GRM 199.7 · Volume 3
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
Innocent children speak… because they see through the eyes of their angels.
Detail
About children.
Notes for this theme
The Catholic Church
Page 232 of 274
Reading comfort
Aa
GRM 199.8-9 · Volume 3
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
«Yes. Peter is very good. I would do anything for him, because he deserves it.»
«If he heard You, he would say with his good frank smile: “Ah! My Lord, that is not true!” And he would be right.»
«Why, Mother?» But Jesus smiles, because He has already understood.
«Because You are not satisfying him by giving him a son. He told Me all his hopes, his desires… and Your refusals.»
«And did he not tell You the reasons justifying them?»
«Yes, he did and he added: “It is true… but I am a man, a poor man. Jesus persists in seeing a great man in me. But I know that I am a poor fellow, and so… he could give me a child. I got married to have them… and I will die without any”. And he said — pointing at the boy who, delighted because of the lovely dress bought by Peter, had kissed him, saying: “Beloved father” — he said: “See, when this little creature, whom only ten days ago I did not know, says that to me, I feel that I become softer than butter and sweeter than honey and I weep, because… every day that goes by, takes this child away from me”.»
Mary becomes silent, watching Jesus, studying His face, waiting for a word… But Jesus has placed His elbow on His knee, resting His head in His hand and is silent, looking at the green expanse of the orchard.
Mary takes His hand and caressing it She says: «Simon has this great desire… When I went with him, he did nothing but speak to Me about it, and his reasons are so good that… I could say nothing to keep him quiet. They are the same reasons that all women and mothers think of. The boy is not strong. If he were as strong as You were… oh! he could have faced the life of a disciple without any fear. But he is so thin!… He is very intelligent, very good… but nothing more. When a little dove is so delicate, you cannot throw it in the air to let it fly very early, as you do with strong ones. The shepherds are good… but they are still men. Children need women. Why do You not leave him with Simon? While You refuse him a son of his own, born of him, I understand the reason. A son is like an anchor. And Simon, who is destined to such a great task, cannot be hindered by anchors. But You must agree that he is to be the “father” of all the sons You will be leaving him. How can he be a father if he has had no training with a child? A father must be sweet. Simon is good, but not sweet. He is impulsive and intolerant. Only a little creature can teach him the fine art of being indulgent to whoever is weak… Consider Simon’s destiny… He is Your successor after all! Oh! I must say that cruel word! But for all the sorrow it causes Me saying it, listen to Me. I would never advise You anything unless it were good. Marjiam… You want to make a perfect disciple of him… But he is only a boy. You… You will be going before he is a man. To whom then can You give him, to complete his formation, better than Simon? Finally, poor Simon, You know how much trouble he has had, with his mother-in-law, also because of You. And yet he has not picked up a tiny part of his past, of his freedom of a year ago, to be left in peace by his mother-in-law, whom not even You have been able to change. And his poor wife? She is longing so much to love and be loved. Her mother… oh! Her husband? A dear domineering man… No affection is ever given to her without exacting too much… Poor woman!… Leave her the boy. Listen, Son. For the time being we will take him with us. I will come to Judaea, too. You will take Me to one of My companions of the Temple, who is almost a relative, because she is of the House of David. She lives at Bethzur. I will be pleased to see her, if she is still alive. Then, when we go back to Galilee, we will give him to Porphirea. When we are near Bethsaida, Peter will take him. When we come here, so far, the boy will stay with her. Ah! You are smiling now! So You are going to please Your Mother. Thank You, My Jesus.»
«Yes, let it be done, as You wish.»
199.9
Jesus stands up and calls out loud: «Simon of Jonas: come here.»
Peter starts and rushes up the steps. «What do You want, Master?»
«Come here, you usurper and corrupter!»
«Me? Why? What have I done, Lord?»
«You have corrupted My Mother. That is why you wanted to be alone. What shall I do with you?»
But Jesus smiles and Peter recovers confidence. «Oh!» he says. «You really frightened me! But now You are laughing… What do You want from me, Master? My life? I have but that, because You have taken everything… But if You want, I will give it to You.»
«I do not want to take anything from you. I want to give you something. But do not take advantage of your victory and do not disclose the secret to the others, you most artful fellow who defeats the Master by means of the weapon of His Mother’s word. You will have the boy, but…»
Jesus can say no more, because Peter, who had knelt down, bounces to his feet and kisses the Master with such delight that he makes the words die on His lips.
«Thank Her, not Me. But remember that this must be of assistance to you, and not an impediment…»
«My Lord, You will not have to repent of the gift… Oh! Mary! May You be always blessed, You are holy and good…» And Peter, who has fallen on his knees again, weeps, kissing Mary’s hand…
Annotation
199.9 Jesus rises and calls with a loud voice:
"Simon, son of Jonah, come here!"
Peter is startled and hurries up the stairs:
"What do you want, Master?
- Come here, you usurper and corrupter!
- Me? Why? What have I done, Lord?
- You've corrupted my Mother. That's why you wanted to be alone. What should I do to you?"
But Jesus smiles and Peter is reassured.
Oh," he says, "you really scared me! But now you're laughing... What do you want from me, Master?
JESUS PLEASING: This passage has caused controversy among some:
- some can't imagine Jesus joking in the way one does with best friends (seeming to accuse them of the antithesis of what they obviously are).
- The rest of us have a partial reading that interprets corruption in isolation as an unworthy and shocking practice.
MARY MEDIATRIX OF ALL GRACES:
On the first point, the joke, it should be noted that Jesus does not use the vulgarity usually associated with this type of joke, but draws a holy lesson from it: Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces. He is "evangelizing" our humanity.
As for the other, a reading of the context removes any doubt as to Peter's intention: finding his deepest desire denied, he asks for Mary's help and mediation.
GRM 199.8 · Volume 3
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
While You refuse him a son of his own, born of him, I understand the reason. A son is like an anchor. And Simon, who is destined to such a great task, cannot be hindered by anchors.
Detail
Mary speaks of Simon Peter and says:
Keywords
GRM 200.1 · Volume 3
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
Jesus goes back to the Zealot’s house alone. It is getting dark and the evening is quiet and serene after so much sunshine. Jesus looks in at the kitchen door, says hello and then goes upstairs, to meditate in the upper room, which has already been prepared for supper. He does not look very happy. He often sighs and walks to and fro in the large room, looking now and again at the surrounding country, which can be seen through the many doors of this large room, shaped like a cube above the ground floor. He goes out also and walks on the terrace making a tour of the house and He stops at the rear side looking at John of Endor who is kindly drawing water from a well and handing it to busy Salome. He looks, shakes His head and sighs.
The power of His glance draws the attention of John, who looks up and asks: «Master, do You want me?»
«No, I was only looking at you.»
«John is good. He helps me» says Salome.
«And God will reward him for that help too.»
GRM 200.2 · Volume 3
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
After these words Jesus goes back into the room and sits down. He is so engrossed in thought that He does not notice the noisy chattering of many voices and the shuffling of many feet in the entrance corridor and then two light footsteps climbing the outside staircase and approaching the large room. Only when Mary calls Him He looks up.
«Son, Susanna has arrived in Jerusalem with her family and she brought Aglae here at once. Do You wish to listen to her while we are alone?»
«Yes, Mother. At once. And do not let anyone come up until it is all over. I hope to deal with her before the others come back. But please watch that there is no indiscreet curiosity… in no one… particularly with regards to Judas of Simon.»
«I will watch carefully…»
Mary goes out and shortly afterwards comes back holding by the hand Aglae, who is no longer wrapped in her large grey mantle with her veil pulled over her face and is not wearing high heeled sandals with complicated buckles and strips, which she wore before. She is now dressed like a Jewess, with low flat very plain sandals, like Mary’s, a dark blue dress on which her mantle is draped, and a white veil which she is wearing in the style of common Jewish women, that is, simply covering her head with one edge falling on her shoulders so that her face is only partially veiled. Her plain dress, identical to the one worn by most women and the fact that she was with other Galileans prevented her from being recognised.
She enters with her head lowered, blushing at every step, and I think that she would have knelt down on the threshold, if Mary had not kindly pulled her towards Jesus.
«Here, Son, is the woman who has been looking for You for such a long time. Listen to her» says Mary when She is near Jesus and then withdraws, pulling the curtains over the wide open doors and closing the one which is near the staircase.
Keywords
GRM 200.2-6 · Volume 3
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
After these words Jesus goes back into the room and sits down. He is so engrossed in thought that He does not notice the noisy chattering of many voices and the shuffling of many feet in the entrance corridor and then two light footsteps climbing the outside staircase and approaching the large room. Only when Mary calls Him He looks up.
«Son, Susanna has arrived in Jerusalem with her family and she brought Aglae here at once. Do You wish to listen to her while we are alone?»
«Yes, Mother. At once. And do not let anyone come up until it is all over. I hope to deal with her before the others come back. But please watch that there is no indiscreet curiosity… in no one… particularly with regards to Judas of Simon.»
«I will watch carefully…»
Mary goes out and shortly afterwards comes back holding by the hand Aglae, who is no longer wrapped in her large grey mantle with her veil pulled over her face and is not wearing high heeled sandals with complicated buckles and strips, which she wore before. She is now dressed like a Jewess, with low flat very plain sandals, like Mary’s, a dark blue dress on which her mantle is draped, and a white veil which she is wearing in the style of common Jewish women, that is, simply covering her head with one edge falling on her shoulders so that her face is only partially veiled. Her plain dress, identical to the one worn by most women and the fact that she was with other Galileans prevented her from being recognised.
She enters with her head lowered, blushing at every step, and I think that she would have knelt down on the threshold, if Mary had not kindly pulled her towards Jesus.
«Here, Son, is the woman who has been looking for You for such a long time. Listen to her» says Mary when She is near Jesus and then withdraws, pulling the curtains over the wide open doors and closing the one which is near the staircase.
200.3
Aglae puts down the little bag she was carrying on her shoulder, then she kneels down at Jesus’ feet and bursts into tears. She prostrates herself on the floor, her head resting on her arms crossed on the floor.
«Do not weep thus. This is not the time for tears. You should have wept when you were hateful to God. Not now that you love Him and are loved by Him.»
But Aglae continues to weep…
«Do you not believe that it is so?»
She manages to speak through her sobs: «I love Him, it is true, as best I can… But although I know and believe that God is Bounty I cannot possibly hope to be loved by Him. I have sinned too much… Perhaps one day I will be loved… But I still have to weep so much… For the time being I am alone in my love. All alone… It is not desperate solitude of past years. It is a solitude full of longing for God, so it is no longer hopeless… but it is so sad…»
«Aglae, how little you still know the Lord! This longing for Him is the proof that God is replying to your love, that He is your friend, Who calls you, invites you and wants you. God is incapable of remaining insensitive to the desire of a creature, because He, the Lord and Creator of all creatures, excited that desire in that heart. He excited it because He loved with privileged love the soul that is now longing for Him. The desire of God always precedes the desire of the creature, because He is Most Perfect and therefore His love is by far more eager and ardent than the love of the creature.»
«But how can God love my filth?»
«Do not endeavour to understand with your intelligence. He is an abyss of mercy, which human intelligence cannot understand. But what the intelligence of man cannot understand, the intelligence of love, the love of the spirit does. It understands and confidently penetrates the mystery, which is God, and the mystery of the relationship of the soul with God. Enter, I tell you. Enter, because God wants it.»
«Oh! My Saviour! So I am really forgiven? I am really loved? Must I believe it?»
«Did I ever lie to you?»
«Oh! no, Lord! Everything You told me[1] at Hebron came true. You saved me because Your Name is salvation. You looked for me, a poor lost soul. You gave me the life of this soul, which I was carrying dead within me. You told me that if I had looked for You I would find You. And it was true. You told me that You are wherever man needs a doctor and medicine. And it is true. Everything, everything You told poor Aglae, from the words on that
morning in June, to the other words at the Clear Water…»
«So you must believe these too.»
«Yes, I believe, I do believe! But say to me: “I forgive you”!»
«I forgive you in the name of God and of Jesus.»
«Thank You…
200.4
But now… What must I do? Tell me, My Saviour, what I must do to have Eternal Life. Man becomes corrupt only by looking at me… I cannot live in perpetual fear of being discovered and entrapped… During this journey I trembled every time a man looked at me… I do not want to sin anymore neither do I want to cause others to sin. Tell me the road I must follow. I will follow it whatever it may be. You can see that I am strong also in privations… And even if I should die because of too many privations, I am not afraid. I will call death “my friend”, because death will rid me of the dangers of the earth, and forever. Speak, my Saviour.»
«Go to a desert place.»
«Where, my Lord?»
«Wherever you wish. Where your spirit will lead you.»
«Will my spirit, which is just formed, be capable of so much?»
«Yes, because God is leading you.»
«And who will speak to me of God again?»
«Your risen soul, for the time being…»
«Will I see You again?»
«Never again in this world. But before long I will have redeemed you completely and then I will come to your spirit to prepare you to ascend to God.»
«How will my complete redemption take place if I do not see You again? How will You give it to me?»
«By dying for all sinners.»
«Oh! no! You must not die!»
«To give men the Life I must give Myself to death. That is why I came as a human being. Do not weep… You will soon join Me where I shall be after My sacrifice and yours.»
«My Lord! Will I die for You, too?»
«Yes, but in a different way. Your flesh will die hour by hour and because your will wants that. It has been dying for almost one year. When it is completely dead, I will call you.»
«Will I have the strength to destroy my guilty flesh?»
«In your solitude where Satan will attack you with livid violence the more you become worthy of Heaven, you will find an apostle of Mine, once a sinner and later redeemed.»
«Not the blessed apostle who spoke to me of You? He could not have been a sinner because he is too honest.»
«Not that one. Another one. He will reach you at the right moment. He will tell you what you cannot know just now. Go in peace. The blessing of God be with you.»
200.5
Aglae, who has been kneeling all the time, bends to kiss the feet of the Lord. She dares no more. She then picks up her sack and turns it upside down. Some plain dresses, a little tinkling purse and an amphora of fine pink alabaster fall out of it.
Aglae puts the dresses into the sack, picks up the purse and says: «This is for the poor. It is what is left of my jewels. I kept only some coins for my journey… because, even if You had not told me. I intended going to a remote place. And this is for You. It is not so sweet as the perfume of Your holiness. But it is the best the earth can give. And I used it for the worst… Here. May God grant me to smell at least like this, in Your presence, in Heaven» and she removes the precious cap of the amphora and pours its contents onto the floor.
Waves of a strong scent of roses rise from the floor bricks, which become impregnated with the precious essence. Aglae puts away the empty amphora saying: «In remembrance of this hour» and she bends again to kiss Jesus’ feet. She then stands up, withdraws backwards, goes out, closes the door…
I hear her steps receding towards the staircase, her voice exchanging a few words with Mary, then the noise of her sandals going down the steps and then nothing else. There is nothing left of Aglae except the little purse at Jesus’ feet and the very strong scent in all the room.
Jesus gets up… he picks up the purse, puts it in His bosom, goes towards an opening looking onto the road and smiles seeing the woman going away, all alone, in her Jewish mantle, towards Bethlehem. He makes a gesture of blessing and goes towards the terrace and calls: «Mother.»
Mary goes upstairs quickly: «You made her happy, My Son. She has gone, with strength and peace.»
«Yes, Mother. When Andrew comes in, send him to Me before anybody else.»
200.6
Some time goes by, then I hear the voices of the apostles, who have come back… Andrew goes upstairs: «Master, do You want me?»
«Yes, come here. No one will know, but it is only fair that I should tell you. Andrew, thank you in the name of God and of a soul.»
«Thanks? For what?»
«Can you not smell this perfume? It is a souvenir of the Veiled woman. She came. She is saved.»
Andrew turns as red as a cherry, he falls on his knees, and cannot find words… At last he says: «Now I am happy. Blessed be the Lord!»
«Yes, get up. Do not tell the others that she came.»
«I will be quiet, my Lord.»
«You may go. Listen: has Judas of Simon come yet?»
«Yes, he wanted to come with us, telling us… a lot of lies. Why does he do that, Lord?»
«Because he is a spoiled boy. Tell Me the truth: have you quarrelled?»
«No, My brother is too happy with his boy to be anxious to quarrel, and the others, You know… are more prudent. It is true, we are all disgusted, in our hearts. But after supper he is going away… Other friends… he says. Oh! and he despises prostitutes!…»
«Be good, Andrew. You must be happy, too, this evening…»
«Yes, Master. I also have a sweet, although invisible, paternity. I am going.»
Detail
André only appears in 200.6. Aglaia states it in 200.4. Since Aglaia's fate was important to Peter's brother, we include the whole of Aglaia's discussion with Jesus.
Annotation
Everything you told me in Hebron has come true. In EMV 77.
You'll find one of my apostles once a sinner, then redeemed. Probably Matthew.
So it wasn't the blessed apostle who was telling me about you? André.
I too have my invisible, but sweet paternity. I'm off. Reference to Peter's paternity towards Marziam. Jesus granted him to be his adoptive father in EMV 199.
Keywords
GRM 200.3 · Volume 3
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
This longing for Him is the proof that God is replying to your love, that He is your friend, Who calls you, invites you and wants you. God is incapable of remaining insensitive to the desire of a creature, because He, the Lord and Creator of all creatures, excited that desire in that heart. He excited it because He loved with privileged love the soul that is now longing for Him. The desire of God always precedes the desire of the creature, because He is Most Perfect and therefore His love is by far more eager and ardent than the love of the creature.
Detail
About God's desire.
GRM 200.3 · Volume 3
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
Aglae puts down the little bag she was carrying on her shoulder, then she kneels down at Jesus’ feet and bursts into tears. She prostrates herself on the floor, her head resting on her arms crossed on the floor.
«Do not weep thus. This is not the time for tears. You should have wept when you were hateful to God. Not now that you love Him and are loved by Him.»
But Aglae continues to weep…
«Do you not believe that it is so?»
She manages to speak through her sobs: «I love Him, it is true, as best I can… But although I know and believe that God is Bounty I cannot possibly hope to be loved by Him. I have sinned too much… Perhaps one day I will be loved… But I still have to weep so much… For the time being I am alone in my love. All alone… It is not desperate solitude of past years. It is a solitude full of longing for God, so it is no longer hopeless… but it is so sad…»
«Aglae, how little you still know the Lord! This longing for Him is the proof that God is replying to your love, that He is your friend, Who calls you, invites you and wants you. God is incapable of remaining insensitive to the desire of a creature, because He, the Lord and Creator of all creatures, excited that desire in that heart. He excited it because He loved with privileged love the soul that is now longing for Him. The desire of God always precedes the desire of the creature, because He is Most Perfect and therefore His love is by far more eager and ardent than the love of the creature.»
«But how can God love my filth?»
«Do not endeavour to understand with your intelligence. He is an abyss of mercy, which human intelligence cannot understand. But what the intelligence of man cannot understand, the intelligence of love, the love of the spirit does. It understands and confidently penetrates the mystery, which is God, and the mystery of the relationship of the soul with God. Enter, I tell you. Enter, because God wants it.»
«Oh! My Saviour! So I am really forgiven? I am really loved? Must I believe it?»
«Did I ever lie to you?»
«Oh! no, Lord! Everything You told me[1] at Hebron came true. You saved me because Your Name is salvation. You looked for me, a poor lost soul. You gave me the life of this soul, which I was carrying dead within me. You told me that if I had looked for You I would find You. And it was true. You told me that You are wherever man needs a doctor and medicine. And it is true. Everything, everything You told poor Aglae, from the words on that
morning in June, to the other words at the Clear Water…»
«So you must believe these too.»
«Yes, I believe, I do believe! But say to me: “I forgive you”!»
«I forgive you in the name of God and of Jesus.»
«Thank You…»
Detail
Aglaia, a former sinner, meets the Lord and weeps before him. Jesus speaks up and tells her not to weep.
Annotation
Everything you told me in Hebron has come true. In EMV 77.
GRM 200.4 · Volume 3
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
«Will I have the strength to destroy my guilty flesh?»
«In your solitude where Satan will attack you with livid violence the more you become worthy of Heaven, you will find an apostle of Mine, once a sinner and later redeemed.»
«Not the blessed apostle who spoke to me of You? He could not have been a sinner because he is too honest.»
«Not that one. Another one. He will reach you at the right moment. He will tell you what you cannot know just now. Go in peace. The blessing of God be with you.»
Detail
Aglaé isolates herself from the rest of the world and questions Christ.
Annotation
You'll find one of my apostles, once a sinner, then redeemed. Probably Matthew.
So that's not the blessed apostle who was telling me about you? André.
GRM 200.4 · Volume 3
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
«And who will speak to me of God again?»
«Your risen soul, for the time being…»
«Will I see You again?»
«Never again in this world. But before long I will have redeemed you completely and then I will come to your spirit to prepare you to ascend to God.»
«How will my complete redemption take place if I do not see You again? How will You give it to me?»
«By dying for all sinners.»
«Oh! no! You must not die!»
«To give men the Life I must give Myself to death. That is why I came as a human being. Do not weep… You will soon join Me where I shall be after My sacrifice and yours.»
«My Lord! Will I die for You, too?»
«Yes, but in a different way. Your flesh will die hour by hour and because your will wants that. It has been dying for almost one year. When it is completely dead, I will call you.»
Detail
Jesus talks to Aglaia, a converted former sinner, who is going to isolate herself from everything.