Notes for this theme

Jerusalem area

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Reading comfort

GRM 196.1.2 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

The group has spent most of the Sabbath morning resting their tired bodies and cleaning their clothes which had become dusty and creased during the journey. There is so much inviting water in the spacious cisterns of Gethsemane, full of rain water, and in the foamy Kidron, now in flood, because of the recent downpours, where the water resounds against the stones like a symphony. And the apostles, one after the other, defying the low temperature of the water, plunge into it and then, clad from head to foot in fresh clothes, their hair rather sleeked by the spray of the torrent, they draw water from the cisterns pouring it into large vats in which they have sorted out their clothes according to the colours. (...)
They scatter in the olive-grove, which is so beautiful on this serene April day. The rain of the past days seems to have silvered the olive-trees and sown flowers, so bright are the leaves in the sun and so numerous the little flowers at the foot of each tree. Birds are singing and flying everywhere. The town is lying over there, to the west of an onlooker.
It is not possible to see the crowds thronging inside, but one can see the caravans going towards the Gate of the Fish and to others, with names unknown to me, on this eastern side, and the travellers are swallowed by the town as it if were a hungry mouth.

Annotation

The city stretches out over there, west of Gethsemane. See the sketch drawn by Maria Valtorta.

Maria Valtorta drew the sketch in black pencil, sometimes overlaid with red and blue. Some names were drawn in pen. In the center is the "Temple", with "Tightly packed houses", and, in a semicircle to the left: "Suburbs and sparser houses", all encircled by a double circle whose explanation is at the bottom of the page: "(The red and blue circle indicates the walls)". On these "walls", we read a "door" next to the "north" indication, and another "door" to the southeast. Outside the "walls": "Cedron" and "Gethsemane" to the east, "Houses" twice to the south, "torrent" and "Golgotha" to the west.

We see the caravans heading for the Pisces Gate. North of Jerusalem, next to the Temple.

Keywords

GRM 196.9 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«When are we going to this Mother, my Lord?» asks Jabez with eager eyes.
«This evening. What will you say to Her when you see Her?»
«“I greet You, Mother of the Saviour”. Is that all right?»
«Very good» confirms Jesus caressing him.
«But are we going to the Temple today?» asks Philip.
«We shall go there before leaving for Bethany. And you will stay here and be a good boy. Will you not?»
«Yes, my Lord.»
The wife of Jonah, the caretaker of the olive-grove, who has come near very quietly says: «Why don’t you take him. The boy is anxious to come…»
Jesus stares at her without saying anything.
The woman understands and says: «I see! I should still have a little mantle belonging to Mark. I will look for it» and she runs away.
Jabez pulls John’s sleeve: «Will the teachers be severe?»
«Oh! no. Don’t be afraid. In any case it is not today. In a few days’ time, with His Mother, you will be more learned than a doctor» John comforts him.
The others hear and smile at Jabez’ concern.
«But who will present him as if he were his father?» asks Matthew.
«Of course I will! Unless… the Master wishes to present him» says Peter.
«No, Simon. I will not present him. I leave that honour to you.»
«Thank You, Master. But… You will be there, too?»
«Certainly. We shall all be there. He is “our” boy…»
Mary of Jonah comes back with a dark violet mantle, which is still good. But what a colour! She says so herself: «Mark never wanted to wear it because he did not like the colour.»
No wonder! It is vile! And poor Jabez with his olive complexion looks ghastly in the violent violet colour. But he cannot see himself… and he is therefore happy to have the mantle in which he can drape himself like an adult.
«The meal is ready, Master. The woman has taken the lamb off the spit just now.»
«Let us go, then.»
And going down from the place where they were, they go into the large kitchen for their meal.

Detail

Jesus has just spoken of the Virgin Mary.

Keywords

GRM 197.4 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«Oh! Master! Give me Your blessing!»
«Peace to you, Joseph. I am happy to see you and I am glad that you are in good health.»
«I am happy, too, Master, and also Your friends will be pleased to see You. Are You staying at Gethsemane?»
«I was there, but after the prayer I am going to Bethany.»
«To Lazarus’?»
«No, to Simon’s. My Mother, the mother of My brothers and the mother of John and James are also there. Will you come and see Me?»
«Are You asking me? I will come with great joy and it is a great honour, for which I thank You. I will come with some friends…»
«Be careful, Joseph, with friends!…» suggests Simon Zealot.
«Oh! You already know them. Prudence teaches: “Do not let the air know”. But when you see them you will understand that they are friends.»
«Well…»
«Master, Simon of Jonah was telling me about the ceremony for the little one. You arrived when I was asking when you intend having it. I want to be there, too.»
«On the Wednesday before Passover. I want him to keep Passover as a son of the Law.»
«Very good. That is settled. I will come and join you at Bethany. But I will come with my friends on Monday.»
«Agreed.»
«Master, I must leave You. Peace be with You. It is the hour of incense.»
«Goodbye, Joseph. Peace be with you.»

Detail

Jesus meets Joseph of Arimathea.

Keywords

GRM 198

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Chapter title: Jesus meets his mother in Bethany. Yabeç (Jabé) changes his name to Marziam.

Date of vision: Saturday, June 23, 1945.

Calendar: Saturday, March 25, 28 (12 Nissan 3788)

Location (map): Bethany

Cycle: The second Paschal journey

Summary: To come

Chapter contents: 198.1: Many come from Bethany to meet Jesus, who is going to meet his Mother. 198.2: Mary wipes away Yabeç's tears. 198.3: And wishes peace to John of En-Dor. 198.4: In the house of Simon the Zealot. The women are busy receiving all these people. 198.5: Why Yabeç, an orphan, was taken in. 198.6: Pierre does not want Yabeç, whom Lazarus proposes to adopt, to be taken away from him. 198.7: He will be able to provide for all his material needs. 198.8: Marie changes Yabeç's name to Marziam (Margziam). 198.9: News of the Baptist's arrest. 198.10: Yabeç appears with a new garment given to him by Martha. 198.11: Jesus and Mary discuss Aglaia's visit.

Old edition: Tome 3, chapter 59.

Keywords

GRM 198.1 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

Jesus is walking fast with His disciples towards Lazarus’ town, along a shady road which links the Mount of Olives to Bethany. One could say that the green ramifications of the mountain stretch as far as the countryside of Bethany. Jesus is recognised even before entering the town and voluntary messengers run in all directions to inform people of His arrival. Thus Lazarus and Maximinus arrive running from one side, Isaac with Timoneus and Joseph from another, and the third group to arrive is Martha with Marcella, who lifts her veil to bend down and kiss Jesus’ tunic. Immediately after Mary of Alphaeus and Mary Salome reach the spot, they greet the Master and then embrace their sons. Little Jabez, still held by the hand by Jesus, is tossed about by so much rushing and watches everything dumbfounded. John of Endor, feeling like a stranger, withdraws to the end of the group and stands aside. Suddenly, in the lane leading to Simon’s house, Jesus’ Mother comes forward.

Keywords

GRM 199.1 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

The beautiful morning invites people to leave their homes and beds and go for a walk, and the people living in the Zealot’s house get up very early, and like bees at sunrise they go out to breathe the pure air in Lazarus’ orchard around the hospitable house. They are soon joined by Lazarus’ guests, that is, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, Andrew and James of Zebedee. The sun shines in joyfully through all the windows and wide open doors and illuminates the simple tidy rooms with a golden hue, which brightens the shades of clothes and enlivens the hues of hair and eyes.
Mary of Alphaeus and Salome are busy serving the men who enjoy a hearty appetite. Mary instead is watching one of Lazarus’ servants who is sorting Marjiam’s hair, cutting it with greater skill than his first barber ever did.

Keywords

GRM 199.3-4 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

They remain all together until they are near Jerusalem. Then they part, the Iscariot goes on his own and enters the town probably through the Gate near the Antonia Tower; Thomas, Philip and Nathanael walk for about ten more yards with Jesus and their companions and then enter the town through the suburb of Ophel, together with Mary and the boy.
199.4
«And now, let us go and see those unhappy people!» says Jesus, and turning His back to the town He goes towards a desolate place on the slope of a rocky hill which lies between the two roads from Jericho to Jerusalem, A strange place, similar to a flight of steps after the first slope, up which climbs a path, so that there is a drop of at least three yards from the first terrace to the path, and the same from the second one. It is an arid, dead… extremely sad place.
«Master» shouts Simon the Zealot «I am here. Stop where You are, that I may show You the way…» and the Zealot, who was leaning against a rock to be in the shade, comes forward and leads Jesus up the steps of a path leading towards Gethsemane, but separated from it by the road that from the Mount of Olives goes to Bethany.
«Here we are. I lived among the tombs of Siloam and my friends are here. Some of them. The others are at Ben Hinnom, but cannot come… They would have to cross the road and would be seen.»
«We shall go to them also.»
«Thank You! On their part and mine.»

Keywords

GRM 199.5 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«And now let us go to Ben Hinnom» says Jesus.
(...) They cross the Kidron, walk along the southern side of Mount Tophet and enter the little valley completely strewn with tombs and filth. There is not one tree or any shade from the sun, which blazes down on this southern side heating the stones of these new hellish terraces where the stinking smell of burning rubbish increases the heat. And inside the sepulchres, similar to crematoria, there are poor bodies, which are wasting away… Siloam may be unpleasant in winter, damp as it is and facing north, but this place must be dreadful in summer…

Annotation

It [the sun] beams down and scorches the stones of these new terraces of hell, at the base of which smoke pestilential fires that increase the heat even more. It is in the Valley of Hinnom, otherwise known as Gehenna, that the garbage of Jerusalem is burned.

Keywords

GRM 200

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Chapter title: Aglaé and the fragrance of her joy at being saved.

Date of vision: Monday, June 25, 1945.

Calendar: Monday, March 27, 28 (14 Nisan 3788)

Location (map): Bethany

Cycle: The second Paschal journey

Summary: Jesus returns alone to the house of Simon the Zealot and is preoccupied. He is obviously waiting for someone, and Mary, his Mother, finally brings him Aglaia. He asks the Virgin not to disturb them, and Christ finally speaks with the former sinner. She kneels in adoration and weeps. She reveals that she dares not hope to obtain the Lord's love after having sinned so much. The Master consoles her and explains that this desire to love comes from God himself. When the convert is astonished that the Most High should love someone like Aglaia, Jesus again replies that God is an abyss of mercy incomprehensible to the human mind, and confirms that she is forgiven.

A legitimate question then arises: what should she do? Christ tells her to go to a deserted place and informs her that they will never see each other again on earth, and that he will die to obtain her redemption. She, for her part, will devote herself to penance, and another apostle will come to tell her all she needs to know: it won't be Andrew, however, who brought her to Jesus.

The former sinner then gives him her jewels and empties an amphora of perfume. Finally, she takes her leave, and from where he stands, Jesus blesses her as she walks away. He then asks his Mother to bring him Andrew, and informs him that she is saved. Peter's brother must say nothing, however, and soon the other apostles arrive. They wonder who answered the perfume, and Judas complains, annoying Lazarus and his companions. Jesus then takes the Iscariot away, and the vision ceases.

Chapter contents: 200.1: Jesus seems preoccupied. 200.2: Mary announces Aglaia's arrival and brings her to him. 200.3: Jesus confirms God's forgiveness to Aglaia. 200.4: He sends her to the desert, where one of his apostles will visit her. 200.5: She empties an amphora of perfume at his feet. 200.6: Jesus thanks André for his apostolic work with Aglaé. 200.7: Discussion about the perfume poured out.

Previous edition: Volume 3, chapter 61

Keywords

GRM 203

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Chapter title: The Lord's Prayer

Date of vision: Thursday, June 28, 1945

Calendar: Thursday, March 30, 28 (17 Nissan 3788)

Location (map): Jerusalem then Gethsemane

Cycle: The second Paschal journey

Summary: Jesus leaves the house where he is staying with the apostles, except Judas, who is not present. He asks John of Endor to watch over the women-disciples in their absence, and goes to the Mount of Olives with the disciples. On the way, he tells them that he wants to give them a great gift, and thanks them for their love for him.

As they walk, the Master points out that the apostles endure continual disappointments and trials, but that they must always trust in God. Meanwhile, he informs them that they are going to the Mount of Olives, to Gethsemane.

Chapter contents: 203.1: Jesus wishes to be alone with his apostles. 203.2: I will teach you to pray. 203.3: Simon of Jonah is transformed into Jesus' Peter. 203.4: Judas, absent, has become less good. He is jealous of Jesus. 203.5: The perfect prayer: When you pray, say thus. 203.6: Our Father: feel yourselves sons. 203.7: Hallowed be the holy and sweet Name. 203.8 : May God's reign come on earth. 203.9 : Perfect obedience on earth as it is in heaven. 203.10: Daily bread from the good Father. 203.11: Necessity of forgiveness. 203.12: Temptations. The humility of knowing oneself. 203.13: The gift of the second Passover. Return to Gethsemane.

Previous edition: Volume 3, chapter 64