Children

49.5 «Do You like children, Master»

«Yes, I do, because they are pure… sincere… and affectionate.»

• Children - Innocents
• Jesus Christ and children

50.3 Then Jesus stands up, He walks round the terrace, looks at the lake, smiles at some children playing in the street and they smile back at Him, He looks along the street, towards the little square about one hundred yards away from Peter’s house. He goes downstairs. He looks into the kitchen: «Woman, I am going for a walk on the shore.»

He goes out and walks to the beach, near the children. He asks them: «What are you doing?»

«We wanted to play at war. But he does not want to, and we are playing at fishing.»

The boy who does not want to play at war, is a frail little fellow with a most bright face. Perhaps he is aware that, as frail as he is, he would get a beating in making «war» and so he pleads for peace.

But Jesus takes the opportunity to speak to the children: «He is right. War is a punishment of God to chastise men, and it is a sign that man is no longer a true son of God. When the Most High created the world, He made all things: the sun, the sea, the stars, the rivers, the plants, the animals, but He did not make arms. He created man and gave him eyes that he might cast loving glances, and a mouth to utter loving words, and ears to listen to such words, and hands to give help and to caress, and feet to run fast to assist our neighbours in need, and a heart capable of loving. He gave man intelligence, speech, affections and taste. But He did not give man hatred. Why? Because man, a creature of God, was to be love as God is Love. If man had remained a creature of God, he would have persevered in love, and the human family would have not known either war or death.»

«But he does not want to make war, because he always loses.» (I had guessed right.)

Jesus smiles and says: «We must not reject what is harmful to us simply because it is harmful to us. We must reject a thing when it is harmful to everybody. If a person says: “I do not want that because I would lose”, that person is selfish. Instead, the good child of God says: “Brothers, I know I would win, but I say to you: don’t let us do that because you would suffer a loss”. Oh! That fellow has understood the main precept! Who can tell Me which is the main precept?»

The eleven mouths say altogether: «“You shall love your God with all your strength, and your neighbour as yourself”.»

«Oh! You are clever children.

50.4 Do you all go to school?»

«Yes, we do.»

«Who is the most clever?»

«Him.» It is the frail little fellow who does not want war.

«What is your name?»

«Joel.»

«A great name! He says: “… let the weakling say: ‘I am strong’”. But strong in what? In the Law of the true God, to be amongst those whom in the Valley of Decision He will judge to be His saints. But the judgement is already near. Not in the Valley of Decision, but on the mountain of Redemption. There, the sun and the moon will grow dark with horror, the stars will tremble and shed tears of mercy, and the children of Light will be judged and separated from the children of Darkness. And the whole of Israel will know that its God has come. Happy are those who will have recognised Him. Honey, milk and fresh water will descend into their hearts and thorns will become eternal roses. Which of you wants to be amongst those who will be judged saints of God?»

«Me! Me! Me!»

«Will you love the Messiah, then?»

«Yes! Yes! You! You! It’s You we love. We know who You are! Simon and James have told us, and our mothers have told us. Take us with You!»

«Yes, I will take you if you are good. No more bad words, no more arrogance, quarrels, no answering back to your parents. Prayer, study, work, obedience. And I will love you and come with you.»

The children are all round Jesus. They look like a gaily-coloured corolla around a long, deep-blue pistil.

• Children's words
• Jesus Christ and children
• Preaching Jesus Christ to children
• Preaching of Jesus Christ
• The child Joel of Bethsaida

The children press round Jesus.

«Have You come back?»

«Are You staying here, now?»

«The wheel of my little barrow is broken again.»

«Do You know, Jesus. I have a new baby sister, and they have called her Mary.»

«The schoolmaster told me that I have learned everything and that I am a true son of the Law.»

«Sarah is not here, because her mother is very ill. She cries, because she is afraid.»

«My brother Isaac got married. We had a lovely feast.»

Jesus listens, caresses, praises, promises His help.

• Children's words
• Jesus Christ and children

60.5 Jesus, Peter, Andrew, James and John go and sit down in the kitchen garden.

«Master!…»

«Yes, Peter?»

«I feel humiliated.»

Jesus makes a gesture, which meant: «Never mind.» He then goes on: «She is not the first, and will not be the last who do not feel immediate gratitude. But I do not seek gratitude. All I want is to give souls the chance to save themselves. I do My duty. Let them do theirs.»

«Ah! There have been other cases like this one? Where?»

«Curious Simon! But I will please you, although I do not like useless curiosity. At Nazareth. Do you remember Sarah’s mother? She was very ill when we arrived in Nazareth and we were told that the little girl cried. Since she is good and gentle, and I did not want her to become an orphan and a stepdaughter in the future, I went to see the woman… I wanted to heal her… But I had not yet set foot in the house, when her husband and a brother drove Me away, saying: “Away! Go away! We do not want to get into trouble with the synagogue”. For them, for too many, I am already a rebel… I healed her just the same… for the sake of her children. And I said to Sarah in the kitchen garden, caressing her: “I will heal your mother. Go home. Do not cry any more”. And the woman was healed the same moment and the little girl told her, and she told also her father and her uncle… and she was punished for speaking to Me. I know, because the child ran after Me when I was leaving the village… But it does not matter.»

«I would have made her become ill again.»

«Peter!» Jesus is severe. «Is that what I teach you and the others? What have you heard Me say from the very first time you heard Me? Of what have I always spoken as being the first condition to be My true disciples?»

«It is true, Master. I am a real beast. Forgive me. But… I cannot bear the fact that they do not love You!»

«Oh! Peter! You will see much greater indifference! You will have many surprises, Peter! People that the so called “holy” world scorns as being money-changers, who instead will set an example in the world, an example which will not be followed by those who despise them. Heathens who will be My most faithful ones. Prostitutes who will become pure by strong will power and penance. Sinners who amend their way of living…»

«Listen: that a sinner amends his way… it may well be. But a prostitute and a money-changer!…»

«You do not believe it?»

«I do not.»

«You are mistaken, Simon.»

• The Sarah child of Nazareth

60.7 «Is Jesus of Nazareth here?» asks a little boy appearing at the door.

«He is here, come in.»

A boy comes in, whom I recognise as one of the boys I saw in the first visions of Capernaum, and exactly the one who tumbled down near Jesus’ feet, and promised he would be good, so he would get the honey of Paradise.

«My little friend, come here» says Jesus.

The little fellow, somewhat embarrassed because so many are looking at him, takes heart and runs to Jesus, Who embraces him and sits him on His knees, and gives him a bit of His fish on a slice of bread.

«Here, Jesus. This is for You. Also today that person said: «It is the Sabbath. Take this to the Rabbi of Nazareth and tell your friend to pray for me.» He knows that You are my friend!…» The child smiles happily, and eats his bread and fish.

«Well done, little James! You will tell that person that My prayers rise to the Father for him.»

«Is it for the poor?» asks Peter.

«Yes, it is.»

«Is it always the same offering? Let us look.»

Jesus hands over the purse. Peter empties it and counts the coins. «Still the same large sum! But who is this person? Say, boy, who is it?»

«I must not say, and I will not say!»

«You little rascal! Be good, and I will give you some fruit.»

«I will not speak, whether you insult me or caress me.»

«What a tongue he has! Just listen!»

«Little James is right, Peter. He is keeping his word: leave him alone.»

«Master, do You know who the person is?»

Jesus does not reply. He is busy with the child, to whom He gives another bit of roasted fish, after removing all the bones. But Peter insists, and Jesus is obliged to answer.

«I know everything, Simon.»

«And we are not to know?»

«And will you never be cured of your fault?» Jesus reproaches him, but smiles at the same time. And He adds: «You will soon know. Because if evil wants to be hidden and cannot always be such, good, even if it wants to be hidden, to be meritorious, will be made known one day, for the glory of God, Whose nature shines in one of His sons. The nature of God: love. And this person understands all that, because he loves his neighbours. Go, James. Take My blessing to that person.»

The vision ends in this way.

• L'enfant Jacques de Capharnaüm
• Matthew (apostle)
• Simon-Pierre - Simon de Jonas (apostle)

• Abel de Chorazeïn
• Isaac de Jonas, nicknamed the Adult of Chorazeïn
• Locations - Giscala
• Locations - Guerguesa
• Places - Cedès - Qédesh
• Places - Méron - Mérom
• The child Joel of Bethsaida

64.3 Some children have rushed around them shouting: «The Master! The Master is here! Here is Jesus, here is Jesus!» and they draw close to Him, Who caresses them while speaking to His disciples.

«Simon, I am going into your house. You will all go and tell the people that I am back and then bring Me the sick ones.»

The disciples go away quickly in different directions. But the whole of Capernaum knows that Jesus has come, thanks to the children who are like bees swarming from the beehive to the various flowers; in our case to the houses, the streets and the squares. They come and go rejoicing, informing their mothers, passers-by, old people sitting in the sun, and they run back to be caressed by Him Who loves them. One of them, a daring boy says: «Speak to us and for us, today, Jesus. You know we love You and we are better than men.»

Jesus smiles at the young psychologist and promises: «I will speak just for you.» And followed by the children, He goes into the house and enters pronouncing His usual greeting of peace: «Peace to this house.»

People crowd into the big room at the back of the house, which is used as a store for nets, ropes, baskets, oars, sails, and provisions. Peter must have put it at Jesus’ disposal, because everything has been piled up in one corner to make room. The lake cannot be seen from here. Only its gently lapping waves can be heard. Instead one can see the low greenish wall of the kitchen garden, with the old vine and the leafy fig-tree. There are people even on the road, as they pass from the room into the kitchen garden and hence onto the road.

64.4 Jesus begins to speak. In the front row, there are five… high-ranking people, who have elbowed their way through the crowd taking advantage of the fear they strike into poor people. Their sumptuous garments and their pride announce them as Pharisees and doctors. But Jesus wants His little friends around Him, a crown of innocent little faces, of bright eyes, of angelical smiles, all looking up at Him. Jesus speaks and while speaking, now and again He caresses the curly head of a child who is sitting at His feet, resting his head on his little arm bent on Jesus’ lap. Jesus is speaking, sitting on a huge pile of baskets and ropes.

«“My Beloved went down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to pasture his flocks in the gardens, and gather lilies… He pastures his flock among the lilies”, says Solomon, the son of David, from whom I descend, I, the Messiah of Israel.

My garden! Which garden is more beautiful and worthy of God than Heaven, where the flowers are the angels created by the Father? And yet, it is not so. The Only Begotten Son of the Father, the Son of man wanted another garden, because it is for the sake of man that I took flesh, without which I would not be able to redeem the faults of the flesh of man. A garden which might have been but little inferior to the heavenly one, if from the earthly Paradise the children of Adam, the children of God, had spread about, like sweet bees from a beehive, to populate the earth with holiness destined entirely for Heaven. But the enemy sowed brambles and thorns in Adam’s heart, and brambles and thorns have overflown from his heart on to the earth. It is no longer a garden, but a wild cruel forest in which fever stagnates and snakes nestle.

And yet the Beloved of the Father still has a garden in this world which is domineered by Mammon. The garden in which He feeds on His celestial food: love and purity; the bed where He picks the flowers dear to Him, flowers not stained with sensuality, greed, pride. These ones. (Jesus caresses as many of the children as He can, patting with His hand the little attentive heads, one big caress that touches them lightly and makes them smile happily). Here are My lilies.

Solomon in all his wealth, did not have a robe more beautiful than the lily that scents the valley, neither did he possess a diadem of a more splendid gracefulness than the one in the pearl chalice of a lily. And yet, for My heart, there is no lily worth one of these. There is no flower-bed, no garden of wealthly people, all cultivated with lilies, that I consider worth only one of these pure, innocent, sincere, simple, little children.

Men and women of Israel! You, great and humble people according to your wealth and position, listen! You are here because you want to know Me and love Me. You must therefore know the first condition to become Mine. I will not speak difficult words. Neither will I give you more difficult examples. I say to you: “Take example from these children”.

Which of you has no children, nephews, or little brothers in their childhood, at home? Are they not a restful comfort, a bond for parents, relatives, friends? Their souls are as pure as a clear dawn, their faces scatter clouds and inspire hope, their caresses dry your tears and give you new strength! Why is there so much power in them, although they are weak, defenceless and still unlearned? Because they have God in themselves, they have strength and wisdom in God. The true wisdom: they know how to love and believe. They know how to believe and want. They know how to live in such love and such faith. Be like them: simple, pure, loving, sincere, faithful.

There is no wise man in Israel greater than the smallest of these children, whose souls belong to God and His Kingdom belongs to them. Blessed by the Father, loved by the Son of the Father, flowers of My garden, may My peace be with you and with whoever will imitate you for My sake.

• Bible - Song of Songs
• Children's words
• Field lily
• Jesus Christ and children
• Preaching Jesus Christ to children
• Preaching of Jesus Christ

«Master, You mentioned Simon Peter. And that reminded me of something I should have told You immediately, but the joy of listening to You made me forget about it. When we went back to Capernaum after Pentecost, we found the usual amount of money from that unknown person. The boy had taken it to my mother. I gave it to Peter, and he handed it back to me, saying I should use some of it on my way back and in my stay at Doco and I should bring You the rest, for whatever need of Yours… because also Peter thought this place might not be comfortable… but You say it is… I took only two coins for two poor people I met near Ephraim. For the rest, I lived with what my mother had given me and what I was given by some good people to whom I preached Your Name. Here is the purse.»

«We will give the money to the poor tomorrow. So Judas also will be acquainted with our custom.»

«Has Your cousin come? How was he so quick? He was at Nazareth and he did not tell me he was leaving…»

«No. Judas is the new disciple. He comes from Kerioth. But you saw him at Passover, here, the evening I cured Simon. He was with Thomas.»

«Ah! It’s him?» John is a little perplexed.

«Yes, it is he.»

• John and Judas
• Judas de Kérioth (apostle)
• L'enfant Jacques de Capharnaüm
• Matthew (apostle)
• Simon-Pierre - Simon de Jonas (apostle)

«Who are You?»

«One Who loves you.»

«You would be the first in so many years. Where are You from?»

«From Galilee.»

«From Galilee? Oh!» The man watches Him carefully. Also the other two have come near. «From Galilee» repeats the shepherd, and he adds in a very low voice, as if speaking to himself: «He came from Galilee, too… From which town, my Lord?»

«From Nazareth.»

«Oh! Well, tell me. Has a Child ever come back to Nazareth, a Child with a woman whose name was Mary and a man called Joseph, a Child, Who was even more beautiful than His Mother, so beautiful that I have never seen a fairer flower on the slopes of Judah? A Child born in Bethlehem of Judah, at the time of the edict? A Child Who later fled, most fortunately for the world. A Child, oh! I would give my life just to hear whether He is alive… He must be a man by now.»

• Jesus Christ
• Jesus as a child

76.7 There is a woman in Juttah, she is a woman now, she had her fourth child not long ago, but once she was a little girl, one of my little friends… and she called her children: Mary and Joseph the first two, and as she dared not call the third one Jesus, she called him Emmanuel, as a good omen for herself, her home and Israel. And she is now thinking of the name to be given to her fourth child, born six days ago. Oh! When she hears that I am healed! And that You are here! Sarah is as good as home made bread, and her husband Joachim is also so good. And their relatives? I owe them my life. They have always helped and sheltered me.»

«Let us go and ask them for hospitality during the hottest hours of the day and to bless them for their charity.»

«This way, Master. It is easier for the sheep and we will avoid the people, who are most certainly excited. The old woman, who saw me getting up, will have certainly told them.»

76.8 They follow the torrent, then further south they depart from it, and take to a steep path, following a prominence of the mountain shaped like the prow of a ship. Now the torrent flows in the opposite direction to that of those who are climbing. The water runs along a beautiful uneven valley formed by the intersection of two ranges of mountains. I recognise the place. It is unmistakable. It is the scene of the vision of Jesus and the children, which I saw last spring. The usual little dry-stone wall marks the boundaries of the estate, which declines towards the valley. I see the meadow with apple-trees, fig-trees, walnut-trees, then the white house surrounded by green lawns, with the protruding wing which protects the staircase and forms a porch and loggia. And there is the little dome on the highest part, the kitchen garden with the well, the pergola and the flower beds…

One can hear a lot of shouting from the house. Isaac walks in front of them all. He goes in. He calls at the top of his voice: «Mary, Joseph, Emmanuel! Where are you? Come to Jesus.»

Three little ones run: a girl about five years old, and two little boys, about four and two years of age, the latter still somewhat uncertain when walking. They are dumbfounded when they see the… revived man. Then the little girl shouts: «Isaac! Mummy! Isaac is here! Judith was right.»

A woman comes out of a room where there is a lot of noisy shouting: the buxom, brown, tall, lovely mother of the past vision, most beautiful in her best dress: a snow-white linen dress, like a rich chemise falling in puckers down to her ankles, tied at her well-shaped waist by a multicoloured striped shawl, that covers her wonderful hips dropping in fringes down to her knees at the back, while at the front it is tied under the philigree buckle and its ends are hanging loose. A light veil patterned with rose branches on a beige background is pinned to her black plaits, like a tiny turban, and falls onto her neck in flowing folds and then onto her shoulders and breasts. It is held tight on her head by a small crown of medals tied together by a little chain. Heavy rings hang from her ears, and her tunic is held close to her neck by a silver necklace which passes through eyelets of her dress. She wears heavy silver bracelets on her arms.

«Isaac! What’s this? Judith… I thought she had gone mad… But you are walking! What happened?»

«The Saviour! Oh! Sarah! He is here! He has come!»

«Who? Jesus of Nazareth? Where is He?»

«Over there! Behind the walnut-tree, and He wishes to know if you will receive Him!»

«Joachim! Mother! Come here, all of you! The Messiah is here!»

«Women, men, boys, little ones run out shouting and yelling… but when they see Jesus, tall and stately, they lose heart and become petrified.

«Peace to this house and to you all. The peace and blessing of God.» Jesus walks slowly, smiling, towards the group. «My friends: will you give hospitality to the Wayfarer?» and He smiles even more.

His smile overcomes all fears. The husband takes heart: «Come in, Messiah. We have loved You before meeting You. We will love You more after meeting You. The house is celebrating today for three reasons: for You, for Isaac and for the circumcision of my third son. Bless him, Master. Woman, bring the baby! Come in, my Lord.»

76.9 They go into a room decorated for the feast. There are tables with foodstuffs, carpets and branches everywhere.

Sarah comes back with a lovely new-born baby in her arms. She presents him to Jesus.

«May God be always with him. What is his name?»

«No name yet. This is Mary, this is Joseph, this is Emmanuel… but this one has no name yet…»

Jesus looks at the parents, who are close to each other, He smiles: «Find a name, if he is to be circumcised today…»

They look at each other, they look at Him, they open their mouths and close them again without saying anything. Everyone is paying attention.

Jesus insists: «The history of Israel has so many great, sweet, blessed names. The sweetest and most blessed ones have already been given. But perhaps there are still some left.»

The parents cry out together: «Yours, Lord!» and the mother adds: «But it is too holy…»

Jesus smiles and asks: «When will he be circumcised?»

«We are waiting for the circumciser.»

«I will be present at the ceremony. And in the meantime I wish to thank you for what you have done for My Isaac. He no longer needs the help of good people. But good people still need God. You called your third son: God be with us. But you had God with you ever since you were charitable to My servant. May you be blessed. Your charity will be remembered in Heaven and on the earth.»

«Is Isaac going away now? Is he leaving us?»

«Is that upsetting you? But he must serve his Master. But he will come, and so will I. In the meantime, you will speak of the Messiah… There is so much to be said to convince the world!

76.10 But here is the person you are expecting.»

A pompous individual comes in with a servant. There are greetings and low bows. «Where is the child?» he asks with haughtiness.

«He is here. But greet the Messiah. He is here.»

«The Messiah! The one who healed Isaac? I heard about it. But… We will talk about it after. I am in a great hurry. The child and his name.»

The people present are mortified by the man’s manners. But Jesus smiles as if the impoliteness was not addressed to Him. He takes the baby, He touches his little forehead with His beautiful fingers, as if He wanted to consecrate him and says: «His name is Jesai» and He hands him back to his father, who goes into another room with the haughty man and other people. Jesus remains where He was until they come back with the child, who is screaming desperately.

«Woman, give Me the child. He will not cry any longer» He says to comfort the distressed mother. In fact, the child, once he is laid on Jesus’ knees, is silent.

Jesus forms a group of His own, with the little ones around Him, and also the shepherds and disciples. The sheep that Elias has put in an enclosure are bleating outside. There is the noise of a party in the house. They bring sweets and drinks to Jesus. But Jesus hands them out to the little ones.

«Are You not drinking, Master? Will You not have anything. We are offering it warmly.»

«I know, Joachim, and I accept wholeheartedly. But let Me make the little ones happy first. They are My joy…»

«Pay no attention to that man, Master.»

«No, Isaac. I will pray that he may see the Light. John, take the two little boys to see the sheep.

76.11 And you, Mary, come closer to Me and tell Me: Who am I?»

«You are Jesus, the Son of Mary of Nazareth, born in Bethlehem. Isaac saw You and he gave me the name of Your Mother, that I may be good.»

«To imitate Her, you must be as good as an angel of God, purer than a lily that blooms on top of a mountain, as pious as the holiest Levite. Will you be like that?»

«Yes, Jesus, I will.»

«Say: Master or Lord, little girl.»

«Let her call Me with My name, Judas. Only when it is uttered by innocent lips, it does not lose the sound that it has on My Mother’s lips. Everybody, throughout future centuries, will mention that name, some because of an interest or other, some to curse it. Only innocent people, without any interest and any hatred, will pronounce it with the same love as this little girl and My Mother. Also sinners will invoke Me, because they need mercy. But My Mother and the little ones! Why do you call Me Jesus?» He asks, caressing the little girl.

«Because I love You… as I love my father, mother and my little brothers» she says, embracing Jesus’ knees, and smiling with her head turned upwards.

And Jesus bends down and kisses her… and it all ends in this way.

• Isaac de Yutta (shepherd of the Nativity)
• Joachim de Yutta
• Sarah from Yutta
• Yutta's Emmanuel child
• Yutta's child Jesaï (newborn)
• Yutta's child Joseph
• Yutta's child Marie