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Reading comfort
GRM 10.1 · Volume 1
She is sewing in a very small room, which is also completely white, and through the wide open window one can see the imposing central part of the Temple, the flights of steps of the yards and porches. Beyond the enclosure wall also the town can be seen with its streets, houses, gardens, and in the background the humped green top of the Mount of Olives.
GRM 10.3
10.3 «Were You praying? Are Your prayers never enough for You?»
«My prayers would be enough. But I speak to God. Anna, you cannot imagine how close I feel Him. More than close, within My heart. May God forgive Me for My pride. But I do not feel lonely. See? Over there, in that House of gold and snow, behind the double Curtain, there is the Holy of Holies. Nobody is ever allowed to look at the Propitiatory, on which the glory of the Lord rests, except the High Priest. But My worshipping soul does not need to look at the embroidered Curtain, which quivers at the songs of the virgins and Levites and is scented with precious incense, as if I wanted to pierce its fabric and see the Testimony shine through it. I do look at it! Do not think that I do not look at it with worshipping eyes like every son of Israel. Do not think that pride blinds Me making Me think what I will now tell you. I look at it and there is no humble servant amongst the people of God that looks more humbly at the House of the Lord than I do, because I am convinced that I am the least of all. But what do I see? A veil. What do I think there is behind the Veil? A Tabernacle. What is in it? If I listen to My heart, I see God shining in His loving glory and He says to Me: “I love You” and I reply to Him: “I love You” and I die and I am recreated at each beat of My heart in this mutual kiss… I am amongst you, My dear teachers and companions. But a circle of fire isolates Me from you. Within the circle, God and Myself. And I see you through the Fire of God and so I love you… but I cannot love you according to the flesh, neither shall I ever be able to love anyone according to the flesh, neither shall I ever be able to love anyone according to the flesh. I can only love Him Who loves Me, according to the spirit..
GRM 11
Chapter title: Mary confides her vow to the High Priest.
Date of vision: Sunday, September 3, 1944
Calendar:November 7 (Elul 3754).
Location (map): Jerusalem
Cycle: Marriage to Joseph
Summary: Mary returns to her cell with other virgins. Just as she is about to enter her room, a mistress tells her that the High Priest wants to see her. So she goes, and discovers not only the priest, but also Zechariah and Anne of Phanuel. Simon ben Boethos tells her that he knows of her holiness, and would like her to stay in the Temple and pray to the Lord every morning. But the Law says otherwise, and she must marry. He reassures her by saying that he has not forgotten that she is of the line of David, and as she knows no one, they will rely on God to choose her husband. Mary then confided her vow of virginity to the high priest, who asked her when she had fulfilled it. The Mother of the Lord plunged into her memories to answer him. She tells him that she is not opposed to marriage, but still wants to remain a virgin. The high priest declares that God will give her a husband, who will be holy because she has entrusted herself to the Most High. She will tell her future husband about her vow.
Chapter contents: 11.1: Maria Valtorta is delighted by Mary's smile in the midst of a bombardment. 11.2: Mary returns to her cell with the virgins. 11.3: The Pontiff reminds her that she must marry. 11.4: But Mary has promised herself to the Lord and tells how. 11.5: You will tell your husband your vow.
GRM 11.2
Mary is still in the Temple. She is now coming out with other virgins from the inner part of the Temple.
There must have been a ceremony because there is the scent of incense in the air of a red sunset. It must be late October, because the sky, already calmly restful as is usual in clear October days, is bending over the gardens of Jerusalem, where the yellow ochre leaves about to fall add gold red spots to the silvery green of the olive-trees.
The crowd, or rather the host of white dressed virgins, crosses the rear yard, then climbs the steps, goes through a porch and enters another square yard, not quite so splendid, without any other door except the one leading into it. It must be the yard allocated to the small dwellings of the virgins assigned to the Temple, because each girl moves towards her cell, like a little dove to its nest. They look like a flock of doves that separate after gathering together. They are all speaking in low but joyful voices, before separating. Mary is silent. Before leaving the other girls, She bids them goodbye affectionately and then goes to Her little room in a corner on the right hand side.
GRM 12
Chapter title: Joseph chosen as the Virgin's spouse.
Date of vision: Monday, September 4, 1944
Calendar:Friday, December 23, year -7
Location (map): Jerusalem
Cycle: Marriage to Joseph
Summary: The high priest gathered the men of the tribe of David at the Temple. We learn in this chapter that he asked everyone to bring an almond branch. It is from this group that the Virgin's husband will be chosen. Everyone is curious, and Zachariah is present. The high priest finally arrives and reveals that one of the branches has blossomed in the middle of winter, and that this is the one who will marry Mary. Joseph is chosen as the lucky one and the high priest sends for the future Mother of Christ. Meanwhile, Simon ben Boethos reveals that Mary has made a vow. Joseph must help the All-Pure to tell her. When she arrives, everyone withdraws and the two fiancés get to know each other. Joseph speaks of the house of Nazareth, of Anne, of Joachim, and this gives the Virgin confidence. Her husband reveals to her that he is a Nazir, and this encourages her to tell him her vow, which he accepts: he even asks her to unite his vow with hers. Finally, St. Joseph affirms that he will take care of the house in Nazareth until Mary leaves the Temple for good.
Chapter contents: 12.1: A gathering of men in festive dress. 12.2: Joseph speaks with an old man. 12.3: A Levite brings a bundle of dry branches with a flowering branch. 12.4: Joseph is designated Mary's husband thanks to the miraculously flowering branch. 12.5: The Pontiff presents Joseph to Mary. 12.6: Joseph is a Nazirite. 12.7: Mary entrusts her consecration to God to Joseph, who accepts it. They will live in chastity. 12.8 : In Nazareth, the couple will live separately, with Joseph taking care of everything.
GRM 12.1
12.1 I see a rich hall with a beautiful floor, curtains, carpets and inlaid furniture. It must be still part of the Temple: there are priests in it, including Zacharias, and many men of every age, from twenty to fifty approximately.
Room where Mary's husband is chosen.
GRM 13
Chapter title: Marriage of the Virgin with Joseph, instructed by Wisdom that he would be the guardian of the Mystery.
Date of vision and dictation: Tuesday, September 5, 1944
Calendar: March 6 A.D.
Location (map): Jerusalem
Cycle: Marriage with Joseph
Summary: Joseph and Mary are engaged at the Temple in Jerusalem. Mary looks beautiful in her bride's trousseau. The virgins around her are ecstatic at her beauty, and it's her mistresses who come to their protégée's rescue. The maidens leave, and Elisabeth arrives. She tells her about Anne's wedding trousseau, and then the Virgin speaks of Joseph, who is described as a young saint. The bridegroom arrives, and the two fiancés meet again. Joseph is superb, and confides that he has been thinking about the Virgin's vow. He understands it and joins her in a perpetual naziréat. The high priest then betroths them. After this, Mary and Joseph leave Jerusalem for Nazareth... Jesus then gives a dictation about his putative father.
Chapter contents: 13.1: Mary's beauty in her bridal attire. 13.2: Her companions admire her. 13.3: Your clothes are your mother's caress. 13.4: Joseph arrives in his best clothes. His welcoming speech. 13.5: Joseph speaks of the vow of absolute chastity. 13.6: The Pontiff presides over the wedding. 13.7: The bride and groom leave in a chariot with Zechariah and Elizabeth. 13.8: Praise for Wisdom. 13.9: Joseph, guardian of the Bride and the Son of God. 13.10: Joseph, a new Aaron who believed without seeing. 13.11 : Joseph, a co-redemptive example of purity, fidelity and perfect love.
GRM 19
Chapter title: Mary and Joseph go to Jerusalem.
Date of vision: Monday, March 27, 1944
Calendar: Tuesday, March 19, A.D. -5
Location (map): Departure from Nazareth and journey to Jerusalem
Cycle: Birth and childhood of Jesus
Summary: Joseph and Mary set out for Jerusalem. They leave Nazareth with two donkeys. Joseph has brought a sort of luggage rack, and Mary thanks him for his foresight. They set off just as dawn was breaking. The two travelers meet a shepherd leading his flock: he has a newborn lamb in his arms, crying for its mother, but she follows her baby attentively. The flock passes by, and Joseph and Mary set off again. Arriving in the countryside, they speak little. The streets are busier as they approach hamlets, but the couple pay no attention to those they meet. They stop just in time for a heavy downpour, which turns into a light rain. Joseph takes care that Mary doesn't catch cold. Then they continue their journey.
Chapter contents: 19.1: Joseph picks Mary up with two gray donkeys. 19.2: Early-morning encounter with a flock of sheep and a lamb. 19.3: Quiet journey on more frequented roads, stopping to take shelter from a storm.
GRM 20
Chapter title: Leaving Jerusalem. The beatific aspect of Mary. Importance of prayer for Mary and Joseph.
Date of vision: Tuesday, March 28, 1944
Calendar: Sunday, March 24, A.D. -5
Location (map): Jerusalem to Hebron
Cycle: Birth and childhood of Jesus
Summary: Joseph and Mary arrive in Jerusalem. They head for the Temple, stopping at a stable where Joseph left his horse during the Presentation in the Temple. They then go to an acquaintance's house for a bite to eat. Mary rests for a while, and Joseph returns with an old man who takes the same route as her. So she had to travel only a short distance on her own. Together they go to another gate of the Holy City, and then the couple say goodbye. The old man is very talkative, and Marie responds patiently. When he falls silent, she recollects herself in prayer.
Maria then describes the Virgin as she sees her in her bedroom, with her glorified body. La Pleine de Grace is very beautiful. Maria concludes with a dictation, drawing attention to the ardent prayer of Joseph and Mary. It invites the soul never to divest itself of the protection of prayer. She urges us to invoke the name of the Lord, even if we are imperfect, to call upon him to communicate his holiness to us. We must imitate the people who endlessly sing the Sanctus.
Chapter contents: 20.1: Joseph presents Mary with a travelling companion. 20.2: The talkative old man ends up dozing off. Mary prays. 20.3: Maria Valtorta lingers to contemplate the chaste Mary. 20.4: Contrast with the tragic hours of the Passion. 20.5: Presence gives great peace. Maria Valtorta recalls Jesus' suffering in Gethsemane. 20.6: Mary and Joseph always give first place to prayer. 20.7 : In weakness or holiness, always invoke the Lord's holiness. 20.8 : Living prayer has its source in love and suffering united to that of Mary and Jesus.
GRM 20.1-2
20.1 We are in Jerusalem. I know the town very well now, with its streets and gates.
The first thing Mary and Joseph do is to go to the Temple. I recognise the stable where Joseph left his donkey on the day of Jesus’ presentation in the Temple. Also now he leaves the two donkeys there, after feeding them, and then he goes with Mary to worship the Lord.
When they come out, they enter a house which apparently belongs to people they know. They take some refreshment there and Mary rests until Joseph comes back with a little old man. «This man is going Your way. You will not have to travel a long way by Yourself to get to Your relatives. You can trust him because I know him.»
20.2
They get on their donkeys again and Joseph goes with Mary as far as the Gate (it is not the one they entered but a different one) and they part there. Mary proceeds with the little old man who is as chatty as Joseph was silent and takes an interest in many things. Mary answers him patiently. In front of the saddle She now has the little trunk which Joseph’s donkey had carried earlier and She is no longer wearing the large mantle.
Joseph accompanied Mary to the Holy City. His wife then went to Hebron, to Elisabeth's home, where she experienced the visitation.