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Maria Valtorta's work

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GRM 39

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

The Virgin prepares clothes for Jesus with Mary of Alphaeus. She dyes his clothes. It seems that she obtained the color through her embroidery, and that this gift came from Rome. In any case, the Mother of Christ thanks her relative for her help, and she declares that Jesus is like a son to her.

The vision stops and resumes later. Maria describes Jesus at the age of twelve. He is with his parents and relatives, surrounded and loved. Mary asks Joseph to bless him, so that their Child will draw strength from him, and she will learn to detach herself from him a little more. Joseph assures her that their relationship will not change, and that he will not compete with her for the Son they hold so dear. Mary kisses Joseph's hand in an affectionate gesture, and the patriarch of the Holy Family blesses them both. Then they set off...

GRM 39.1

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

39.1 I have received a promise from Him. I was saying to Him: «Jesus, I would like to see the ceremony of Your coming of age!» And He replied: «I will give it to you as soon as we can be ‘ourselves’ without upsetting the mystery. And you will put it after the scene of My Mother, My teacher and the teacher of Judas and James, shown to you recently (29th October). You will put it between this one and the Dispute in the Temple.

GRM 40

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

The Holy Family arrives at the Temple in Jerusalem. After praying, Joseph and Jesus go to a room where Jesus is examined by doctors of the Law. Joseph introduces them to his Son, then the men address the Child. He declares his name and asserts that he knows how to read symbols and the true meaning of Scripture. Listening to him, the doctors recommend that Joseph entrust him to Hilled or Gamaliel.

Christ is made to read part of the Decalogue. He must continue by heart, and each time he pronounces the Lord's name, he bows. He asserts that if we bow to kings of the earth who are but dust, we must bow even more to the King of Kings, on whom every creature depends.

He was then asked about the Sabbath law and the sanctification of feasts. Does the hen who lays an egg or the ewe who gives birth on that day commit a sin? No, because the beast obeys the Creator's laws and commits no sin. If man makes her work on the Sabbath, it's her master who bears her sin.

The doctors are impressed. They ask a final question by having him read a passage from the second book of Chronicles. This passage, which took place a few centuries earlier, speaks of the scribe Saphan. He reads a book by the priest Elchias before the king and tears his clothes afterwards because the people no longer follow the Lord's prescriptions and his anger is great. Is there a symbol in this text? Jesus replies that it is rare for there not to be, and says that we must not circumscribe in time what is eternal. The Word declares that Israel no longer has the wisdom that comes from God, despite the six hundred and thirteen precepts, for they know them, but no longer put them into practice.

The doctors declare that the child is perfect and of age. The celebration comes to an end, and Joseph and Jesus return to Mary.

GRM 41

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Jesus is alone in Jerusalem. Maria saw him looking in a particular direction, but the vision was short-lived. It resumed later and the mystic discovered the interior of the Temple. There are doctors of the Law there, including Gamaliel, Hillel and Chammaï, who are discussing David's prophecy and the Messiah. The first two argue that the Savior is already on Earth, while the other claims that Iseaël's slavery has only increased and that "the peace that should have been brought by him whom the prophets call 'the Prince of Peace' is far from reigning over the world". Jesus intervenes and declares that Gamaliel is right. He is asked what they are basing this on, and for a while the characters talk about the Nativity and the massacre of the Innocents. Then Hillel asks where the boy's wisdom comes from, and they want to examine him properly. He is given a scroll, and then comes the theme of the Forerunner. Jesus asserts that he is already on earth and that he will shortly precede Christ. Moreover, the Son of Joseph prophesies about the Kingdom of God and the Kingship of Christ, which is entirely spiritual. He even asserts that God's Sanctuary will no longer be torn down and destroyed, and Hillel understands his words by quoting another passage from the Book of Haggai.

Gamaliel then speaks to him of the Peace spoken of by the prophet, and Jesus responds with the words of the Gloria: "Peace to men of good will". However, Israel does not have this good will, so it will not have Peace and will reject its Messiah. Finally, Jesus returns once more to the Forerunner, following a remark by Shammai, asserting that he will shortly precede Christ. He ends by saying that if everyone were just like Hillel, salvation would come to Israel. Hillel offers to stay with him, but the Child says he must remain in solitude. And so the vision ends.

Maria then explains how she knew who Hillel and Gamaliel were (thanks to the voice of her inner counselor). Finally, Jesus gives a dictation on the recovery of Jesus and Mary in the Temple, and the grief of Mary and Joseph. He returns to the famous question, "My son, why have you done this to us?"

GRM 41.10

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

41.10 I have here two things to tell you and which will certainly be of interest to you. I had decided to write them as soon as I came out of my sopor. But as there is something more urgent, I will write them later.

(...) What I wanted to tell you at the beginning is this.

Today you were asking me how I had been able to find out the names of Hillel, Gamaliel and of Shammai.

It is the voice that I call «the second voice» which tells me these things. A voice even less audible than Jesus’ and the voices of other people who dictate. These are voices, I have told you and I repeat it, which my spiritual hearing perceives as being identical to human voices. I hear them as kind or angry voices, strong or weak, joyful or sad, as if one spoke very close to me. The «second voice», instead, is like a light, an intuition that speaks in my spirit. «In» not «to» my spirit. It is an indication.

So, while I was approaching the group of the disputant parties and I did not know who was the illustrious personage who was disputing so heatedly beside an old man, this internal ‘something’ said to me: ‘Gamaliel – Hillel’. Yes. First Gamaliel and then Hillel. I have no doubt about it. While I was wondering who they were, the internal monitor pointed out the third unpleasant individual to me, just as Gamaliel was calling him by name. And I was thus able to learn who was the man with the pharisaic appearance.

GRM 41.10

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

What I wanted to tell you at the beginning is this.

Today you were asking me how I had been able to find out the names of Hillel, Gamaliel and of Shammai.

It is the voice that I call «the second voice» which tells me these things. A voice even less audible than Jesus’ and the voices of other people who dictate. These are voices, I have told you and I repeat it, which my spiritual hearing perceives as being identical to human voices. I hear them as kind or angry voices, strong or weak, joyful or sad, as if one spoke very close to me. The «second voice», instead, is like a light, an intuition that speaks in my spirit. «In» not «to» my spirit. It is an indication.

So, while I was approaching the group of the disputant parties and I did not know who was the illustrious personage who was disputing so heatedly beside an old man, this internal ‘something’ said to me: ‘Gamaliel – Hillel’. Yes. First Gamaliel and then Hillel. I have no doubt about it. While I was wondering who they were, the internal monitor pointed out the third unpleasant individual to me, just as Gamaliel was calling him by name. And I was thus able to learn who was the man with the pharisaic appearance.

Detail

Maria sees the scene of the Final Resurrection (resurrection of the flesh), which she mentions at the end of the paragraph. She explains the intervention of her inner counselor in this vision, as well as in that of Jesus' dialogue with the doctors when he was twelve. Part of the text has been removed from the new edition, and all has been rewritten here.

GRM 41.11-13

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

41.11 Jesus says:

[…]

«Let us go back, far back. Let us go back to the Temple where I, a twelve year old boy, am disputing. Or rather, let us go back to the roads which take one to Jerusalem and from Jerusalem to the Temple.

See Mary’s distress when She realised, after the groups of men and women had gathered together, that I was not with Joseph.

She does not reproach Her spouse bitterly. Every woman would have done that. You do so for much less, forgetting that man is still the head of the family. But the pain that appears on Mary’s face pierces Joseph’s heart more than any bitter reproach. Mary does not give vent to dramatic outbursts. You do so for much less because you love to be noticed and pitied. But Her repressed sorrow is so obvious: She starts trembling, Her face turns pale, Her eyes are wide open and thus She arouses pity more than any outburst of tears and cries.

She is no longer tired or hungry. And yet the journey was a long one and She has not taken any food for so many hours! But She leaves everything: the bed She was preparing and the food which was ready to be handed out. And She goes back. It is night, it is dark. It does not matter. Every step takes Her back to Jerusalem. She stops the caravans and pilgrims and questions them. Joseph follows Her and helps Her. A long day’s walk back to Jerusalem and then the feverish search in town.

Where, where can Her Jesus be? And by God’s provision for many hours She will not know where to look for Me. To look for a child in the Temple does not make sense. What could a child be doing in the Temple? At the most, if he had got lost in town and his little steps had brought him back there, he would have cried for his mother and thus would have attracted the attention of people and of the priests, who would have taken the necessary steps to find the parents by means of announcements left at the gates. But there was no announcement. No one in town knew anything of this Child. Beautiful? Blond? Strong? There are so many like that! It is too little to enable anyone to say: ‘I saw Him. He was there or there’!

41.12 Then, after three days, the symbol of three other days of future anguish, Mary, exhausted, enters the Temple, walks along the yards and the halls. Nothing. She runs, the poor Mother, whenever She hears the voice of a child. Even the bleating of the lambs give Her the impression that She hears Her Creature weeping and looking for Her. But Jesus is not weeping. He is teaching. All of a sudden, from beyond the barrier of a large group of people, She hears His voice saying: ‘These stones will vibrate…’ She endeavours to make Her way through the crowd, and succeeds after much effort. There is Her Son, standing in the midst of the doctors with His arms stretched out.

Mary is the Prudent Virgin. But this time anxiety overcomes prudence. It is a hurricane that demolishes everything. She runs to Her Son, embraces Him, lifting Him off the stool and putting Him down on the ground and She exclaims: ‘Oh! Why have You done this to us? For three days we have been looking for You. Your Mummy is dying with pain, Son. Your father is exhausted with fatigue. Why, Jesus?’

You do not ask ‘why ‘ of Him Who knows. ‘Why’ He behaved in a certain way. You do not ask those with a vocation ‘why’ they leave everything to follow the voice of God. I was Wisdom and I knew. I was ‘called’ to a mission and I was fulfilling it. Above the earthly father and mother there is God, the Divine Father. His interests are above ours, His affections are superior to everything else. And I tell My Mother.

I finish teaching the doctors with the lesson to Mary, the Queen of doctors. And She has never forgotten it. The sun began to shine again in Her heart now that She had Me, humble and obedient, beside Her, but My words are deeply rooted in Her mind. There will be much sunshine and many clouds will gather in the sky during the next twenty-one years I will still be on the earth. And great joys and many tears will alternate in Her heart during the next twenty-one years. But never again will She ask: ‘My Son, why have You done this to us?’

Oh, insolent men, learn your lesson.

41.13 I directed and enlightened the vision, because you, little John, are not able to do anything further. […]»

GRM 42

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Maria sees the carpenter's bench in Nazareth. Jesus is working there. Mary arrives and calls her Son: they go into a room where Joseph is dying. Jesus goes close to his father, tries to revive him and sits his Mother down. He then prays and comforts the dying man. Joseph dies peacefully in his arms, surrounded by his Son and his most holy Bride.

Jesus then gives dictation, emphasizing Mary's suffering at this moment, for she truly loved her Joseph. To find strength in this trial, and to give her fiat, she clings to Jesus. She also clings to God in the hour of trial.

Jesus invites us to do the same, and to call on him at the hour of our death, for between his stockings it loses all its harshness. Jesus said for all of us: "Lord, into your hands I commend my spirit", for all those who die thinking of him, so that our agonies may be softened.

GRM 42.1

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

42.1 This vision appears to me imperiously, while I am busy correcting the copy-book, and precisely the dictation on pseudo-religions of present days. I will write it as I see it.

Detail

From time to time, Mary sees a vision in an "imperious" way.

GRM 42.2

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

42.2 Jesus is working at a large carpentry bench. He is planing some boards which He then rests against the wall behind Him. He then takes a kind of stool, clamped on two sides by a vice, He frees it from the vice, and He looks to see whether the job is perfect, He examines it from every angle, He then goes to the chimney, takes the little pot and stirs the contents with a little stick or brush, I am not sure; I can only see the part protruding from the pot and which is like a little stick.

Jesus is wearing a rather short tunic, the colour of which is dark hazelnut: the sleeves are rolled up to His elbows, and He is wearing a kind of apron on which He wipes His fingers after touching the little pot.

He is by Himself. He works diligently, but peacefully. No abrupt or impatient movement. He is precise and constant in His work. Nothing annoys Him: neither a knot in the wood which will not be planed, nor a screwdriver (I think it is a screwdriver) which falls twice from the bench, nor the smoke floating in the room which must irritate His eyes.

Now and again He raises His head and looks towards the southern wall, where there is a closed door, and He listens. At one point He opens a door which is on the eastern side and opens onto the road, and He looks out. I can see a small portion of the dusty little road. He seems to be waiting for someone. He then goes back to His work. He is not sad, but very serious. He closes the door again and goes back to work.

Detail

Challenge: The screwdriver doesn't exist.

Note: Regarding the screwdriver, Maria writes her uncertainty. As one note puts it, "the screw and the screwdriver didn't exist back then".