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.