Notes for this theme
Reading comfort
GRM 29.13
Rest your soul in the light of this dawn of Jesus, to gain strength for the future crucifixions which will not be spared you, because we want you here and one comes here through pain, because we want you here and the higher one comes the more one has suffered to obtain Grace for the world.
GRM 30
Chapter title: The announcement to the shepherds, the first adorers of the Word made man.
Date of vision and dictation: Wednesday, June 7, 1944 (Vigil of the Body of Christ)
Calendar: Wednesday, December 11, year -5
Location (map) : Bethlehem
Cycle: Birth and childhood of Jesus
Summary: Maria's vision begins in the Bethlehem countryside. There is a bright light in the sky, attracting the attention of animals and people. One of the shepherds goes out and calls his companions, intrigued by the phenomenon. One of the younger shepherds even starts to cry, until he regains his composure and seems captivated by something: he doesn't even pay attention to the others and steps forward. This makes his companions think and grumble a little, but young Levi tells them of a light descending. Then he is the first to see an angel, and they all fall to their knees to welcome the Lord's servant. The angelic messenger conveys the happy news of the Savior's birth, and a multitude of angels sing the Gloria. They then return to heaven, leaving the shepherds alone. But the shepherds don't procrastinate: they set off in the direction of the crib, taking a beautiful blanket for the Child, and a sheep to provide warm milk.
They arrive... But they don't know how. So they invite the youngest, LĂ©vi, to watch what's going on. The shepherd looks on and tells them that the Virgin is looking after her baby, who is crying because of hunger and cold. The shepherds want Levi to come forward, but the young man wants Elijah to come forward, since he has already met Mary and Joseph in EMV 28. The shepherds thus make themselves known and can adore the child. They offer them their gifts and let in Elijah, who has remained at the entrance, not daring to approach. Jesus can now receive warm milk.
The shepherds point out that the Holy Family cannot stay here, and promise to help them and spread the news of the Lord's birth. When Joseph points out that they are poor and won't be able to compensate them, they say they don't want anything. On the contrary, they want to serve the Child and his parents. When Mary answers their questions and tells them that she has Zechariah and Elizabeth as parents, Elijah offers to go to him and tell him that Mary of Nazareth has asked him to come to Bethlehem.
Finally, each shepherd introduces himself by name, and then they retire... leaving their hearts behind, however, as Maria Valtorta points out.
Jesus then gives dictation, declaring that the shepherds are the first worshippers of the Word. They have all the qualities required to be Eucharistic souls, for they have certain faith, generosity, humility, desire, prompt obedience and, last but not least, love. Lastly, Christ emphasizes that those with the soul of a child, like Levi, know how to see God more clearly, and have the audacity to turn to Mary. He invites us to pray to Mary, for those who go to Mary find Him, and those who ask Mary receive Him through her Mother.
Chapter contents: 30.1: A dazzling moon in the countryside. 30.2: A shepherd boy attracted by a brighter light. 30.3: An angel appears and speaks to the shepherds. 30.4: A crowd of angels sings the Gloria. 30.5: The shepherd from the previous day points to the manger. 30.6: What the young shepherd sees behind the cloak at the entrance. 30.7: A sheep's skin and warm milk are presented. 30.8: Elijah finds a house and warns Zechariah. 30.9: The twelve shepherds name themselves and kiss the child. 30.10: Praise for the shepherds. 30.11: He who goes to Mary finds me.
GRM 30.6-7
The shepherd opens his mouth, but he only utters a faint moaning noise.
30.7 Joseph turns round and comes to the door. «Who are you?»
«Shepherds. We brought you some food and some wool. We have come to worship the Saviour.»
«Come in.»
They go in, and the stable becomes brighter because of the light of the torches. The older men push the young ones in front of them.
Mary turns round and smiles. «Come,» She says. «Come!», and She invites them with Her hand and Her smile, and She takes the boy who saw the angel and She draws him to Herself, against the manger. And the boy looks, and is happy.
The others, invited also by Joseph, move forward with their gifts and they place them at Maryâs feet with few deep-felt words. They then look at the Baby Who is weeping a little and they smile moved and happy.
The shepherds have joined the crib. Levi wants Elijah to say something, as he has already met Joseph and Mary.
GRM 30.10-11
30.10 Jesus says:
«I will speak today. You are very tired, but have a little more patience.
It is the eve of Corpus Christi. I could speak to you about the Eucharist and the saints who became apostles of Its cult, as I spoke to you of the saints who were apostles of the Sacred Heart. But I want to speak to you of something else and of a class of worshippers of My Body who are the forerunners of Its cult. That is: the shepherds. They were the first worshippers of My Body of the Word, Who had become Man.
Once I told you and also My Church says this, the Holy Innocents are the protomartyrs of Christ. Now I tell you that the shepherds are the first worshippers of the Body of God. And they have all the qualifications to be the worshippers of My Body, o Eucharistic souls.
Firm faith: they believe the angel promptly and unquestioningly.
Generosity: they give all their wealth to their Lord.
Humility: they approach people, who from the human point of view, are poorer than they, and they do so with a modest attitude that does not humiliate them, and they profess themselves their servants.
Desire: what they are unable to offer, they endeavour to obtain by means of charitable work.
Prompt obedience: Mary wishes to inform Zacharias and Elias goes at once. He does not postpone the matter.
Love finally: they suffer in departing from the grotto and you say: âThey leave their hearts thereâ. And you are right.
But should the same not happen with My Sacrament?
30.11 And there is another point, and it is entirely for you: note to whom the angel reveals himself first and who deserves to hear Maryâs love effusions. Levi: the boy.
God shows Himself to those who have a childâs soul and He shows them also His mysteries and allows them to hear His divine words and Maryâs. And those with a childâs soul have also Leviâs holy daring and they say: âLet us kiss Jesusâ dressâ. They say that to Mary. Because it is always Mary Who gives you Jesus. She is the Bearer of the Eucharist. She is the Living Pyx.
He who goes to Mary, finds Me. He who asks Her for Me receives Me from Her. When a creature says to Mary: âGive me Your Jesus that I may love Himâ, My Motherâs smile causes Heavenâs colours to change into a more lively brightness because of its greater delight.
Say, therefore, to Her: âLet me kiss Jesusâ dress, let me kiss His woundsâ. And dare even more: âLet me rest my head on Your Jesusâ Heart, that I may delight in Itâ.
Come. And rest. Like Jesus in His cradle, between Jesus and Mary.»
GRM 30.10-11
Translation in progress
GRM 30.11
He who goes to Mary, finds Me. He who asks Her for Me receives Me from Her. When a creature says to Mary: âGive me Your Jesus that I may love Himâ, My Motherâs smile causes Heavenâs colours to change into a more lively brightness because of its greater delight.
GRM 30.11
God shows Himself to those who have a childâs soul and He shows them also His mysteries and allows them to hear His divine words and Maryâs. And those with a childâs soul have also Leviâs holy daring and they say: âLet us kiss Jesusâ dressâ. They say that to Mary. Because it is always Mary Who gives you Jesus. She is the Bearer of the Eucharist. She is the Living Pyx.
Jesus gives Maria a dictation, after she has seen the shepherds' adoration in the manger. He says:
GRM 31
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.
GRM 31.2
31.2 Mary comes in, She heard their voices. She is all dressed in white wool. She has taken off the dark dress She was wearing during the journey and in the grotto, and She is all white, as I have seen Her dressed before. She is not wearing anything on Her head, and She is holding Jesus in Her arms: He is sleeping, sated with milk, in His pure white swaddling clothes.
Physical description of Mary after the Nativity.
GRM 31.3
31.3 They all sit down, and Zacharias explains once again to Mary the reason why Elizabeth has not come and how upset she was. «During the past months she has prepared some linen for Your blessed Son. I have brought them to You. They are downstairs in the waggon.»
He rises and goes out, then comes back with a large parcel and a smaller one. Joseph relieves him of the heavier one and Zacharias starts pulling his gifts from both of them: a soft handwoven woollen blanket, some linen and little dresses. Then from the other one, some honey, some snow-white flour, butter, apples for Mary and bread baked by Elizabeth and many more little things which are a token of the motherly love of the grateful cousin for the young Mother.
«Please tell Elizabeth that I am very grateful to her, as I am grateful to you, too. I would have been so happy to see her, but I understand the situation. And I would also have loved to see little JohnâŠÂ»
«But You will see him in spring. We will come and see You.»
«Nazareth is too far away,» remarks Joseph.