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Jewish religion, castes, rites and festivals at the time of Christ

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GRM 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Chapter title: At the Feast of Tents. Anne and Joachim possessed Wisdom.

Date of vision and dictation: Wednesday, August 23, 1944

Calendar: Monday, October 1, 22 A.D.

Old Julian calendar: Monday, October 3 -22.

Jewish calendar: 24 Tishri 3740.

Location (map): Jerusalem

Cycle: Birth and childhood of the Virgin Mary

Summary: Maria sees the outskirts of Jerusalem during the Feast of Tents. She describes the atmosphere around her, then sees Anne comforting a small child who has fallen. His mother comes to pick him up and reveals that she already has six children. Mary's mother then returns to Joachim and tells him about her interview with the happy mother. She reveals that she had a dream that she would return here next year with a child of her own. Joachim urges him to hope again.

After this, Jesus gives a dictation about his grandparents who possessed wisdom. He speaks of their respective love, their chaste and dignified love, their inner virtues, and applies to them words from the Book of Wisdom.

Chapter contents: 3.1: Hannah's house differs from that of Mary's inheritance. 3.2: The camp of branch tents set up outside the walls of Jerusalem. 3.3: Barren Anne talks to a mother of a large family. 3.4: Joachim reaffirms his hope of a miraculous maternity, and Anne confides her prophetic dream. 3.5 : The righteous are always wise. 3.6 : All Anne needed was a crown of children. 3.7 : In love as on the first day. 3.8: They wanted a son, they got the mother of God. 3.9: The chastity of spouses. 3.10 : Today, love and the bridal chamber are profaned.

Former edition: Volume 1, chapters 3 and 4

GRM 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

"Sometimes," Maria Valtorta writes on a typewritten copy, "the names [of the months] are expressed in Italian so that the reader understands better."

For example, our month of October straddles the Hebrew months of Tisri (or Etanim) and Marchesvan (or Bul). The Jewish calendar was in fact based on the lunar year, which begins in spring (as we see in 68.4), and ours on the solar year, so the correspondences are approximate.

Here are the names of the months:

1. Nisan or Abib as in 413.6 (March-April);

2. Ziv or Iyyar as in 461.7 (April/May);

3. Sivân (May-June);

4. Tammuz as in 442.3 and 461.16 (June-July);

5. Ab or Av (July-August);

6. Elul (August-September);

7. Tishri or Tisri or Etanim (September-October);

8. Marchesvân or Bul (October-November), a name never mentioned in the work: it seems to be called Etanim instead, in distinction from Tishri ;

9. Kisleu or Casleu (November-December);

10. Tebet (December-January);

11. Shebat (January-February);

12. Adar (February-March). The new moon, called neomenia, marked the beginning of the month. To make the lunar and solar cycles coincide as closely as possible, the month of Adar was sometimes redoubled, to obtain a thirteen-month year, known as embolismic (114.8).

GRM 3.1 · Volume 1

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

3.1 Before writing the following, I wish to make a note.

The house did not seem to me the well known one of Nazareth. The location, at least, is quite different. The orchard garden is larger and beyond it fields can be seen, not many, but they are there. Later, when Mary is married, there is only the orchard, large, but not more than an orchard: and I have never seen in other visions the room that I saw. I do not know whether for financial reasons Mary’s parents disposed of part of their property or whether Mary, when she left the Temple, moved into another house given to her perhaps by Joseph. I do not remember whether in past visions and instructions I had a clear sign that the house of Nazareth was the house in which she was born.

GRM 3.2.4

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

3.2 I am beginning to see and I write.

Outside the walls of Jerusalem, on the hills and among the olive trees, there is a large crowd. It looks like a large market. But there are no stalls. There are no shouting charlatans or pedlars. No games. There are coarse wool tents, certainly waterproof, hanging on posts fixed to the ground, and tied to the posts there are green branches, providing both ornamental decoration and practical coolness. Other tents, instead, are made entirely of branches fixed to the ground and tied, thus forming small green tunnels. Under each tent there are people of every age and condition, speaking quietly and earnestly, with the cry of a child breaking the quietness now and again.

It is nightfall and the lights of small oil lamps are glittering here and there throughout the odd camp. Around the lights some families are eating their supper on the ground, the mothers holding the little ones in their laps. Many of these tired infants fall asleep holding pieces of bread in their tiny pink fingers while their small heads fall on their mothers’ breasts, like little chicks under hens. The mothers finish their meals, as best they can, each with only one hand free, while the other hand is holding the child against her heart. Meanwhile other families are not yet having supper and are talking in the dimness of twilight, waiting for the food to be ready to eat. Small fires are lit here and there and women are busy around them. Slow, somewhat plaintive, lullabies soothe children who are having difficulty in going to sleep.

High above there is a beautiful clear sky, which is becoming a deeper and deeper blue until it looks like an enormous black-bluish soft velvet velarium. On this cloth, a little at a time, invisible craftsmen and decorators fix gems and night lights, some isolated, some in odd geometrical patterns, amongst which the Great Bear and the Little Bear stand out, in the shape of a cart, with its shaft resting on the ground after the oxen have been freed from the yoke. The Pole Star is smiling in all its brightness.

I realise it is October because the loud voice of a man says so: «This month of October is beautiful as very rarely in past years!» (...)

3.4 The night is more and more crowded with stars and the camp with lights. Then little by little many lights go out. They are the lamps of those who were the first to have supper and who now go to sleep. Also the buzzing slowly decreases. No more children’s voices are heard. Only some babies still unweaned raise their lamb-like little voices seeking their mothers’ milk. The night blows her breath over places and people and obliterates pains and memories, hopes and ill-feelings. Or perhaps these last two survive in dreams, although alleviated by sleep.

Detail

The Tent Festival seemed to take place in October. Maria describes the atmosphere.

Annotation

Outside the walls of Jerusalem, a large crowd is found on the hills and among the olive trees. The "Field of the Galileans" on the Mount of Olives. This is where the Galileans gather for the feasts (see Tome 4, chapter 143 /vo 279.1).

There are many rough woollen tents, certainly waterproof, spread out on stakes fixed to the ground. On the feast of Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tents or the Feast of Tabernacles, each family builds a hut (or sukkha) made of four kinds of branches tied together. Their name evokes the huts under which people camped during the harvest.

I understand that it's October, because a big man's voice says so: "A beautiful month of October, the likes of which you rarely see!" October: The Feast of Tents (Sukkot) is celebrated in early autumn from 15 to 21 Tishri (24/9 to 2/10 in 22BC). Sometimes," writes Maria Valtorta on a typed copy, "the names are expressed in Italian so that the reader can understand better."

Our month of October straddles the Hebrew months of Tisri (or Etanim) and Marchesvan (or Bul). The Jewish calendar was in fact based on the lunar year, which begins in spring (as shown in 68.4), and ours on the solar year, so the correspondences are approximate.

GRM 3.3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

Alphaeus’ father calls him [his son], but he answers: «I am staying with Anne. I will help her.» Everybody laughs.

«Leave him. He does not disturb us. He is not bound by the Law yet. Here or there he is but a little bird eating» states Anne.

Annotation

He is not yet bound by the observance of the Law. Cf. Leviticus 23:36; Numbers 29:35. The end of the festival was a day of rest. The eighth day (Shemini Atzereth) is the Feast of the Joy of Torah (Sim'Hath Torah). It's a day of rest. The rain prayer is recited on this day. This festival closes the series of three pilgrimage festivals.

Book of Leviticus 23, 36

Lv 23, 36 : Seven days you shall offer sacrifices made by fire to Yahweh. On the eighth day, you shall have a holy assembly, and you shall offer sacrifices made by fire to Yahweh; it is a closing feast: you shall do no servile work.

Book of Numbers, 29, 35

Num 29, 35 : On the eighth day, you shall have a solemn assembly: you shall do no servile work.

GRM 3.4

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«Last night I dreamt that next year I will be coming to the Holy City for two feasts, instead of one only. And one will be the offering of my creature to the Temple… Oh! Joachim!…»

«Keep on hoping, Anne. Did you not perceive anything else? Did the Lord not whisper anything to your heart?»

«Nothing. Only a dream…»

«Tomorrow is the last day of prayer. All the offerings have already been made. But we will renew them again tomorrow, solemnly. We shall gain our favour from God by our faithful love.

Annotation

Tomorrow is the last day of supplication. The seventh day of Sukkot (Tishri 21) is called "Hochaana Rabba". This is the day on which the divine judgment begun on "Rosh Hashanah" is finally decided. It is therefore marked by special prayers of supplication in which we implore God to judge us favorably (Exodus 23:16; 34:22; Leviticus 23:34-43; Numbers 29:12-34; Deuteronomy 16:13-16; 30:10-13).

Book of Exodus 23, 16

Ex 23, 16 : Thou shalt observe the Feast of Harvest, of the first-fruits of thy labor, of that which thou sowest in the field; and the Feast of Ingathering, at the end of the year, when thou gatherest in the field the fruit of thy labor.

Book of Exodus 34, 22

Ex 34, 22 : You shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks, of the first fruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year.

Book of Numbers 29, 12-34:

On the fifteenth day, in the seventh month, you shall have a holy assembly: you shall do no servile work. And you shall keep a feast to Yahweh for seven days. You shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor to Yahweh: thirteen young bulls, two rams and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish, and for their meat offering, fine flour mingled with oil: three tenths for each of the thirteen bulls, two tenths for each of the two rams, and one tenth for each of the fourteen lambs. You shall also offer a he-goat as a sin offering, without prejudice to the continual burnt offering with its oblation and libation.

On the second day, you shall offer twelve young bulls, two rams and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, for the bulls, the rams and the lambs, according to their number, according to the rule. You shall also offer a goat for a sin offering, without prejudice to the continual burnt offering, its meat offering and their drink offerings.

On the third day you shall offer eleven bulls, two rams and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, for the bulls, the rams and the lambs, according to their number, according to the ordinance. You shall also offer a goat for a sin offering, without prejudice to the continual burnt offering, its meat offering and its drink offering.

On the fourth day, you shall offer ten bulls, two rams and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, for the bulls, rams and lambs, according to their number according to the rule. You shall also offer a he-goat for a sin offering, without prejudice to the continual burnt offering, its meat offering and its drink offering.

On the fifth day, you shall offer nine bulls, two rams and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, for the bulls, rams and lambs, according to their number, according to the ordinance. You shall also offer a goat for a sin offering, without prejudice to the continual burnt offering, its meat offering and its drink offering.

On the sixth day, you shall offer eight bulls, two rams and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, for the bulls, rams and lambs, according to their number, according to the ordinance. You shall also offer a he-goat for a sin offering, without prejudice to the continual burnt offering, its meat offering and its drink offering.

On the seventh day you shall offer seven bulls, two rams and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish, 33with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, for the bulls, the rams and the lambs, according to their number, according to the ordinance. 34You shall also offer a he-goat for a sin offering, without prejudice to the continual burnt offering, its meat offering and its drink offering.

Book of Deuteronomy 16, 13-16

Dt 16, 13-16 : You shall keep the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days, when you have gathered in your threshing floor and your winepress; 14you shall rejoice at this feast, you, your son and your daughter, your man-servant and your maid-servant, as well as the Levite, the stranger, the orphan and the widow who are within your gates. You shall keep the feast seven days in honor of Yahweh your God, in the place which Yahweh has chosen; for Yahweh your God will bless you in all your crops and in all the work of your hands, and you will be full of joy. Three times a year, every male among you shall appear before Yahweh, your God, in the place he has chosen: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks and at the Feast of Tabernacles; he shall not appear before Yahweh empty-handed.

Book of Deuteronomy, 30, 10-13

Dt 30, 10-13 : if you obey the voice of Yahweh, your God, by keeping his commandments and precepts written in this book of the law, if you return to Yahweh, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul. This commandment that I am commanding you today is not above you or beyond your reach. It is not in heaven, for you to say, "Who will go up to heaven for us and fetch it for us, and make us hear it, so that we may fulfill it?" It is not beyond the sea, so that you say, "Who will pass for us beyond the sea and fetch it for us, and make us hear it, that we may fulfill it?"

GRM 4

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

The days

They extend from sunset to sunset. The night is divided into 3 watches (4 in Roman times). However, ancestral customs remain: In Gethsemane, Jesus spoke of the three watches of the night (9.21). Between sunrise and sunset (12 hours) we count the first hour at sunrise, the third at 9.00, the sixth at 12.00 and the ninth at 15.00.

Months

These are regulated according to the phases of the moon, and alternate between 29 and 30 days. The first day of the month coincides with the appearance of the new moon (neomenia).

The year

In ancient times, the year began in autumn (the month of Tichri), and this is still remembered in Judaism's New Year. This is confirmed by Jesus in Maria Valtorta: "Perhaps the year begins with the rainy month of Etanim, or with the sad month of Casleu, with days shorter than a dream and nights as long as a day without bread? No, it begins with the blooming, sunny, joyous month of Nisan, when everything is laughing, when the heart of man, even the poorest and saddest, opens up to hope because summer is coming" (EMV 68 - 2.31).

As this is a year based on the lunar revolution of 354 days, the delay in the solar year of 365 days is made up by the addition, every two or three years, of a thirteenth month: the new Adar (We Adar), apparently 29 days long.

This results in two or three cycles over a full 19-year cycle.

Source

maria-valtorta.org (with permission from François-Michel Debroise)

GRM 4.1

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

The old tree has borne a new branch and I am blessed.

At the Feast of Lights hope scattered the seed;

Now the fragrance of Nisan sees it germinating.

Like an almond-tree my flesh is adorned with flowers in spring.

Detail

Anne sings this canticle, which reveals that she is pregnant. See annotation concerning the Feast of Lights and Mary's conception.

Annotation

Hope sows the seeds for the Festival of Lights. According to J Aulagnier, the Festival of Lights, or Encénies, took place, in Jesus' time, during the full moon following the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah). This took place on Kislev 25 (December 10-22 for this period). Mary's conception took place on the following full moon, December 20-22. This corresponds to the event celebrated by the Church on December 8.

Marie d'Agreda reports that this conception took place on a Sunday (The Mystical City of God - Book 1, Chapter 15, § 218).

The fragrant air of Nissan. Nissan: March 21, i.e. 3 months to tell Joachim with certainty that he was expecting a baby.

GRM 4.3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

I was hoping because the last day while I was praying in the Temple, as close as possible for a woman to be to the House of God, and it was already evening… remember that I was saying: “A little longer, a little more”. I could not withdraw from the place without receiving the grace! Well, in the growing darkness, from inside the sacred place, where I was watching from the depth of my soul, to obtain assent from the everpresent God, I saw a light, a spark of beautiful light depart. It was as white as the moon and yet it had in itself all the brightness of all the pearls and gems that are in the world. It seemed that one of the precious stars of the Veil, the stars placed under the feet of the Cherubim, had become detached and bright with a supernatural light… it seemed that beyond the sacred Veil, from the Glory itself, a fire started which came quickly towards me and while cutting through the air, it sang with a heavenly voice chanting: “May what you asked for, come to you”. That is why I sing: “A star will come to you”. What child will ours ever be, since it reveals itself as the light of a star in the Temple and in the Feast of Lights says: “I am”? Did you perhaps foresee rightly when you thought I would be a new Anne of Elkanah?

Detail

Mary's conception. Anne, Mary's mother, recounts when her wish was granted:

Annotation

Were you right in seeing in me a new Anne of Elkanah? Joachim had indeed spoken of the prophet Samuel's mother in EMV 3.

Under the feet of the cherubim: Cherubim (Kerubim) abounded in the decoration of Solomon's Temple (e.g. 1 Kings 6:23-35). The stars are probably the stars of David or Solomon's seal.

I had the impression that a fire was starting from behind the sacred Veil, from Glory itself, that it was coming rapidly towards me and that, as it crossed the air, it was singing in a celestial voice: "May what you have asked for happen to you! "This is the voice of the Redeemer, as we read in EMV 4.5: "Wisdom herself came down (...) and became a word to the barren woman" (p. 31).

What kind of child will ours be, then, to appear like the light of a star in the Temple and say: "I am" during the Festival of Lights? The star is part of Balaam's prophecy. Num 24:17-19. " I see him, but not as present; I contemplate him, but not closely. A star comes out of Jacob, a scepter rises from Israel. He breaks Moab's two flanks, he exterminates all the sons of tumult. Edom is his possession; Seir, his enemy, is his possession, and Israel displays his valour. Out of Jacob comes a dominator; he destroys in the cities what remains of Edom."

"I am" : the very name of God as defined to Moses, according toExodus 3:14-15. You will speak to the sons of Israel: "The one who sent me to you is: I AM". See the fact sheet on the Divine Name.

GRM 4.5

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

For the joy of having a Mother I whisper a mysterious word in the shade of the Temple that contained the hopes of Israel, of the Temple now at the end of its life, because a new and real Temple is about to come on earth, no longer containing the hopes of one people, but the certainty of Paradise for the people of the whole world, and for centuries and centuries until the end of the world.

Detail

In a dictation, Jesus speaks of the imminent birth of his Mother and pauses at the Temple in Jerusalem.