jesus will do it, when the time comes…»

The beauty of Mary’s face, look, expression and voice, when She says «Jesus» cannot be described. It is already an ecstasy. And the vision ends on it.

• Edict of Bethlehem
• Joseph of Jacob (Saint Joseph)
• The Virgin Mary
• Words of the Virgin Mary

Mary is on a little grey donkey. She is wrapped in a heavy mantle. In front of the saddle there is the fitting already seen in Her journey to Hebron, and on it there is the little trunk with basic essentials.

Joseph is walking on the side holding the reins. «Are you tired?» he asks Her now and again.

Mary looks at him smiling and replies: «No, I am not.» The third time She adds: «You must be tired walking.»

«Oh! Me! It’s nothing for me. I was only thinking that if I had found another donkey You would have been more comfortable, and we could have travelled faster. But I just could not find another one. Everybody needs a mount nowadays. But take heart. We shall soon be in Bethlehem. Ephrathah is beyond that mountain.»

They are both silent. The Virgin, when She does not speak, seems to concentrate on internal prayer. She smiles mildly at one of Her thoughts and if She looks at the crowd, She does not seem to see it for what it is: a man, a woman, an old man, a shepherd, a rich or a poor man, but only for what She sees.

«Are you cold?» asks Joseph when the wind starts blowing.

«No, thank you.»

But Joseph is not too happy. He touches Her feet, which are shod in sandals and are hanging down along the side of the donkey and can hardly be seen coming out from under Her long dress, and he must feel them cold, because he shakes his head and takes a blanket, which he has across his shoulders, and wraps Mary’s legs in it and he spreads it also on Her lap, so that Her hands may be kept warm, being covered by the blanket and Her mantle.

• Words of the Virgin Mary