Notes for this theme
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GRM 196.4 · Volume 3
My Mother had dedicated Herself to virginity for love. But, since She was a perfect creature, maternity was in Her blood and spirit. Because woman is created to be a mother and it is an aberration, if she is deaf to such sentiment, which is love of second power…
On the different powers of love, seeEMV 196.4-6.
GRM 196.6 · Volume 3
«And the other loves?» ask together Simon Zealot and the man from Endor.
«The first one of the second series is the love for our neighbour. In actual fact it is the fourth in power. Then comes the love for science. Finally the love for work.»
«Is that all?»
«That is all.»
«But there are many more loves!» exclaims Judas of Kerioth.
«There are other hungers. But it is not love. They are the negation of love. They deny God, they deny man. It cannot be love because it is negation and Negation is Hatred.»
«If I deny consent to evil, is that Hatred?» asks Judas Iscariot once again.
«Poor me! You are more captious than a scribe! Can you tell me what is the matter with you? Is the rarified air of Judaea affecting your nerves like a cramp?» exclaims Peter.
«No. I like to learn and to have many clear ideas. It is quite possible we may have to speak to scribes and I do not want to be short of arguments…»
«And do you think that in the moment of need you will be able to pull out the colour required from the sack where you stock all the rags?» asks Peter.
«Rags the words of the Master? You are swearing?»
«Don’t pretend you are scandalized. They are not rags in His mouth; but once they have been mishandled by us they become rags. Try and give a piece of precious byssus to a boy… It will soon become a dirty torn rag. And that is what happens to us. Now if you expect to fish at the right moment the little rag you need, what with the rag, and what with its dirt… uhm! I do not know what you will be up to.»
«Don’t worry. That is my business.»
«Oh! You may be sure that I will not worry! I have enough problems of my own. And then… ! I am happy providing you cause no harm to the Master. Because, in that case, I would also mind your business…»
«You can do that when I do something wrong. But that will never happen, because I know how to behave… I am not ignorant…»
«Instead I am, I know. And because I am, I do not stock any ballast, to flaunt it later, at the right moment. But I implore God and God will help me for the sake of His Messiah, of Whom I am the least and most faithful servant.»
«We are all faithful» replies Judas haughtily.
«Oh! You are bad! Why do you offend my father? He is old and he is good. You must not do that. You are bad and you frighten me» says Jabez with stern countenance, after being silent and listening carefully.
«And that makes two!» whispers James of Zebedee in a low voice, touching Andrew with his elbow.
Although he has spoken in a low voice, the Iscariot hears him.
«You can see, Master, whether the words of the silly boy of Magdala have left a trace» says Judas raging with anger.
Jesus has just spoken of the different powers of love. First there's God's love, then fatherly and motherly love, then conjugal love.
GRM 196.7-8 · Volumen 3
«Tell us more about Your Mother. Her childhood is so bright! The very reflection of that brilliance makes our souls pure, and I, a poor sinner, need that light so badly!» exclaims Matthew.
«What shall I tell you? There are so many episodes, one more touching than the other…»
«Did She tell You about them?»
«Yes, some. But Joseph told Me many more, as the most beautiful stories he could tell a child, and also Alphaeus of Sarah, who was a few years older than My Mother, and was Her friend during the short period She was at Nazareth…»
«Oh! Please, tell us…» begs John.
They are all sitting in a circle in the shade of the olive-trees, with Jabez in the centre staring at Jesus as if he were listening to a heavenly tale.
«I will tell you about the lesson on chastity that My Mother gave Her little friend and many more people a few days before entering the Temple. A girl in Nazareth, a relative of Sarah’s, got married on that day and also Joachim and Anne had been invited to the wedding. Little Mary went with them and with other children She was to spread loose flower petals on the bride’s way. They say that She was most beautiful, as a child, and everybody contended for Her after the joyful arrival of the bride. It was not easy to see Mary every day, as She lived mostly at home, where She loved a little grotto more than any other place, and even nowadays She calls it “the grotto of Her nuptials”. So when She appeared outside, fair-haired, rosy and kind, She was overwhelmed by caresses. They used to call Her “the Flower of Nazareth” or “the Pearl of Galilee” or also “the Peace of God” in remembrance of a huge rainbow, which suddenly appeared as soon as She was born. She was in fact all that, and much more. She is the Flower of Heaven and of creation, the Pearl of Paradise and the Peace of God… Yes, the Peace of God. I am the Peaceful One because I am the Son of the Father and the Son of Mary: the Infinite Peace and the sweet Peace. On that day everybody wanted to kiss Her and take Her on their laps. And as She was averse to being kissed and touched, She said with kind seriousness: “Please, do not rumple Me”. They thought She was talking of Her linen dress, held tight to Her waist, to Her wrists and neck by a blue band, or of Her little wreath of blue flowers, with which Anne had adorned Her head to keep Her light curls in place, and they assured Her that they would not crease Her dress or the wreath. But, sure of Herself, a little three year old woman standing in the middle of a circle of adults, She said seriously: “I am not thinking of what can be mended. I am speaking of My soul. It belongs to God. And it does not wish to be touched but by God”. They objected: “But we are kissing You, not Your soul”. She replied: “My body is the temple of My soul and the Spirit is its priest. People are not allowed to enter the enclosure of priests. Please, do not enter the enclosure of God”. Alphaeus, who was then about eight years old and was very fond of Her, was greatly impressed by that reply and the following day, seeing Her near Her little grotto, he asked Her: “Mary, when You are grown up, would You marry me?”. He was still under the excitement of the nuptial feast at which he had been present. And She answered: “I am very fond of you. But I do not see you as a man. I will tell you a secret. I see only the soul of a living being. And I love it so much, with all My heart. But I see only God as the ‘True Living Being’ to Whom I will be able to give Myself”. That is one of the episodes.»
«The True Living Being”!!! That is a very deep word!» exclaims Bartholomew.
And Jesus, humbly and smiling replies: «She was the Mother of Wisdom.»
«Was She?… But was She not three years old?»
«She was. I already lived in Her, as God was in Her, in His most perfect Unity and Trinity, since She was conceived.»
196.8
«Excuse me if I, a sinner, dare speak, but did Joachim and Anne know that She was the chosen Virgin?» asks Judas Iscariot.
«No, they did not know.»
«In that case, how could Joachim say that God had saved Her in advance? Does that not refer to Her privilege over sin?»
«Yes, it does. But Joachim spoke inspired by God, like all the prophets. He himself did not understand the sublime supernatural truth that the Spirit spoke through his lips. Because Joachim was just. So just as to deserve that paternity. And he was humble. There is no justice where there is pride. He was just and humble. He comforted his Daughter out of fatherly love. He taught her through his wisdom of a priest, as he was such as a guardian of the Ark of God. As a Pontiff he consecrated Her with the sweetest title: “The Immaculate One”. And the day will come when another grey haired Pontiff will say to the world: “She is the Immaculate Conception” and will give this truth to the world of believers, as a dogma which cannot be rejected, so that the Most Beautiful Virgin of God, crowned with stars, clad with the rays of the moon, which are not so pure as She is, brighter than all stars, the Queen of Creation and of God, may shine, fully revealed, in the world which in those days will be sinking deeper and deeper in the grey fog of heresies and vices. Because God-King has as His Queen, in His Kingdom, Mary.»
«So Joachim was a prophet?»
«He was a just man. His soul repeated like an echo what God said to his soul which was loved by God.»
Matthew asks Jesus about his Mother.
I'm going to tell you about the chastity lesson my Mother gave, a few days before entering the Temple, to her boyfriend and many others. Probably Alphée de Sara.
I was God in her, from the moment of her conception, in her Unity and perfect Trinity. God in her: Maria Valtorta notes in a typed copy: Mary, perpetual and most pure sanctuary in whom the one and triune God made his perpetual dwelling, was never separated from Wisdom: the Word of God was always in her, true Ark bearing the eternal Word, and no creature knew as well as she did this Word which is divine Wisdom, which was to take flesh in her, and which was still and always to remain in her.
The Dogma of the Immaculate Conception was proclaimed by Pius IX on December 8, 1854 with the bull Ineffabilis Deus. It was an age-old subject of controversy, and one of the reasons for the fierce opposition of established theology to Maria de Ágreda, who expressed this revelation in her visions.
(...) The All-Beautiful of God, crowned with stars, clothed with the rays of the moon less pure than herself, and supported by the stars, the Queen of the created and the uncreated; for, in his Kingdom, God-King has Mary as his Queen. Cf. Revelation 12:1-2.
Book of Revelation 12, 1-2
Ap 12, 1-2 : "A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child and cried out in labor and the pains of childbirth."
GRM 196.7 · Volume 3
«Tell us more about Your Mother. Her childhood is so bright! The very reflection of that brilliance makes our souls pure, and I, a poor sinner, need that light so badly!» exclaims Matthew.
«What shall I tell you? There are so many episodes, one more touching than the other…»
«Did She tell You about them?»
«Yes, some. But Joseph told Me many more, as the most beautiful stories he could tell a child, and also Alphaeus of Sarah, who was a few years older than My Mother, and was Her friend during the short period She was at Nazareth…»
GRM 196.8 · Volume 3
«Did Joachim and Anne know that She was the chosen Virgin?» asks Judas Iscariot.
«No, they did not know.»
«In that case, how could Joachim say that God had saved Her in advance? Does that not refer to Her privilege over sin?»
«Yes, it does. But Joachim spoke inspired by God, like all the prophets. He himself did not understand the sublime supernatural truth that the Spirit spoke through his lips. Because Joachim was just. So just as to deserve that paternity. And he was humble. There is no justice where there is pride. He was just and humble. He comforted his Daughter out of fatherly love. He taught her through his wisdom of a priest, as he was such as a guardian of the Ark of God. As a Pontiff he consecrated Her with the sweetest title: “The Immaculate One”. And the day will come when another grey haired Pontiff will say to the world: “She is the Immaculate Conception” and will give this truth to the world of believers, as a dogma which cannot be rejected, so that the Most Beautiful Virgin of God, crowned with stars, clad with the rays of the moon, which are not so pure as She is, brighter than all stars, the Queen of Creation and of God, may shine, fully revealed, in the world which in those days will be sinking deeper and deeper in the grey fog of heresies and vices. Because God-King has as His Queen, in His Kingdom, Mary.»
«So Joachim was a prophet?»
«He was a just man. His soul repeated like an echo what God said to his soul which was loved by God.»
The Dogma of the Immaculate Conception was proclaimed by Pius IX on December 8, 1854 with the bull Ineffabilis Deus. It was an age-old subject of controversy, and one of the reasons for the fierce opposition of established theology to Maria de Ágreda, who expressed this revelation in her visions.
(...) The All-Beautiful of God, crowned with stars, clothed with the rays of the moon less pure than herself, and supported by the stars, the Queen of the created and the uncreated; for, in his Kingdom, God-King has Mary as his Queen. Cf. Revelation 12:1-2.
Book of Revelation 12, 1-2
Ap 12, 1-2 : "A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child and cried out in labor and the pains of childbirth."
GRM 196.9 · Volume 3
«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.
Jesus has just spoken of the Virgin Mary.
GRM 197 · Volume 3
Peter is really stately while entering the enclosure of the Temple, acting as the father of Jabez, whom he is holding by the hand. He is walking so erect that he looks even taller than he really is.
All the others are behind him, in a group. Jesus is last and is engaged in close conversation with John of Endor, who seems to be ashamed to enter the Temple.
Peter asks his protege: «Have you ever been here before?» and the boy replies: «When I was born, father. But I do not remember» which makes Peter laugh heartily. Also the others, when they are told by Peter, laugh and say gently and wittily: «Perhaps you were sleeping and so…» or «We are all like you. We do not remember when we came here when we were born.»
The Twelve are present in this chapter, although they are not all named.
GRM 197.1 · Volume 3
Peter is really stately while entering the enclosure of the Temple, acting as the father of Jabez, whom he is holding by the hand. He is walking so erect that he looks even taller than he really is.
All the others are behind him, in a group. Jesus is last and is engaged in close conversation with John of Endor, who seems to be ashamed to enter the Temple.
Peter asks his protege: «Have you ever been here before?» and the boy replies: «When I was born, father. But I do not remember» which makes Peter laugh heartily. Also the others, when they are told by Peter, laugh and say gently and wittily: «Perhaps you were sleeping and so…» or «We are all like you. We do not remember when we came here when we were born.»
Peter asks his little protégé, "Have you never been there?" eliciting this reply, "When I was born, Father, but I don't remember." For the ceremony of his presentation in the Temple and the purification of his mother.
GRM 197.1-2 · Volume 3
Peter is really stately while entering the enclosure of the Temple, acting as the father of Jabez, whom he is holding by the hand. He is walking so erect that he looks even taller than he really is.
All the others are behind him, in a group. Jesus is last and is engaged in close conversation with John of Endor, who seems to be ashamed to enter the Temple.
Peter asks his protege: «Have you ever been here before?» and the boy replies: «When I was born, father. But I do not remember» which makes Peter laugh heartily. Also the others, when they are told by Peter, laugh and say gently and wittily: «Perhaps you were sleeping and so…» or «We are all like you. We do not remember when we came here when we were born.»
197.2
Also Jesus asks John of Endor the same question and gets a similar reply. In fact John says to Him: «We were proselytes and my mother carried me here in her arms, just at Passover, because I was born early in Adar and my mother, who came from Judaea, set out as soon as she was able to, to offer her son to the Lord in good time. Perhaps too early, because she was taken ill and never recovered. I was under two years of age when I lost my mother. The first misfortune in my life. I was her first-born, I became her only child because of her disease, and she was very proud to die having complied with the Law. My father used to say to me: “She died a happy death because she had offered you to the Temple”… Poor mother! What did you offer? A future murderer…»
«John, do not say that. You were Felix then, now you are John. Bear in mind the great grace that God granted you, always remember that. Forget your past debasement… Did you not come back to the Temple again?»
«Oh! Yes. When I was twelve years old and always after that, as long as… I was able to… Later, when I could have come, I did not, because I told You that I worshipped only one thing: Hatred… And that is why I dare not proceed further here. I feel like a stranger in the House of the Father… I have abandoned it for too long…»
«You are coming back to it led by the hand by Me Who am the Son of the Father. If I am taking you up to the altar, it means that I know that everything has been forgiven.»
John of Endor sobs deeply and says: «Thank You, my God.»
«Yes, thank the Most High. Can you not see that your mother, a true Israelite, had a prophetic spirit? You are the son sacred to the Lord and never ransomed. You are Mine, you belong to God, you are a disciple and thus a future priest of your Lord in the new era and in the new religion, which will be called after Me. I absolve you of everything, John. Proceed confidently towards the Holy. I solemny tell you that among those who live in this enclosure there are many more guilty and less worthy than you to go near the altar…»
I was born in the first days of Adar. So in mid-February.
GRM 197.3 · Volume 3
Peter in the meantime is busy showing the boy the most noteworthy things in the Temple, but he asks the more learned ones, particularly Bartholomew and Simon, to help him, because in the fulfilment of his duty as a father he feels more at ease with the elder ones.