Judea region

Chapter title: Visitation to Elizabeth

Date of vision: Saturday, April 1, 1944

Calendar: Sunday, March 24, A.D. -5

Location (map): Hebron

Cycle: Birth and childhood of Jesus

Summary: Mary arrives in Hebron. Maria describes the place, then more specifically the Virgin's arrival. She stops in front of a rather luxurious house, where nothing is lacking, and the Immaculate Conception tries to make her presence known. An inquisitive little old lady presents her with a bell and asks her questions. Fortunately, a servant arrives - presumably a gardener - and saves the Mother from the gossip. Mary quickly goes inside after thanking the little old lady. The servant leads her inside and tells her about what has happened in the house: he mentions Elizabeth's childbirth, but also Zechariah's silence, for he is no longer able to speak. He tries to call his wife, Sarah, who is another servant, but instead, Elizabeth arrives. She sees Mary, Mary sees Elizabeth, and they both run to each other. They embrace in a warm embrace, and it's then that the Holy Spirit envelops Elizabeth. The Forerunner is sanctified, and John the Baptist becomes spotless. Elizabeth and Mary speak the words of the Gospel, then Zacharias arrives, but he doesn't realize Mary's spiritual state. Instead, he asks about the Virgin and Joseph, and Elizabeth simply reveals that she is a mother. But neither of them say more.

Maria then writes of how she received the vision, and declares that she saw Mary at Christ's burial.

Chapter contents: 21.1: Through the mountains of Judea. 21.2: Zechariah's wealthy estate in Hebron. 21.3: The strange bell and the opening of the gate. 21.4: Old Samuel gives news of Zechariah and Elizabeth. 21.5: Elizabeth and Mary's embrace, inner illumination, the Magnificat. 21.6: The arrival of Zechariah. 21.7: Visions according to his spiritual needs.

Chapter title: The days spent in Hebron. The fruits of Mary's charity towards Elizabeth.

Date of vision and dictation: Sunday, April 2, 1944

Calendar: April of year -5

Location (map): Hebron

Cycle: Birth and childhood of Jesus

Summary: Mary lives in Hebron. Elisabeth arrives near her and talks about their respective maternities. Zechariah's wife is no longer in pain now that the Virgin is here, but before that she suffered greatly because of her old age. Mary, by comparison, does not suffer, but she does not have the weight of the Fault.

Elizabeth wants to spin clothes for John the Baptist, but Mary says she will do the work for him. The Virgin argues that she has all the time in the world and that she will think of her cousin first, since the Precursor's birth is imminent. Then she'll think of her child, Jesus.

It is at this point that the Immaculate Conception reveals the name of her Son to Elizabeth, and reveals to her her anguish. Mary knows the prophets, and already senses that Jesus will be the Lamb, the Man of Sorrows. Nevertheless, Elizabeth consoles her, saying that God will be with her, and that her child will be loved for ever and ever.

The two women then speak of Zechariah, who is mute. This is a great sorrow for his wife. She hopes that when the child is born, he will be able to speak again. The blessed mother would like her son to be called John, and she reveals her suffering to her cousin. To take her mind off it, Mary suggests they go outside, and they find themselves near a small flock of lambs.

The vision changes; this time, time has passed. Mary leaves for Elizabeth. They talk about Jesus and his appearance. Then they talk about Joseph, and Mary reveals that she has left it to God to intervene. Apart from Elizabeth, no one must know of her divine maternity, and Elizabeth, who understands, points out that she has even told Zechariah. He enters and Mary says the prayers. She urges the priest to believe in God's mercy, for the man believes he will never be able to speak again.

Finally, Mary gives a lesson on charity, on making God's gifts grow within us. We must always be charitable, not selfish. She also gives us a lesson about the passage of time: God is its master, and he helps those who hope in him. "Selfishness advances nothing, it delays everything. Charity doesn't delay anything, it advances things". Finally, the Mother points out that she found much peace in Elizabeth's home, and that if she had not been tormented by the thought of Joseph and her Son, Redeemer of the world, she would have been happy. But Mary means both light and bitterness...

Chapter contents: 22.1: Mary sews for Elisabeth's child. 22.2: Elisabeth feels much better since Mary's visit. 22.3: Mary is moved by the thought of Isaiah's Man of Sorrows. 22.4: Elisabeth is distressed by Zechariah's silence. 22.5: A walk in the garden among the doves, kids and lambs. 22.6: Mary spins and weaves. 22.7: She imagines what her child will be like. 22.8: God reveals the mystery to Joseph. 22.9: Zechariah speaks again. The Messiah will be born in Bethlehem. 22.10: Love of neighbor. 22.11: My love of neighbor and my love of God. 22.12: Charity advances the realization of things. 22.13: Bitterness mixed with sweetness.

Chapter title: Birth of John the Baptist. All suffering subsides in Mary's womb.

Date of vision and dictation: Monday, April 3, 1944 (Holy Monday)

Calendar: Thursday, July 4, year -5

Location (map): Hebron

Cycle: Birth and childhood of Jesus

Summary: Mary and Elizabeth stroll through Zachariah's house. They walk slowly and Mary is attentive to everything. Caring for her relative, she goes to help Sarah, the servant, then invites Elizabeth to walk a little further. They go to see the doves, and Elizabeth is moved by their affection for her. Her condition makes her fear death and worry for her husband and child. Mary reassures her that all will be well, and invites her to trust in God. As Elizabeth's suffering returns, they return home. The work of the Precursor's mother begins. Mary comforts Zacharias and prays with the old man. When he falls asleep (it's the middle of the night), she takes care of him and continues her prayer.

Elizabeth calls the Virgin and asks her to place her hand on her immaculate womb. Mary soothes her, tells her to trust in God, and tells her that Jesus is there. When her cousin has calmed down, she leaves. Zachariah is still asleep. The Immaculate prays intensely, until the old priest wakes up. But John is still not born.

Mary continues to pray, and soon dawn breaks. A little later, to the great joy of both parents, John is born. Zacharias receives the child, and Mary brings him back to his mother. The baby calmed down as soon as he was on Mary's breast. Elizabeth asks her if Zacharias can speak, but unfortunately he cannot. The Virgin tells her to hope again in the Lord...

After the vision, the Full of Grace gives dictation to Maria and explains that, while she was preserved from the Fault and the pains of childbirth, her spiritual motherhood was nonetheless filled with suffering. Mary then invites us to always come to her, for she is the eternal bearer of Jesus. She prays unceasingly for us and for our salvation.

Chapter contents: 23.1: A vision of peace in the midst of dark hours. 23.2: Mary helps Elisabeth and Sarah in the garden. 23.3: She reassures an Elisabeth who is afraid of dying. 23.4: She watches over everything in the house. 23.5: Ailing Elisabeth calls her to her bedside. 23.6: She returns to reassure Zechariah. 23.7: Zechariah is nervous, Mary prays. 23.8: The boy is brought to the father. Mary brings him back to the mother. 23.9: The heartbreak of Mary's spiritual childbirth. 23.10: Come to me, the eternal bearer of Jesus.

It's July, year 5-5.

Chapter title: Circumcision of John the Baptist. Mary is a source of grace for those who welcome the Light.

Date of vision: Tuesday, April 4, 1944 (Holy Tuesday).

Date of dictation: Tuesday, April 4, 1944. On a typed copy, Maria Valtorta notes: "The Blessed Virgin Mary dictated these words on Holy Wednesday."

Calendar: Friday, July 12, year -5

Location (map): Hebron

Cycle: Birth and childhood of Jesus

Summary: It's John's circumcision. Zachariah's house is crowded. They talk about the child's name, and want to give him his father's name, but Elisabeth is adamant: his name will be John. Zechariah's opinion is sought, and he writes that his name will indeed be John, "God is gracious". His tongue loosens and he says his hymn. Elizabeth is overjoyed. The circumcision takes place, and the little one calms down in the Virgin's arms. Zechariah goes to her and asks her forgiveness for not recognizing her, even though she is pregnant with the Savior. He blesses her, and the Immaculate replies that all praise must go to God. The Immaculate also asks him to pray for her, for if being the mother of the Savior is a blessed destiny, being the mother of the Redeemer must be a destiny of excruciating suffering.

In the dictation that follows, Mary explains that God forgives those who recognize their fault and repent. She invites us to rid our souls of all that weighs them down, and to welcome God's Light. The Virgin goes on to explain that those who possess God, who have God's friendship, are never alone, for even if this does not take away our suffering, He gives us light and caresses that lighten our cross. We must also know how to thank the Most High for his graces.

Finally, the Immaculate explains that we make her suffer a lot, because we reject grace. When she gives the dictation, Good Friday is approaching, so she invites us to pray in the words of her Son on the Cross. Finally, she reminds Maria that, while she sees her joys, her suffering has always grown exponentially, until she receives her dead Son in her arms.

Chapter contents: 24.1: The house in celebration. 24.2: The name. The miracle. The Benedictus. 24.3: Only Mary can soothe little John's pain on his return from circumcision. 24.4: Zacharias, now able to speak again, prostrates himself before Mary. 24.5: Mary asks for his prayers for the Coredemptrix she will become. 24.6: God forgives the repentant. 24.7: He makes pain sweet in its bitterness. 24.8: The pain of seeing an enemy of Jesus. 24.9: The mystery of Good Friday. 24.10: An ever-increasing pain.

Mary enunciates Caesar at the time of the census edict.

Luke 2:1-3:
In those days there appeared an edict from the Emperor Augustus, ordering a census of the whole earth - this first census took place when Quirinius was governor of Syria. - And everyone went to be counted, each in his home town.

Chapter title: Arrival in Bethlehem.

Date of vision: Monday, June 5, 1944

Calendar: Tuesday, December 10, A.D. -5

Location (map): Bethlehem

Cycle: Birth and childhood of Jesus

Summary: Mary and Joseph set out for Bethlehem. Mary is on the donkey and Joseph is on foot, as he was unable to obtain two donkeys. The Virgin's husband asks her if she's tired, but she reassures him. When Joseph asks her if she's cold, she reassures him too, but this time her guardian is not satisfied with her answer and gauges that her feet are cold. So he gives her an extra blanket.

On the way, the couple meet Elijah, one of the future shepherds who will come to worship Christ. He is accompanied by his flock of sheep and gives them fresh milk. Given Mary's condition, he tells them about Bethlehem, and declares that it is crowded with people because of the edict. The man gives them valuable advice if they can't find shelter, and urges them to go to mountain huts if they really can't find anything.

When they set off again, Mary tells her husband that she thinks the time has come. The Virgin is overjoyed at the birth of her Son, but Joseph is not so happy and hurries to find them lodgings. No one welcomes them, and it finally gets dark. So they are forced to go to the shelters mentioned by Elijah, but the best places are taken. Finally, they are directed to a very poor den, where there is only one ox. They settle in, for want of anything better, but as Joseph says, "it's better than nothing". The animal is very docile and accepts the new visitors. Joseph prepares a place for Mary, warming hay and then, when everything is ready, he encourages her to sleep. And so the vision ends.

Chapter contents: 28.1: On the road in the middle of winter. 28.2: I don't know if you'll find a place to stay. 28.3: There is no room at the inn. 28.4: A kind of cave with an ox. 28.5: Joseph is busy setting up. 28.6: The vision speaks for itself.