The Mystery of Suffering: Fasting, Sacrifice, and Penance

“Master, are You not keeping anything for Yourself?” He replied: “The joy of doing the will of God and serving His glory”. We also said: “You are calling us, Master. But we are all poor. What shall we bring You?”, He replied with a smile which made us enjoy the delights of Paradise: “I want a great treasure from you”, and we said: “But we have nothing”. And He answered: “A treasure with seven names, which even the poorest may have, while the rich may not possess it. You have it, and I want it. Listen to the names: charity, faith, goodwill, right intention, continence, sincerity, spirit of sacrifice. That is what I want from My followers, only that, and You have it. It is dormant, like a seed under a winter clod, but the spring sunshine will make it sprout into a sevenfold spike”.

• Apostolate - Evangelism
• Charity
• Continence
• Discipleship - Following Jesus Christ
• Faith
• God's call
• Goodwill
• Honesty and sincerity
• Rightness of intention - Purity of intention
• Sacrifice and immolation
• Spiritual wealth

• Excerpts from the 1985 edition
• God's spokesman
• Maria Valtorta's suffering and pain
• Maria's fatigue
• Soul-victim

«You have a father and a mother, brothers and sisters, you have your life, and with your life you have a woman and love. How will you be able to leave all that for My sake?»

«Master… I do not know… but I think, if it is not pride to say so, that Your fondness will take the place of father and mother, of brothers and sisters, and also of a woman. I will be compensated for everything, if You love me.»

«And if My love should cause you sorrows and persecutions?»

«They will be nothing, if You love me.»

• Family martyrdom
• God's love
• Kinship of Zebedee
• Persecution
• Trust in God

«And the day I should die…»

«No! You are young, Master… Why die?»

«Because the Messiah has come to preach the Law in its truthfulness and to accomplish Redemption. And the world loathes the Law and does not want redemption. Therefore they persecute God’s messengers.»

«Oh! Let that never be! Do not mention that prediction of death to him who loves You!… But if You should die, I would still love You. Allow me to love You.» John’s look is an imploring one. He has bowed his head lower than ever, as he walks beside Jesus and seems to be begging for love.

Jesus stops. He looks at him, scrutinises him with His deep, penetrating eyes, and then lays His hand on his bowed head. «I want you to love Me.»

«Oh! Master!» John is happy. Although his eyes shine with tears, his well shaped young mouth smiles. He takes the divine hand, kisses it on its back, and presses it to his heart.

• Death of Jesus Christ
• Doctrine
• Good News
• Messiah
• Persecution
• Prophet
• Redemption
• Word of God - Law of God

«He was somewhat afraid…»

«No! Not afraid of Me! I have come for good people and even more for those who stand in error. I want to save people, not to condemn them. I will be full of mercy with honest people.»

«And with sinners?»

«Also. By dishonest people I mean those who are spiritually dishonest and hypocritically they feign to be good, whereas they do ill deeds. And they do such things and in such a way for their own profit and to secure an advantage over their neighbours. I will be severe with them.»

• Anxiety - Fear - Fearfulness
• Dishonesty
• Fear of God
• Honesty
• Hypocrisy - Duplicity
• Jesus Christ's words to a sinner
• Mercy and forgiveness
• Repentance and contrition
• Sauveur
• Who is Jesus? How Christ defines himself

«God is above also the holiest mother.»

• Family martyrdom

Every man is My brother, and I have come for everybody.

• Apostolate - Evangelism
• Incarnation
• Jesus Christ
• Redeemer
• Sauveur
• Who is Jesus? How Christ defines himself

The time of Redemption has come. Prepare its ways in hearts with goodwill. Be honest, good, love one another. The rich must not despise the poor; merchants must not defraud; the poor must not envy the rich. You are all of one blood, and you belong to one God. You are all called to one destiny. Do not shut with your sins the Heavens that the Messiah will open for you.

• Doing Good
• Goodwill
• Honesty
• How to perfect and sanctify yourself
• Love of neighbor
• Man's destiny
• Redemption
• To be good
• Words of wisdom

Here is the Word of the Father that becomes food for you. Come, taste, change the blood of your spirits with this food. Let every poison vanish, let every lust die. A new glory is offered to you: the eternal one, to which all those will come whose hearts will truly study the Law of God.

Start from love. There is nothing greater. When you know how to love, you will already know everything, and God will love you, God’s love means help against all temptations.

• Eucharist
• Jesus Christ - Word of God
• Temptation
• Who is Jesus? How Christ defines himself

«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.

• Bible - Book of Joel
• Last Judgment
• Redemption