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Holy places

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GRM 174.18 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

It is true that it is stated that deformed people cannot serve God in the Temple. But after this life, the deformed by birth who are holy and those who are deformed out of virtue, will become more beautiful than angels and will serve God, loving Him in the happiness of Heaven.

GRM 194.2 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

They are now climbing a very steep hill, because they have left the dusty crowded main road and have taken this short cut through woods. And when they reach the summit, they can distinctly see in the distance a huge bright light shining above an agglomeration, perhaps whitewashed houses.

«Jabez» calls Jesus «come here. Can you see that golden spot? It is the House of the Lord. There you will swear to obey the Law. »

GRM 195.3-4 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

Peter’s attention is completely diverted by the apparition of the Holy City, which is now near and is visible in all the beauty of hills, olive-groves, houses, and above all of the Temple, a sight which must always have been a source of emotion and pride for Israelites. The warm April sun of Judaea has soon dried up the slabstones of the consular road. Puddles of water have disappeared completely. The apostles are tidying themselves on the side of the road, they let down the tunics which they had pulled up, they wash their muddy feet in a clear stream, they tidy their hair and drape their mantles. Also Jesus does that. I see them all doing it.

195.4

The entrance into Jerusalem must have been an important matter. To present oneself at the walls on these feast-days was like presenting oneself to a sovereign. The Holy City was the «real» queen of Israelites. I realise that this year, because I can notice the crowds and their behaviour on the consular road. The processions of the various families form here, the women in one group, the men in another, the children in either, but all very serious and serene at the same time. Some fold up their old mantles and pull out a new one from their travelling bags, or change sandals. Their gait then becomes solemn, it is already hieratic. In each group there is a soloist who gives the tone, and the hymns, the glorious old hymns of David, are intoned. And people look at one another more lovingly, as if they had been pacified by the sight of the House of the Lord and they look at the Holy House, a huge cube of marble surmounted by golden domes, placed like a pearl in the centre of the imposing enclosure of the Temple.

The apostolic procession is formed as follows: Jesus and Peter in front, with the boy between them; behind them Simon, the Iscariot and John; then Andrew, who has forced John of Endor to stay between him and James of Zebedee; in the fourth row the two cousins of the Lord and Matthew; last Thomas, Philip and Bartholomew. It is Jesus Who intones in His beautiful powerful voice of a light baritone, a mellow voice with refined tenor vibrations, and Judas Iscariot, a pure tenor, answers together with John, with his limpid voice typical of young people, the two baritone voices of Jesus’ cousins and the almost bass voice of Thomas, whose baritone voice is so deep that it can hardly be classifed as such. The others, who are not gifted with such beautiful voices, follow the chorus of the virtuosi singing in low voices. (The psalms are the known ones, called gradual psalms[3]). Little Jabez, the voice of an angel among the strong voices of men, sings very well, probably because he knows Psalm 121 better than the others: «How I rejoiced when they said to me: “We shall go to the house of the Lord”.» His little face, which only a few days ago was so sad, is now bright with joy.

The walls are now close at hand. Here is the Gate of the Fish. And the overcrowded streets.

They go straight to the Temple to say the first prayer. And then peace in the peace of Gethsemane, then supper and rest.

The journey towards Jerusalem is over.

Detail

Peter is distracted by the appearance of the Holy City.

Annotation

The psalms are the well-known psalms, known as graduals. These are Ps 120 to 134, also known as "canticles of ascent", according to the new numbering. Ps 121, quoted below, has become Ps 122.

Additional note from maria-valtorta.org:

THE 15 GRADUALS: are Psalms 119 (Hebrew 120) to 133 (Hebrew 134), also known as CANTIQUES DES MONTÉES. They were sung on the three pilgrimage feasts by pilgrims or priests on the fifteen steps leading up to the Temple in Jerusalem.

Little Yabeç, with his angelic voice amidst the robust voices of men, sings Psalm 121 very well - because he perhaps knows it better than the others: "I rejoiced because it was said to me, 'We will go to the house of the Lord. " Psalm 121 (Hebrew 122): 'How glad I was when it was said to me, "We will go to the house of the Lord!" ...

This is the Pisces Gate. North of Jerusalem, right next to the Temple.

GRM 196.1.2 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

The group has spent most of the Sabbath morning resting their tired bodies and cleaning their clothes which had become dusty and creased during the journey. There is so much inviting water in the spacious cisterns of Gethsemane, full of rain water, and in the foamy Kidron, now in flood, because of the recent downpours, where the water resounds against the stones like a symphony. And the apostles, one after the other, defying the low temperature of the water, plunge into it and then, clad from head to foot in fresh clothes, their hair rather sleeked by the spray of the torrent, they draw water from the cisterns pouring it into large vats in which they have sorted out their clothes according to the colours. (...)

They scatter in the olive-grove, which is so beautiful on this serene April day. The rain of the past days seems to have silvered the olive-trees and sown flowers, so bright are the leaves in the sun and so numerous the little flowers at the foot of each tree. Birds are singing and flying everywhere. The town is lying over there, to the west of an onlooker.

It is not possible to see the crowds thronging inside, but one can see the caravans going towards the Gate of the Fish and to others, with names unknown to me, on this eastern side, and the travellers are swallowed by the town as it if were a hungry mouth.

Annotation

The city stretches out over there, west of Gethsemane. See the sketch drawn by Maria Valtorta.

Maria Valtorta drew the sketch in black pencil, sometimes overlaid with red and blue. Some names were drawn in pen. In the center is the "Temple", with "Tightly packed houses", and, in a semicircle to the left: "Suburbs and sparser houses", all encircled by a double circle whose explanation is at the bottom of the page: "(The red and blue circle indicates the walls)". On these "walls", we read a "door" next to the "north" indication, and another "door" to the southeast. Outside the "walls": "Cedron" and "Gethsemane" to the east, "Houses" twice to the south, "torrent" and "Golgotha" to the west.

We see the caravans heading for the Pisces Gate. North of Jerusalem, next to the Temple.

GRM 196.9 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«When are we going to this Mother, my Lord?» asks Jabez with eager eyes.

«This evening. What will you say to Her when you see Her?»

«“I greet You, Mother of the Saviour”. Is that all right?»

«Very good» confirms Jesus caressing him.

«But are we going to the Temple today?» asks Philip.

«We shall go there before leaving for Bethany. And you will stay here and be a good boy. Will you not?»

«Yes, my Lord.»

The wife of Jonah, the caretaker of the olive-grove, who has come near very quietly says: «Why don’t you take him. The boy is anxious to come…»

Jesus stares at her without saying anything.

The woman understands and says: «I see! I should still have a little mantle belonging to Mark. I will look for it» and she runs away.

Jabez pulls John’s sleeve: «Will the teachers be severe?»

«Oh! no. Don’t be afraid. In any case it is not today. In a few days’ time, with His Mother, you will be more learned than a doctor» John comforts him.

The others hear and smile at Jabez’ concern.

«But who will present him as if he were his father?» asks Matthew.

«Of course I will! Unless… the Master wishes to present him» says Peter.

«No, Simon. I will not present him. I leave that honour to you.»

«Thank You, Master. But… You will be there, too?»

«Certainly. We shall all be there. He is “our” boy…»

Mary of Jonah comes back with a dark violet mantle, which is still good. But what a colour! She says so herself: «Mark never wanted to wear it because he did not like the colour.»

No wonder! It is vile! And poor Jabez with his olive complexion looks ghastly in the violent violet colour. But he cannot see himself… and he is therefore happy to have the mantle in which he can drape himself like an adult.

«The meal is ready, Master. The woman has taken the lamb off the spit just now.»

«Let us go, then.»

And going down from the place where they were, they go into the large kitchen for their meal.

Detail

Jesus has just spoken of the Virgin Mary.

GRM 197

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Chapter title: At the Temple with Joseph of Arimathea. The hour of incense.

Date of vision: Friday, June 22, 1945

Calendar: Saturday, March 25, 28

(12 Nissan 3788)

Location (map): Jerusalem Temple

Cycle: The second Paschal journey

Summary: The apostolic group goes to the Temple with Yabeç and John of Endor. Peter acts as the child's guardian, and he candidly admits that he can't remember the last time he came to the Temple, since he was a baby. Jesus, for his part, is concerned about John of Endor, who is intimidated by the prospect of returning to the Father's house. Christ reassures him and absolves him of everything, which moves the new convert.

They go to the treasury to make their offering when they meet Joseph of Arimathea. He is surprised to see a little boy with them, and Peter explains that the boy is about to take his majority exam. Andrew's brother asks the Pharisee to come along, so that the doctors of the Law don't cause any trouble. Joseph then greets the Master, who suggests that he come to Bethany to meet him. The man gladly accepts and takes his leave.

Jesus then explains to Yabeç what the hour of incense is, and why it is necessary to pray; he also explains to him how great the ministry of the priest is. Finally, they go to worship the Lord.

Chapter contents: 197.1: Peter holds Yabeç by the hand. 197.2: Jesus comforts John of En-Dor. 197.3: Peter explains the Temple to Yabeç. 197.4: Jesus invites Joseph of Arimathea to Bethany. 197.5: The evening prayer.

Previous edition: Tome 3, chapter 58