Summary of EMV

Chapter title: Zechariah's visit. Joseph's holiness and obedience to priests.

Date of vision and dictation: Thursday, June 8, 1944 (Corpus Christi)

Calendar: Monday, December 30, year -5

Location (map): Bethlehem

Cycle: Birth and childhood of Jesus

Summary: Zachariah arrives in Bethlehem. Joseph comes to greet him, as Mary is giving Jesus milk. The carpenter checks on John, who is growing very well, but is suffering from teething troubles: so he hasn't taken him with him. Elisabeth didn't come either, not only to look after her son, but also because it was very cold. Joseph understands, and describes to the priest the difficult conditions they experienced after Jesus' birth. As Mary's husband says, everything was ready in Nazareth, but they had nothing here.

In the meantime, the Virgin arrives and presents the Child, after greeting the priest. Zechariah worships Jesus with the utmost respect. The old man then gives gifts from himself and Elizabeth. The Immaculate regrets that she was unable to come with John, and Zacharias assures her that she will see them soon. Indeed, the old man thinks they should live in Bethlehem, so that when the time comes, he will be better accepted by the Sanhedrin, and Zechariah can serve as his teacher.

Joseph and Mary look at each other, not particularly agreeing with Zechariah's vision. One is thinking of his work, the other of his home and everything they've left behind. That's what Mary says, especially as it's difficult to get their things, since they have no house to store everything in Bethlehem. Above all, Mary thinks of Joseph and Joseph thinks of Mary. Her chaste husband, however, is willing to work double time if it's for Jesus.

At last, Mary tries to object one last time, pointing out that the Messiah will be called Nazarene, but Zechariah doesn't listen to reason, and the holy parents comply with her wish...

Mary then gives a dictation on the holiness of Joseph, who doesn't mind working harder, giving up everything if it's for his two treasures: Mary and Joseph. She then talks about Zechariah, who is a priest, but who is less heavenly-minded than Joseph. Zechariah thinks humanly and believes himself to be more knowledgeable than Mary, even to the point of being able to serve as the Master's teacher. Of course, Mary objects to what he says, and could have triumphed in their conversation, but she withdraws because of the priest's dignity.

After pointing out that a priest is generally enlightened by God, Mary finally emphasizes that obeying always saves, even if the advice one receives is not absolutely perfect. Staying in Bethlehem and Judea was a good thing when the flight to Egypt came: from Nazareth, it would have been much more difficult.

Finally, Mary teaches us that respect for priests is always a sign of good Christian training. Even if they lose their apostolic flame, they are still the ones who bring down the Bread from Heaven, and this contact makes them "as holy as a sacred chalice". We must therefore consider them as such, and pray for them if their souls are paralyzed and sick. We must pray to Christ for their sanctification, for to save one priestly soul "is to save a great number of souls".

Chapter contents: 31.1: Arrival of Zechariah alone, to whom Joseph recounts the events of the Nativity. 31.2: "The Host" in Zechariah's arms. 31.3: Gifts from Elisabeth for the child. 31.4: The Messiah must grow up in Bethlehem. 31.5: Zechariah convinces the couple to settle in Bethlehem. 31.6: Joseph's holiness. 31.7: Zechariah versus Joseph. 31.8: True priests and others. 31.9: Obedience always saves. 31.10: Respect for the priest is always a mark of Christian integrity.

Chapter title : Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. Simeon's virtue and Anne's prophecy.

Date of vision and dictation: Tuesday, February 1, 1944

Calendar: Monday, January 20, year -4

Location (map): Jerusalem

Cycle: Birth and childhood of Jesus

Summary: Mary and Joseph leave Bethlehem for Jerusalem. They present Jesus in the Temple. The ceremony goes off without a hitch. When the rite is over, they meet Symeon, who asks to take the child. The parents accept the old man's request, and he weeps with joy: he then says the words we know from the Gospel. Hearing the words about her future pain, Mary stops smiling and clutches the Child to her heart, while drawing closer to Joseph. Anne of Phanuel comes to comfort her.

Jesus then gives a dictation and two teachings. The first is that the truth is not revealed to the priest celebrating the rite, who is spiritually absent. The truth is revealed to Simeon, who is a simple believer, but who has allowed himself to be moved by the Spirit, always having good will within him. The second teaching concerns Anna of Phanuel, who comforts Mary. He then addresses Maria's contemporaries and our own time, to say that the Lord too can send his angel to console his people. All we need is enough faith to call upon him, to receive his mercy and forgiveness. The Savior also points out that God remained faithful to his promise not to send the Flood again, whereas man does not keep his promises. Yet God would help us once again if the majority of us called upon him with faith and love.

Finally, he tells those who try to counterbalance God's severity not to fear, for the Most High will send his angel to console us. We must remain united to the Cross, for it has always triumphed.

Chapter contents: 32.1: Across the countryside. 32.2 : And in the city. 32.3 : The purification of the mother. 32.4 : The presentation of the child. 32.5 : Simeon's prophecies. 32.6 : The prophetess Anne of Phanuel. 32.7 : Good will is not found in outward practices, but in prayer. 32.8 : Simeon had this good will and perseverance. 32.9 : Lay your anguish at God's feet.

Chapter title: Lullaby of the Virgin.

Date of vision: Tuesday, November 28, 1944

Calendar: July, year -4

Location (map): Bethlehem

Cycle: Birth and childhood of Jesus

Summary: In Bethlehem, Mary cradles her child.

Chapter contents: 33.1: The month-old baby was slow to fall asleep. 33.2: Mary's lullaby. 33.3: The baby Jesus in his mother's arms. 33.4: The grace of the vision.

Chapter title: The Adoration of the Magi. This is the "Gospel of faith".

Date of vision: Monday, February 28, 1944.

Calendar: October, year -4

Location (map): Bethlehem

Cycle: Birth and childhood of Jesus

Summary: Maria sees Bethlehem in the middle of the night. The town is asleep. Then she sees the star guiding the Magi, shining supernaturally bright. The star stops in front of the inn where the Holy Family is staying. The Wise Men and their servants stop to worship the Savior for the first time, bowing to the ground. They then withdrew until the following morning. For Maria, the vision stops and resumes three hours later.

The Magi are dressed in majestic garments. They come to respectfully greet the Child. They take the opportunity to tell his Mother about their journey, and offer her three gifts: gold, as befits a King, incense in his capacity as God, and myrrh because her Son, who is the Redeemer of the world, will have to die. Mary turns pale at this mention, but contains her suffering behind a smile. The three Wise Men want to greet the Child one last time, and leave. Joseph accompanies them to their mounts.

Jesus then gives a dictation for our contemporary times. He underlines the faith of the three men, their abandonment to God, for they do not doubt, and they entrust their journey to Him, without splitting hairs. Their hearts tremble only when they arrive in Jerusalem and the star is hidden, but their conscience reassures them. Christ thus declares that those who are accustomed to meditating and who have an upright conscience have learned to examine themselves, to rectify themselves at the slightest deviation from conduct.

The Three Wise Men are also very rich, but they are humble and therefore truly great because of their humility. They see themselves as dust before the Most High, and when they arrive at a poor house, they don't say to themselves, "It can't be done!" They adore it, and then they leave, preparing to go and see their King with dignity. So they put on their best clothes, unlike men who go to the Eucharist with a thousand material concerns.

Finally, Jesus gives two considerations. The first concerns Joseph, who is delighted with the gifts, but remains humble. He was not offended that Mary was in the limelight. He too was humble because he was truly great. The second focuses on Mary, who urges Jesus to bless, even when discouraged by our evil deeds. She kisses his pierced hand and declares: "You are the Savior. Save!". Jesus cannot refuse his Mother, but we must make the effort to go to her.

Chapter contents: 34.1: The Gospels of faith. 34.2 : The plan of the city of Bethlehem. 34.3 : A star creates an enchantment. 34.4 : The Magi stop there at night. 34.5: In broad daylight, they bring their gifts. 34.6: They kneel before the child. 34.7: The eldest tells the story of their journey. 34.8: The significance of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 34.9: They regretfully leave home. 34.10 : The Magi had faith in everything. 34.11 : They did not seek any personal interest. 34.12 : The uprightness of their conscience. 34.13 : Their humility before God. 34.14 : Their piety. 34.15 : They are humble, generous, obedient and respectful of one another. 34.16 : Joseph guardian and protector of Purity and Holiness, without usurping rights. 34.17 : Mary is our Advocate. 34.18 : Meditate and imitate.

Chapter title: The flight into Egypt. Teachings on the last vision linked to the advent of Jesus.

Date of vision and dictation: Friday, June 9, 1944

Calendar: End of November, year -4. Period of the Festival of Lights, end of Kisleu.

Location (map):Bethlehem

Cycle: Birth and childhood of Jesus

Summary: Joseph sleeps in the house in Bethlehem. He seems to be having a sweet dream, then seems to be troubled before waking up. After dressing, he goes to the Virgin, who is praying beside the Child. He tells her that they must leave at once, as an angel has warned him to flee to Egypt. Mary complied immediately, and prepared their belongings quickly but orderly. Joseph returns to take a share of their belongings, and sadly tells her that they must take as much as they can, as they will have to stay away for a long time. Mary continues to gather the few remaining belongings, then prepares Jesus. When he falls asleep, after taking his milk, Joseph returns and informs her that Herod wants the little one to die. This pierces Mary's heart. She weeps and declares that she is costing Joseph a lot, but he replies that she always consoles him, and that the Magi's wealth will help them in the early days. Both are sad to have to leave, to give up everything and not return to Nazareth, but as long as they still have Jesus, they have everything.

The Savior's parents leave the house, and after greeting the owner of the house, they set off in the direction of Egypt.

Jesus then gives a dictation and emphasizes the simplicity of this vision, which in no way diminishes the humanity of Mary and Jesus or the divinity of Christ. Too often," he says, "we get discouraged by thinking that Mary, Jesus and Joseph were strong and that "they were them". But suffering was always their faithful companion. They didn't know the passions that are akin to vices, because they closed their hearts to Satan. On the other hand, they had many passions, such as love of country, holy affections for their family, and so on. But they didn't let these passions get in the way when it came to following God's will.

Jesus, too, always followed God's will, even if it earned him the hatred of the Jews and the animosity of Judas. He goes on to criticize the great of this world, then dwells on Joseph's chastity and Mary's virginity, affirming them in black and white and going back on Matthew's words. Indeed, the evangelist took his sources directly from Mary, and her perpetual virginity was a known truth from the earliest times.

Christ dwells at length on the word "woman" in the Bible, to show that this term is not proscribed, infamous, impure language. He then turns to Matthew's words to say that Mary was "the true Mother of Jesus without being Joseph's wife. She will always remain: the Virgin, Joseph's wife".

Chapter contents: 35.1: A dream makes Joseph get up in the middle of the night. 35.2: At dawn we flee. 35.3: Mary hurries to gather her things. 35.4: She wakes the child and feeds him. 35.5: We have the wealth of the Magi and God with us. 35.6: Departure with three mounts. 35.7: Men, believing they were doing the right thing, made unreal what would have been so beautiful to leave real. 35.8: Our honorable human passions. 35.9: I did not seek worldly greatness. 35.10: Mary's virginity and Joseph's chastity. 35.11: Mary's grief torn from her home.

Maria saw a very poor house in Egypt. She sees the Child Jesus playing on the ground, at the age of two, two and a half at the most. Mary works at her loom while watching the child. At one point, she hands him his sandals, gives him a kiss, then puts away her loom. She returns, gives the Child her hand, and they leave the house for the street. Finally, she stops at a well. Joseph arrives in the meantime and quickens his pace when he sees his wife and Son. Joseph bends down to give the Child a piece of fruit, and there's a gentle, affectionate embrace between Jesus and his putative father. Joseph rises, taking Jesus in his right arm, and the three of them return to the house. Maria sees them preparing supper and eating together very simply, after praying.

Jesus then gives a dictation, insisting on the humility, resignation and perfect harmony of the Holy Family. Joseph and Mary are the guardians of the Holy Family, but they derive no material benefit from it. They live in poverty, in exile, in a world where people are suspicious of each other because they are strangers. Yet there is peace, serenity and harmony.

In this house, "there are no nervous, touchy people, closed faces or mutual reproaches, and even less reproaches towards God who does not shower them with material well-being." In this house," says Jesus, "we pray, we are frugal, we love work. Humility reigns in the Holy Family, and the supernatural, moral and material order is respected. We respect God (supernatural order), we respect Joseph as father and head of the family (moral order), we thank God for the goods we possess, even if they are poor (material order).

Jesus concludes by inviting us to meditate on this vision.

Maria sees the house in Nazareth. Jesus, James and Jude are playing together in the garden: they are still children. Mary is not far away. They decide to perform a passage from the Bible. They suggest playing the scene of the golden calf in Exodus, but one of the cousins doesn't want to play Miriam, who has bowed down to the idol. So Jesus suggests playing the part where Joshua is elected as Moses' successor. This idea suits everyone. After asking Mary about a point in Exodus, they go off to play, and Jesus plays Moses to perfection. His cousins are amazed that he recites the texts so well.

Mary of Alphaeus arrives with Alphaeus. They return from Cana and bring with them three lambs. One is for Jesus, and is all white; the others are rather black. It was Joseph's idea to offer these to his Son, and Alphée wanted to do the same with his children.

Alphée suggested that Jesus should soon go to school, but Mary categorically refused: she would teach her Child. Joseph supports her decision, and Alphée thinks his brother is too quick to bow to his wife's decision. Joseph responds wisely, and Mary of Alphée asks that the Virgin teach her children as well. She says she doesn't mind, and convinces Alphée to let them come to her house for a few hours. The children promise to love her and pay attention to her lessons.

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...

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.