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GRM 30.6-7

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

The shepherd opens his mouth, but he only utters a faint moaning noise.

30.7 Joseph turns round and comes to the door. «Who are you?»

«Shepherds. We brought you some food and some wool. We have come to worship the Saviour.»

«Come in.»

They go in, and the stable becomes brighter because of the light of the torches. The older men push the young ones in front of them.

Mary turns round and smiles. «Come,» She says. «Come!», and She invites them with Her hand and Her smile, and She takes the boy who saw the angel and She draws him to Herself, against the manger. And the boy looks, and is happy.

The others, invited also by Joseph, move forward with their gifts and they place them at Mary’s feet with few deep-felt words. They then look at the Baby Who is weeping a little and they smile moved and happy.

Detail

The shepherds have joined the crib. Levi wants Elijah to say something, as he has already met Joseph and Mary.

GRM 31

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Chapter title: Zechariah's visit. Joseph's holiness and obedience to priests.

Date of vision and dictation: Thursday, June 8, 1944 (Corpus Christi)

Calendar: Monday, December 30, year -5

Location (map): Bethlehem

Cycle: Birth and childhood of Jesus

Summary: Zachariah arrives in Bethlehem. Joseph comes to greet him, as Mary is giving Jesus milk. The carpenter checks on John, who is growing very well, but is suffering from teething troubles: so he hasn't taken him with him. Elisabeth didn't come either, not only to look after her son, but also because it was very cold. Joseph understands, and describes to the priest the difficult conditions they experienced after Jesus' birth. As Mary's husband says, everything was ready in Nazareth, but they had nothing here.

In the meantime, the Virgin arrives and presents the Child, after greeting the priest. Zechariah worships Jesus with the utmost respect. The old man then gives gifts from himself and Elizabeth. The Immaculate regrets that she was unable to come with John, and Zacharias assures her that she will see them soon. Indeed, the old man thinks they should live in Bethlehem, so that when the time comes, he will be better accepted by the Sanhedrin, and Zechariah can serve as his teacher.

Joseph and Mary look at each other, not particularly agreeing with Zechariah's vision. One is thinking of his work, the other of his home and everything they've left behind. That's what Mary says, especially as it's difficult to get their things, since they have no house to store everything in Bethlehem. Above all, Mary thinks of Joseph and Joseph thinks of Mary. Her chaste husband, however, is willing to work double time if it's for Jesus.

At last, Mary tries to object one last time, pointing out that the Messiah will be called Nazarene, but Zechariah doesn't listen to reason, and the holy parents comply with her wish...

Mary then gives a dictation on the holiness of Joseph, who doesn't mind working harder, giving up everything if it's for his two treasures: Mary and Joseph. She then talks about Zechariah, who is a priest, but who is less heavenly-minded than Joseph. Zechariah thinks humanly and believes himself to be more knowledgeable than Mary, even to the point of being able to serve as the Master's teacher. Of course, Mary objects to what he says, and could have triumphed in their conversation, but she withdraws because of the priest's dignity.

After pointing out that a priest is generally enlightened by God, Mary finally emphasizes that obeying always saves, even if the advice one receives is not absolutely perfect. Staying in Bethlehem and Judea was a good thing when the flight to Egypt came: from Nazareth, it would have been much more difficult.

Finally, Mary teaches us that respect for priests is always a sign of good Christian training. Even if they lose their apostolic flame, they are still the ones who bring down the Bread from Heaven, and this contact makes them "as holy as a sacred chalice". We must therefore consider them as such, and pray for them if their souls are paralyzed and sick. We must pray to Christ for their sanctification, for to save one priestly soul "is to save a great number of souls".

Chapter contents: 31.1: Arrival of Zechariah alone, to whom Joseph recounts the events of the Nativity. 31.2: "The Host" in Zechariah's arms. 31.3: Gifts from Elisabeth for the child. 31.4: The Messiah must grow up in Bethlehem. 31.5: Zechariah convinces the couple to settle in Bethlehem. 31.6: Joseph's holiness. 31.7: Zechariah versus Joseph. 31.8: True priests and others. 31.9: Obedience always saves. 31.10: Respect for the priest is always a mark of Christian integrity.

GRM 31.2

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

31.2 Mary comes in, She heard their voices. She is all dressed in white wool. She has taken off the dark dress She was wearing during the journey and in the grotto, and She is all white, as I have seen Her dressed before. She is not wearing anything on Her head, and She is holding Jesus in Her arms: He is sleeping, sated with milk, in His pure white swaddling clothes.

Detail

Physical description of Mary after the Nativity.

GRM 31.3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

31.3 They all sit down, and Zacharias explains once again to Mary the reason why Elizabeth has not come and how upset she was. «During the past months she has prepared some linen for Your blessed Son. I have brought them to You. They are downstairs in the waggon.»

He rises and goes out, then comes back with a large parcel and a smaller one. Joseph relieves him of the heavier one and Zacharias starts pulling his gifts from both of them: a soft handwoven woollen blanket, some linen and little dresses. Then from the other one, some honey, some snow-white flour, butter, apples for Mary and bread baked by Elizabeth and many more little things which are a token of the motherly love of the grateful cousin for the young Mother.

«Please tell Elizabeth that I am very grateful to her, as I am grateful to you, too. I would have been so happy to see her, but I understand the situation. And I would also have loved to see little John…»

«But You will see him in spring. We will come and see You.»

«Nazareth is too far away,» remarks Joseph.

GRM 31.4-5

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

31.4 «Nazareth? But you must stay here. The Messiah must grow up in Bethlehem. It is David’s town. The Most High, through Caesar’s will, brought Him to the town in David’s land, the holy land of Judaea. Why take Him to Nazareth? You know in what opinion the Jews hold the Nazarenes. This Child is to be in future years the Saviour of His people. The capital town must not scorn its King because He comes from a despised land. You know as well as I do how captious the Sanhedrin is and how disdainful its three main castes are… And then, here, near me, I will be able to help you somehow, and put everything I have, not so much in the way of material things, but of moral gifts, at the service of this New-Born Baby. And when He is old enough to understand, I will be very happy to be His teacher, as I will be for my own son, so that later, when He is grown up, He will bless me. We must consider that He is destined for great things and, consequently, He must be in a position to present Himself to the world with all the necessary means to win His game. He will certainly possess Wisdom. But also the simple fact that He was educated by a priest, will make Him more accepted by the difficult Pharisees and Scribes and will render His mission easier.»

31.5 Mary looks at Joseph, and Joseph looks at Mary. Above the rosy innocent head of the Child, sleeping unaware of it all, there is a silent exchange of questions. And they are questions full of sadness. Mary is thinking of Her little house, Joseph is concerned about his work. Here, where only a few days ago they were completely unknown, they must start from scratch. Here they have none of the dear things they left at home, and which they had prepared with so much love for the Child.

And Mary says so: «How can we do that? We have left everything there. Joseph had worked so hard for My Jesus, without sparing labour or money. He worked at night, so that during the day he could work for other people and thus earn enough to buy the best wood, the softest wool, the finest linen, and prepare everything for Jesus. He built beehives, and he even worked as a mason to make certain modifications in the house, so that the cradle could be placed in My room and remain there until Jesus had grown up and the cradle could then be replaced by a bed, because Jesus will stay with Me until He is an adolescent.»

«Joseph can go and get what you left there.»

«And where will we put it? You know, Zacharias, that we are poor. We have only our work and our home. And they both enable us to live without starving. But here… perhaps we will find some work. But we shall always have the problem of a house. This good woman cannot give us hospitality forever. And I cannot sacrifice Joseph more than he has already sacrificed himself for My sake!»

«Oh! Me! It’s nothing for me! I am concerned with Mary’s grief. Her grief in not living in Her own house…»

Two big tears well from Mary’s eyes.

«I think that house must be as dear to Her as Paradise, because of the mystery which was accomplished in it. I speak little, but I understand a lot. If it wasn’t for that, I would not be upset. I will work twice as much, that’s all. I am young and strong enough to work twice as much as I used to and see to everything. And if Mary does not suffer too much… and if you say that we must do so… well, here I am. I will do whatever you think is best. Provided that it will help Jesus.»

«It will certainly help. Think it over, and you will see the reasons.»

«It is also said that the Messiah will be called Nazarene…» objects Mary.

«True. But at least, until He is grown up, let Him grow up in Judaea. The Prophet says: ‘And you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, will be the greatest, because out of you will come the Saviour’. He does not speak of Nazareth. Perhaps that title was given to Him for some reason unknown to us. But this is His land.»

«You say so, you, priest, and we… we listen to you with sad hearts, and we believe you. But how painful it is!… When shall I see that house where I became a Mother?» Mary is weeping, silently. And I understand Her grief. Oh! I do understand.

The vision ends with Mary’s weeping.

Detail

After the Nativity, Zacharias goes to visit Joseph and Mary. He is opposed to the Holy Family returning to Nazareth.

GRM 31.6

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

I had all the gifts of God, in My condition of Immaculate. I did not know I was such. But the gifts were active in My soul, and gave Me spiritual strength.

GRM 31.7

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

Zacharias is a priest. Joseph is not. But you must note how he, who is not a priest, has a more heavenly soul than the priest. Zacharias thinks in a human way, and in a human way he expounds the Scriptures because he allows himself to be led by his good human sense, and it is not the first time he does so. And he was punished for it. But he relapses, although less gravely. With regard to John’s birth he said: ‘How can that happen, if I am old, and my wife is barren?’ Now he says: ‘To smooth His way, Christ is to be brought up here.’ And with that subtle root of pride that persists also in the best people, he thinks that he can be useful to Jesus. Not useful in the sense that Joseph wanted to be, by serving Him, but by teaching Him… God forgave him, because of his good intention. But did the ‘Master’ need teachers?

I endeavoured to make him see the truth of the prophecies. But he felt he was more learned than I was and made use of such feeling in his own way. I could have insisted and outdone him. But — this is the other point I wanted to draw your attention to — I respected the priest because of his dignity, not because of his knowledge.

Detail

Mary refers to the vision given in EMV 31.1-5.

GRM 32

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Chapter title : Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. Simeon's virtue and Anne's prophecy.

Date of vision and dictation: Tuesday, February 1, 1944

Calendar: Monday, January 20, year -4

Location (map): Jerusalem

Cycle: Birth and childhood of Jesus

Summary: Mary and Joseph leave Bethlehem for Jerusalem. They present Jesus in the Temple. The ceremony goes off without a hitch. When the rite is over, they meet Symeon, who asks to take the child. The parents accept the old man's request, and he weeps with joy: he then says the words we know from the Gospel. Hearing the words about her future pain, Mary stops smiling and clutches the Child to her heart, while drawing closer to Joseph. Anne of Phanuel comes to comfort her.

Jesus then gives a dictation and two teachings. The first is that the truth is not revealed to the priest celebrating the rite, who is spiritually absent. The truth is revealed to Simeon, who is a simple believer, but who has allowed himself to be moved by the Spirit, always having good will within him. The second teaching concerns Anna of Phanuel, who comforts Mary. He then addresses Maria's contemporaries and our own time, to say that the Lord too can send his angel to console his people. All we need is enough faith to call upon him, to receive his mercy and forgiveness. The Savior also points out that God remained faithful to his promise not to send the Flood again, whereas man does not keep his promises. Yet God would help us once again if the majority of us called upon him with faith and love.

Finally, he tells those who try to counterbalance God's severity not to fear, for the Most High will send his angel to console us. We must remain united to the Cross, for it has always triumphed.

Chapter contents: 32.1: Across the countryside. 32.2 : And in the city. 32.3 : The purification of the mother. 32.4 : The presentation of the child. 32.5 : Simeon's prophecies. 32.6 : The prophetess Anne of Phanuel. 32.7 : Good will is not found in outward practices, but in prayer. 32.8 : Simeon had this good will and perseverance. 32.9 : Lay your anguish at God's feet.

GRM 32.1

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

I recognise our Mother. She is always the same: pale and blonde, agile and so kind in Her behaviour. She is dressed in white, with a pale blue mantle and a white veil on Her head. She is carrying Her Child so carefully.

Detail

Physical description of Mary at the Presentation in the Temple.

GRM 32.1

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

32.1 I see a couple of people departing from a very modest house. A very young mother comes down an outside staircase holding in her arms a child wrapped in a white cloth.

I recognise our Mother. She is always the same: pale and blonde, agile and so kind in Her behaviour. She is dressed in white, with a pale blue mantle and a white veil on Her head. She is carrying Her Child so carefully.

Joseph is waiting for Her at the foot of the steps with a little grey donkey. Joseph is dressed entirely in light brown: both his tunic and his mantle are the same colour. He looks at Mary and smiles at Her. When Mary arrives near the little donkey, Joseph places the animal’s bridle on his left arm, he takes for a moment the Child, Who is sleeping peacefully, and thus allows Mary to sit more comfortably on the donkey’s saddle. He then hands Jesus back to Her and they set off.

Joseph is walking beside Mary, holding the bridle all the time and ensuring that the donkey goes straight ahead without stumbling. Mary is holding Jesus in Her lap, and lest He might feel cold, She spreads the edge of Her mantle over Him. Joseph and Mary speak very little but they often smile at each other.

The road, which is not a model road, winds along a country made barren by the season of the year. Only a few other travellers meet them on the road or overtake them.