The
Shepherds who visited Baby Jesus were twelve, according to Maria Valtorta. They
were the first to come and adore the Incarnate Word. And we know
their names! After
the Lord began His public ministry, he sought out the shepherds, many
of whom were still living.
---------------------------------
Mary
and Joseph are nearing Bethlehem when they meet a shepherd, who cuts
across the road with his herd […]. Joseph bends down to say
something to him. The shepherd nods in assent. Joseph takes the
donkey and leads it behind the herd into the grazing ground. The
shepherd pulls a coarse bowl out of his knapsack, he milks a big
sheep with swollen udders and hands the bowl to Joseph who offers it
to Mary.
«
May God bless you both » exclaims Mary. « You for your love, and
you for your kindness. I will pray for you. »
«
Are you coming from far? » asks the shepherd.
«
From Nazareth » replies Joseph.
«
And where are you going? »
«
To Bethlehem. »
« A Long journey for a woman in Her state. Is She your wife? »
«
Yes, She is. »
«
Have you got a place where to go? »
«
No, we haven't. »
«
That's bad! Bethlehem is overcrowded with people who have come from
all over to register there, or are on their way to register
elsewhere. I don't know whether you will find lodgings. Are you
familiar with the place? »
«
Not very. »
«
Well... I will explain it to you... for Her... (and he points to
Mary). Find the hotel, but it will be full. But I will tell you just
the same, to guide you. It's in the square, in the largest one. This
main road will take you to it. You can't miss it. There is a fountain
in front of it, it is a long and low building with a very big door.
It will be full. But if you do not find room in the hotel, or in any
of the houses, go round to the back of the hotel, towards the
country.
There
are some stables in the mountain, which are used sometimes by
merchants to keep their animals there, on their way to Jerusalem,
when they don't find room in the hotel. They are stables
[…], they
are damp and cold and there are no doors. But they are always a
shelter, because your wife can't be left on the road. Perhaps you
will find room there and some hay to sleep on and for the donkey. And
may God guide you. »
«
And may God give you joy » answers Mary. Joseph instead replies: «
Peace be with you. »
They
take to the road again.
That
night the Savior is born, and Maria Valtorta is graced with a vision
of the announcement of His birth to the shepherds.
She
writes: […] I see a very wide country. The moon is at its zenith
and she is sailing smoothly in a sky crowded with stars [...], the
moon is smiling in the middle of them with her big white face, from
which streams of light descend and make the earth white […].
On
my right I see a place enclosed by a thorn-bush hedge on two sides
and by a low rugged wall on the other two. The wall supports a kind
of low wide shed, which inside the enclosure is built in masonry and
part in wood […]. From the enclosure intermittent short bleatings
can be heard now and again.
It
must be the little sheep which dream or perhaps sense that it is
almost daybreak because of the very bright moonlight. The brightness
is intense to an excessive degree and it is increasing more and more
[…].
A
shepherd looks out of the door, and lifting one arm to his forehead
to shield his eyes, he looks up. It seems improbable that one should
protect one's eyes from moonlight. But the moonlight in this case is
so bright that it blinds people, particularly those who come out from
a dark enclosure. Everything is calm. But the bright moonlight is
surprising. The shepherd calls his companions. They all come to the
door: a group of hairy men of various ages. Some are just teenagers,
some are already white haired, They comment on the strange event and
the younger ones are afraid. One in particular, a boy about twelve
years old, starts crying, and the older shepherds jeer at him.
«
What are you afraid of, you fool? » the oldest man says to him. «
Can't you see that the air is very quiet? Have you never seen clear
moonlight? You have always been tied to your mother's apron strings,
haven't you? But there are many things for you to see! [...] Oh! Many
things you will see, if you live long enough. »
But
the little shepherd is no longer listening to him. He looks as if he
is no longer frightened, because he leaves the threshold and steals
from behind the shoulders of a brawny herdsman, behind whom he had
previously sought shelter, and goes out on to the grassy fold in
front of the shed. He looks up and walks about like a sleep-walker or
one hypnotized by something that compellingly attracts him.
At
a certain moment he shouts: « Oh! » and remains petrified with his
arms slightly stretched out. His mates look at one another
dumbfounded.
«
But what is the matter with the fool? » says one.
«
I will send him back to his mother tomorrow. I don't want mad people
as guardians of the sheep » says another.
And
the old man who had spoken earlier says: « Let us go
and
see before we judge him. Call also the others who are sleeping and
bring your sticks. It might be a wild animal or some robber... »
They
go in, they call the other shepherds and they come out with torches
and clubs. They join the boy.
«
There, there » he whispers smiling. « Above the tree, look at the
light that is coming. It seems to be coming on the ray of the moon.
There it is, it is coming near. How beautiful it is! »
«
I can only see a rather brighter light. »
«
So can I. »
«
So can I » say the others.
«
No. I see something like a body » says one whom I recognize to be
the shepherd who gave the milk to Mary.
«
It is... it is an angel! » shouts the boy. « Here he is, he is
coming down, he is coming near... Down! On your knees before the
angel of God! »
A
long and venerable « Oh! » comes from the group of shepherds, who
fall down face to the ground and the older they are, the more they
appear to be crushed by the refulgent apparition. The young ones are
on their knees, looking at the angel who is coming nearer and nearer,
and then he stops mid-air above the enclosure wall, waving his large
wings, a pearly brightness in the white moonlight surrounding him.
«
Do not fear. I am not bringing you misfortune. I announce you a great
joy for the people of Israel and for all the people of the world. »
The angelic voice is the harmony of a harp and of singing
nightingales.
«
Today, in the City of David, the Savior has been born! » In saying
so, the angel spreads out his wings wider and wider, moving them as a
sign of overwhelming joy, and a stream of golden sparks and precious
stones seem to fall from them: a real rainbow describing a triumphal
arch above the poor shed.
«
... the Savior, Who is Christ. » The angel shines with a
brighter
light. His two wings, now motionless, pointed upright towards the sky
like two still sails on the sapphire of the sea, seem two bright
flames ascending to Heaven.
«
... Christ, the Lord! » The angel gathers his sparkling wings and
covers himself with them as if they were a coat of diamonds on a
dress of pearls, he bows down in adoration, with his arms crossed
over his heart, while his head bent down as it is, disappears in the
shade of the tops of the folded wings […].
But
now he stirs. He spreads out his wings, lifts his head, bright with a
heavenly smile, and says: « You will recognize Him from the
following signs: in a poor stable, behind Bethlehem, you will find a
baby in swaddling clothes, in a manger for animals, because no roof
was found for the Messiah in the city of David. » The angel becomes
grave, almost sad, in saying that.
But
from the Heavens many angels – oh! how many! – come down, all
like him – a ladder of angels descending and rejoicing and dimming
the moonlight with their heavenly brightness. They all gather round
the announcing angel, fluttering their wings, exhaling perfumes,
playing notes in which the most beautiful voices of creation find a
recollection, but elevated to uniform perfection [...]. To hear this
melody is to know Paradise, where everything is harmony of love which
emanates from God to make the blessed souls happy, and then from them
returns to God to say to Him: « We love You! »
The
angelical « Glory » spreads throughout the quiet country in wider
and wider circles and the bright light with it. And the birds join
their singing to greet the early light, and the sheep add their
bleatings for the early sun. […] I love to believe that the animals
are greeting their Creator, Who has come down among them to love them
both as a Man and as God.
They
set out in the moonlight aided by their torches, after closing the
shed and the enclosure […]. They go round Bethlehem. They reach the
stable not the way Mary came, but from the opposite direction, so
that they do not pass in front of the better stables, instead they
find this one first. They go near the hole.
«
Go in! »
«
I wouldn't dare! »
«
You go in! »
«
No. »
«
At least have a look. »
«
You, Levi, who saw the angel first, obviously because you are better
than we are, look in. » Before they said he was mad... but now it
suits them if he dare what they do not.
The
boy hesitates, but then he makes up his mind. He goes near the hole,
pulls the mantle a little to one side, looks... and remains
enraptured. [St. Joseph had hung his mantle in front of the opening
to the stable.]
«
What can you see? » they ask him anxiously in low voices.
«
I can see a beautiful young woman and a man bending over a manger and
I can hear... I can hear a little baby crying, and the woman is
speaking to Him in a voice...oh! what a voice! »
«
What is She saying? »
«
She is saying: “Jesus, little one! Jesus, love of Your Mummy! Don't
cry, little Son..”.. She is saying: “Oh! If I could only say to
You: 'Take some milk, little one'. But I have not got any yet..”..
She says: “You are so cold, My love! And the hay is stinging You!
How painful it is for Your Mummy to hear You crying so, without being
able to help You!.”.. She says: “Sleep, soul of Mine! Because it
breaks My heart to hear You crying and see Your tears!” and She
kisses Him, and She must be warming His little feet with Her hands,
because She is bent with Her arms in the manger. »
«
Call Her! Let them hear you. »
The
shepherd opens his mouth, but he only utters a faint moaning noise.
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 Savior. »
«
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.
And
one of them […] says: «Mother, take this wool. It's soft and
clean. I prepared it for my child who is about to be born. But I
offer it to You. Lay your Son in this wool. It will be soft and warm.
» And he offers the sheep hide, a beautiful hide, well covered with
white soft wool.
Mary
lifts Jesus, and puts it round Him. And She shows Him to the
shepherds, who, kneeling on the hay on the ground, look at Him
ecstatically!
They
become bolder, and one suggests: « He should be given a mouthful of
milk, better still, some water and honey. But we have no honey. We
give it to little babies. I have seven children, and I know... »
«
There is some milk here. Take it, Woman. »
«
But it is cold. It should be warm. Where is Elias? He has the sheep.
»
Elias
must be the shepherd who gave the milk. But he is not there. He
remained outside and is looking from the hole, but he cannot be seen
in the dark night.
«
Who led you here? »
«
An angel told us to come, and Elias showed us the way. But where is
he now? » The sheep declares his presence with a bleat.
«
Come in. You are wanted. » He enters with his sheep, embarrassed
because they all look at him.
«
It's you! » says Joseph, who recognizes him, and Mary smiles at him
saying: « You are good. »
They
milk the sheep and with the hem of a piece of linen dipped into the
warm creamy milk, Mary moistens the lips of the Baby Who sucks the
sweet cream. They all smile, and even more so, when Jesus falls
asleep in the warmth of the wool, with the little bit of linen still
between His lips.
«
But You can't stay here. It's cold and damp. And... there is too
strong a smell of animals. It's not good... it's not good for the
Savior. »
«
I know » replies Mary with a deep sigh. « But there is no room for
us in Bethlehem. »
«
Take heart, Woman. We will look for a house for You. »
«
I will tell my mistress » says Elias. « She is good. She will
receive You, even if she had to give You her own room. As soon as it
is daylight, I will tell her. Her house is full of people. But she
will find room for You. »
«
For My Child, at least. Joseph and I can lie also on the floor. But
for the Little One... »
«
Don't worry, Woman. I will see to it. And we will tell many people
what we were told. You will lack nothing. For the time being, take
what our poverty can give You. We are shepherds... »
«
We are poor, too. And we cannot reward you » says Joseph.
«
Oh! We don't want it. Even if You could afford it, we would not want
it. The Lord has already rewarded us. He promised peace to everybody.
The angels said: “Peace to men of good will.” But He has already
given it to us, because the angel said that this Child is the Savior,
Who is Christ, the Lord. We are poor and ignorant, but we know that
the Prophets say that the Savior will be the Prince of Peace. And he
told us to come and adore Him. That is why He gave us His peace.
Glory be to God in the Most High Heaven and glory to His Christ here,
and You are blessed, Woman, Who gave birth to Him: You are holy,
because You deserved to bear Him! Give us orders as our Queen,
because we will be happy to serve You. What can we do for You? »
«
You can love My Son, and always cherish the same thoughts as you have
now. »
«
But what about You? Is there anything You wish? Have You no relatives
whom You would like to inform that He has been born? »
«
Yes, I have them. But they are far away. They are at Hebron... »
«
I will go » says Elias. « Who are they? »
«
Zacharias, the priest, and My cousin Elizabeth. »
«
Zacharias? Oh! I know him well. In summer I go up those mountains
because the pastures are rich and beautiful, and I am a friend of his
shepherd. When I know you are settled, I will go to Zacharias. »
«
Thank you, Elias. »
«
You need not thank me. It is a great honor for me, a poor shepherd,
to go and speak to the priest and say to him: “The Savior has been
born.” »
«
No. You must say to him: “Your cousin, Mary of Nazareth, has said
that Jesus has been born, and that you should come to Bethlehem.” »
«
I will say that. »
«
May God reward You. I will remember you, Elias, and every one of you.
»
«
Will You tell Your Baby about us? »
«
I certainly will. »
«
I am Elias. », « And I am Levi. », « And I am Samuel. », «And I
Jonah. », « And I Isaac. », « And I Tobias. », « And I
Jonathan. », « And I Daniel. », « And I Simeon. », « My name is
John. », « I am Joseph and my brother Benjamin, we are twins. »
«
I will remember your names. »
«
We must go... But we will come back... And we will bring others to
worship Him. »
«
How can we go back to the sheep-fold, leaving the Child? »
«
Glory be to God Who has shown Him to us! »
«
Will You let us kiss His dress? » asks Levi, with an angelic smile.
And
Mary lifts Jesus slowly, and sitting on the hay, envelops the tiny
little feet in a linen, and offers them to be kissed. And the
shepherds bow down to the ground and kiss the tiny feet, veiled by
the linen. Those with a beard clean it first; almost everyone is
crying, and when they have to go, they walk out backwards, leaving
their hearts there...
The
vision ends thus, with Mary sitting on the straw with the Child on
Her lap and Joseph who, leaning with his elbow on the manger, looks
and adores.
Based
on chapter 28 and chapter 30 of Maria Valtorta’s The
Gospel as Revealed to Me.
Learn
more about Maria Valtorta’s works HERE.
View
my Catholic books HERE.
They
reveal to each other their vows of chastity.
[Numbers
17:1-23]:
In order to convince the Israelites that Aaron was the chosen High
Priest, God said to Moses: “Speak to the Israelites and get one
staff from each of them ... Mark each man’s name on his staff; and
mark Aaron’s name . . . Then lay them down in the Meeting Tent . .
. There the staff of the man of My choice will sprout.” . . . The
next day, when Moses entered the Tent, Aaron’s staff . . . had
sprouted and put forth not only shoots, but blossoms as well, and
even bore ripe almonds.
According
to Catholic Tradition, and to renowned mystics Venerable Mary of
Agreda and Blessed Anne Katherine Emmerich, something analogous to
this occurred when the Priests of the Temple sought a spouse for the
Blessed Virgin Mary. Maria Valtorta’s vision of the miraculous
choice of St Joseph to be the husband of Mary is in perfect
conformity to the ancient traditional belief.
On
September 4, 1944, Maria reported on what she saw:
I
see a
rich hall with a beautiful floor, curtains, carpets and inlaid
furniture. It must be still part of the Temple: there are priests in
it, including Zacharias, and many men of every age, from twenty to
fifty years approximately. They are all talking in low but animated
voices […]. They are dressed in their best clothes, which seem to
be new or just recently washed and they are obviously dressed for
some special feast. Many
have removed the piece of cloth covering their heads, others still
wear it, particularly the elder ones […]. They
do not all know one another, because they observe one another
inquisitively. But they seem to be akin somehow, because it is clear
that they are all concerned with the same matter.
In
a corner I can see Joseph. He is talking to a hale and hearty elderly
man. Joseph is about thirty years old. He is a handsome man with
short and rather curly hair, dark brown like his beard and his
moustache, which cover a well shaped chin and rise towards his
rosy-brown cheeks, which are not olive-coloured as is normal in most
people with a brown complexion. His eyes are dark, kindly and deep,
very serious and perhaps somewhat sad. But when he smiles, as he does
now, they become gay and young looking. He is dressed in light brown,
very simple but very tidy.
A
group of young Levites comes in and they take up position between the
door and a long narrow table, which is against the same wall as the
door, which is left wide open.
A single curtain […] is drawn to cover the empty space. The
curiosity of the group increases. It grows more so when a hand pulls
the
curtain to one side to admit a Levite, who is carrying in his arms a
bundle of dry branches on which one in blossom is gently laid: it
looks like a light foam of white petals, with a vague pinkish hue
that spreads softer and softer from the centre to the top of the
light petals.
The
Levite lays the bundle of branches on the table very gently to avoid
detracting from the miracle of the branch full of flowers among so
many dry ones. Whispering spreads in the hall. They all stretch their
necks and sharpen their eyes to see. Zacharias, who is near the table
with the other priests, also endeavours to see. But he can see
nothing. Joseph, in his corner, gives a quick glance to the bundle of
branches and when the man he was speaking to says something to him,
he shakes his head in denial as if to say: « Impossible » and
smiles.
A
trumpet is heard beyond the curtain. They all become quiet and turn
in an orderly way towards the door […].
The
High Priest enters surrounded by elders. They all make a deep bow.
The Pontiff goes to the table and begins to speak, standing up.
«
Men of the race of David, gathered here at my request, please listen.
The Lord has spoken, glory be to Him! From His Glory a ray has
descended and, like the sun in springtime, it has given life to a dry
branch which has blossomed miraculously, whereas no other branch on
earth is in bloom to-day […], and the snow that fell on the
mountains in Judah has not yet melted and everything is white between
Zion and Bethany.
«
God has spoken and has made Himself the father and the guardian of
the Virgin of David Who has Him alone as Her protection. A holy girl,
the glory of the Temple, She deserved the word of God to learn the
name of a husband agreeable to the Eternal One. And he must be very
just to be chosen by the Lord as the protector of the Virgin so dear
to Him! For this reason our sorrow in losing Her is alleviated and
all worries about Her destiny as a wife cease. And to the man
appointed by God we entrust with full confidence the Virgin blessed
by God and by ourselves. The
name of the husband is Joseph of Jacob of Bethlehem, of the tribe of
David, a carpenter in Nazareth in Galilee.
Joseph: come forward. It is an order of the High Priest ... »
There
is a lot of whispering. Heads move round, eyes cast inquisitive
glances, hands make signs: there are expressions of disappointment
and relief […]. Joseph, blushing and embarrassed moves forward. He
is now near the table, in front of the Pontiff, whom he has greeted
reverently.
«
Everyone must come here to see the name engraved on the branch. And
everyone must take his own branch to make sure that there is no
deception.»
The
men obey. They look at the branch gently held by the High Priest and
then each takes his own […].
They all look at Joseph. Some look and are silent, others look and
congratulate him.
The elderly man to whom Joseph was speaking before, exclaims: « I
told you, Joseph! Who feels less certain, is the one who wins the
game! »
They
have all now passed before the Pontiff. The High Priest gives Joseph
his branch in bloom, he lays his hand on his shoulder and says to
him: « The spouse the Lord has presented you with, is not rich, as
you know. But all virtues are in Her. Be more and more worthy of Her.
There is no flower in Israel as beautiful and pure as She is. Please,
all go out now. You, Joseph, stay here. And you, Zacharias, since you
are Her relative, please bring in the bride.»
They
all go out, except the High Priest and Joseph. The curtain is drawn
once again over the door. Joseph is standing in a very humble
attitude, near the Priest. There is silence, then the Priest says to
Joseph: « Mary wishes to inform you of a vow She made. Please help
Her shyness. Be good to Her, Who is so good.»
«
I will put my strength and my manly authority at Her service and no
sacrifice on Her behalf will be heavy for me. Be sure of that. »
Mary
enters with Zacharias and Anna of Phanuel.
«
Come, Mary » says the Pontiff. « Here is the spouse that God has
destined to You. He is Joseph of Nazareth. You will therefore go back
to Your own town. I will leave You now. May God give You His
blessing. May the Lord protect You and bless You, may He show His
face to You and have mercy on You. May He turn His face to You and
give You peace. »
Zacharias
goes out escorting the Pontiff. Anna congratulates Joseph and then
she goes out, too.
The
betrothed are now facing each other. Mary, full of blushes, is
standing with Her head bowed. Joseph, who is also red in the face,
looks at Her and tries to find the first words to be said. He
eventually finds them and a bright smile lights up his eyes.
He
says: « I welcome you, Mary. I saw You when You were a little baby,
only a few days old... I was a friend of Your father's and I have a
nephew, the son of my brother Alphaeus, who was a great friend of
Your mother [...].
You
do not know us because You were only a little girl when You came
here. But everyone in Nazareth loves You and they all think and speak
of Joachim's little Mary, Whose birth was a miracle of the Lord, Who
made the barren old lady blossom wonderfully... And I remember the
evening You were born... We all remember it because of the prodigy of
a heavy rain that saved the country and of a violent storm during
which the thunderbolts did not damage even a stem of heather and it
ended with such a large and beautiful rainbow that the like has never
been seen again.
«
And then... who does not remember Joachim's happiness? He dandled You
showing You to his neighbours... As if You were a flower that had
descended from Heaven, he admired You and wanted everyone to admire
You, a happy old father who died talking about his Mary, Who was so
beautiful and good and Whose words were so full of wisdom end
grace... He was quite right in admiring You and in saying that there
is no other woman lovelier than You are! And Your mother? She filled
Your house and the neighbourhood with her songs and she sang like a
skylark in springtime when she was carrying You, and afterwards when
she held You in her arms.
«
I made a cradle for You. A tiny little cradle, with roses carved all
over it, because Your mother wanted it like that. Perhaps it is still
in the house... I am old, Mary. When You were born I was beginning to
work. I was already working... I would never have believed that I was
going to have You as a spouse! Perhaps Your parents would have died a
happier death if they had known, because they were my friends. I
buried Your father, mourning over his death with a sincere heart,
because he was a good teacher to me.»
Mary
raises Her face, little by little, taking heart, as She hears Joseph
speak to Her thus, and when he mentions the cradle She smiles gently
and when Joseph speaks of Her father, She holds out Her hand to him
and says: « Thank you, Joseph. » A very timid and gentle « thank
you.»
Joseph
holds Her little jasmine hand in his short and strong hands of a
carpenter and he caresses it with an affection that expresses more
and more confidence. Perhaps he is waiting for more words. But Mary
is silent once again. He then goes on: « As You know, Your house is
still intact, with the exception of the part that was demolished by
order of the consul, to build a road for the wagons of the Romans
[…]. You know that because of Your father's illness much of the
property had to be disposed of
[…], the fields have been rather neglected. For
over three years the trees and the vines have never been pruned and
the land is untilled and hard. But the trees that saw You when You
were a little girl are still there, and if You agree, I will at once
take care of them.»
«
Thank you, Joseph. But you have your work ... »
«
I will work in Your orchard in the morning and in the evening. The
days are getting longer and longer. By springtime I want everything
to be in order for Your happiness. Look: this is a branch of the
almond tree near the house. I wanted to pick it […] because I
thought that if I should be the chosen one, You would have been
pleased to have a flower from Your garden. But I was not expecting to
be the chosen one as I am a Nazirite [A Hebrew consecrated to the
Lord by renewable vows] and I have obeyed because it is an order of
the Priest, not because I wish to get married. Here is the branch,
Mary. With it I offer You my heart, that, like it, has bloomed up
till now only for the Lord and is now blooming for You, my spouse.»
Mary
takes the branch. She is moved and looks at Joseph with a face that
has become more and more confident and bright. She feels certain of
him. When he says to Her « I am a Nazirite », Her face becomes
bright and She takes courage: « Also I am all of the Lord, Joseph. I
do not know whether the High Priest told you ... »
«
He only told me that You are good and pure, that You wish to inform
me of a vow, and that I must be good to you. Speak, Mary. Your Joseph
wants You to be happy in all Your desires. I do not love You my with
body. I love You with my soul, holy girl given to me by God! Please
see in me a father and a brother, in addition to a husband. And open
Your heart to me as to a father and rely on me as on a brother ... »
«
Since My childhood I have consecrated Myself to the Lord. I know this
is not the custom in Israel. But I heard a voice requesting My
virginity as a sacrifice of love for the coming of the Messiah.
Israel has been waiting for Him for such a long time!... It is not
too much to forgo the joy of being a mother for that! »
Joseph
gazes at Her as if he wanted to read Her heart, then he takes Her
tiny hands which are still holding the branch in blossom and he says:
« I will join my sacrifice to Yours and we shall love the Eternal
Father so much with our chastity that He will send His Saviour to the
world earlier, and will allow us to see His Light shining in the
world. Come, Mary. Let us go before His House [the Temple] and [to]
Nazareth to prepare everything for You, in Your house, if You wish to
go there, or elsewhere if You wish so.»
«
In My house... There was a grotto down at the bottom... Is it still
there? »
«
It is, but it is no longer Yours... But I will build another one for
You where it will be cool and quiet during the hottest hours of the
day. I will make it as much as possible identical to the older one.
And tell me: whom do You want with You? »
«
Nobody. I am not afraid. Alphaeus' mother, who has always come to see
Me, will keep Me company during the day. At night I prefer to be
alone. No harm can befall Me.»
«
And now I am there, too. When shall I come and get You? »
«
Whenever you wish, Joseph.»
«
Then I will come as soon as the house is ready. I will not touch
anything. I want You to find it as Your mother left it. But I want it
to be bright and clean, to receive You without any sadness. Come,
Mary. Let us go and tell the Most High that we bless Him.»
__________________________________________
Based
on Chapter 12 of The
Gospel as Revealed to Me,
Volume One, by Maria Valtorta.
Learn
more about MariaValtorta’s works HERE.
View
my Catholic books HERE.
Suffering
from five major illnesses simultaneously, Maria
Valtorta had offered her
pains to Jesus
as a victim soul for the salvation of others. In order to encourage
her in coping with her offering and suffering, the Lord said to her:
"To love pain is indeed a
counsel of perfection [for victim souls], for the command of God, who
knows human capacity, limits itself to order you to endure
pain out of
obedience to God. Many – the majority – are unable to do even
this.
"To the best ones God
says, 'Love pain since my Son loved it for your good. Do the same for
the good of your brothers and sisters.'
"But among the best, who
are faithful, convinced, generous, and loving Christians, there is a
select category. They are the seraphim of the faithful, the most
inflamed with love. The love inflaming them makes them loving as
regards what is most difficult,
to the point that they not only love the pain which God allows them
to be rent with, but ask for it, saying, 'Here I am, Father. I am
here to ask you for the same chalice you gave to your Son and for the
same reason.' And they become the 'victims.'
"To these, by way of you
[Maria], who are one of them, I give this counsel of perfection.
"When pain is atrocious,
but brief, it is easier to carry out. But when in its gnawing
severity it lasts and lasts […] then it is difficult to persist in
carrying out the mission of a victim.
"Well then, […] to live
without disequilibrium in the life of victims one must place oneself
resolutely on the spiritual plane. To see, think, and act in
everything as one acts in the realms of the spirit – that is, in
an eternity which always says 'now.'
"Those of you that live
for the spirit – how do you want to regard things according to the
flesh? What have you asked God for? To make you spiritual creatures.
In what time do spiritual creatures, like God, live? In God's time.
What is God's time? An eternal present. An eternal 'now.' For your
Eternal Father there is no past or future in Heaven. There is the
eternal instant.
"God does not experience
birth or death, dawn or sunset, beginning or end. The angels,
spiritual, like Him, know only 'one
day.' A day which
began the instant in which they were created and which will have no
end. The saints, from the moment of their heavenly birth, become
possessors of this immutable celestial time, which does not pass and
is fixed in its splendor as a diamond inflamed by God […] while it
is always the same and will remain such. For how long? Forever.
"Consider, Maria. If you
could count all the grains of sand which are in the seas of the whole
world […] you would still have a limit to this number of days. If
I joined to them all the drops of water which are in the seas, lakes,
rivers, torrents, and brooks [...] you would still have a limit to
this number of days. And if I also added all the molecules forming
the planets, stars, and nebulae […] you would still have a limited
number of days. And if I added the dust buried in the earth, dust
which is the earth of men who have gone back with their matter to
nothingness […] awaiting the command to become man again and see
the triumph of God [..] you would still have a limited number of
days.
"The Kingdom of God is
eternal, like its King. And eternity knows only one word: 'Now.' You,
too, and, with you, all those consecrated to the holocaust [of being
a victim soul], must know this word alone to measure the time of
pain.
" 'Now.' How long have I
been suffering. Since now. When will it cease? Now. The present. For
spiritual creatures there is only this which is God's. Time as well.
Learn,
before the time comes, to calculate time as you will possess it in
Paradise. Now.
"Oh, blessed is that time,
which is immutable possession, immutable contemplation of God,
immutable joy! 'Life is the blinking of an eye; earthly time lasts a
breath. But my Heaven is eternal.' This is the chord which must
govern your song as creatures who are martyrs and blessed.
"You read in the life of
my martyr Cecilia: 'Cecilia was singing in her heart.' You as well –
sing in your hearts. Sing the
"now" of God, who awaits me: ‘I already find myself
enveloped in the abyss of this eternal "now," and this
abyss draws me closer and closer to the center of its perfection. I
am thus seeing his dust fall away, where every atom is a day, and a
grain is a month; I see it fall, blown away by this whirlwind, which,
inhales me into God, and it is the love of God, who wants to give me
"his" time. He wants to give me his eternal
present, where to
every second of earthly time there corresponds a receiving into
myself of the blessedness of having God the Father, God the Son, and
God the Holy Spirit, in an embrace that is always new, always
desired, always wanted, without weariness, rich in ever-new
splendors, ever-new savors, and ever-new love.’
And I am born [...] and am then
reborn to my joy as a blessed one to love Him on and on and on, and
to be loved by Him on and on and on. Not
more. For there, in
Paradise, everything has reached Perfection and is not capable of
increases or decreases, but with ever – the – same, fresh
rejoicing. Mine as a blessed one embracing God. His, as God, who can
pour his love, his essence, over a creature of his whom He created
out of love, to receive that person's love and give and give and give
that person love.'
"Look at your suffering in
this way, my little bride, and its duration will be less than nothing
for you. At the end of it I am there. I am.
"My peace be always with
you."
From The
Notebooks 1944 by
Maria Valtorta, Entry for June 12. Her books are available Here.
View my
Catholic books Here.
On the
Morning of May 13, 1944, after Communion in Honor of the
Immaculate Heart, the
Blessed Virgin said to Maria Valtorta:
"I
want you to understand my joys better. You will say the Franciscan
[crown] rosary more willingly [Maria was a Third Order Franciscan.]”
The
Annunciation:
"In the first one, I was not happy because of my glory and joy,
but because the time had come for man's redemption and God's
forgiveness of man.
The
Visitation:
"The second one made me happy not because of the praise offered
me by my cousin, but because I had begun redemption by sanctifying
the Baptist by taking my Jesus, your Redeemer, to him.
The
Birth of Jesus:
"The blessedness of the third one was not exclusively because I
had become a mother, without pain or the staining of my virginity, or
because of the grace of being able to kiss God, my Son, either. But
because the Earth now had the Savior.
The
Adoration of the Magi:
"What made me happy the fourth time was that in the three Magi I
saw all of those who, from everywhere in the world and in all periods
of the earth, from that moment on, would come towards the Light,
towards my Lord, and would proclaim Him to be their King and their
Savior and God.
The
Finding of Jesus in the Temple:
"The joy of the fifth event did not come exclusively from my
love as a Mother who ceases to suffer because her lost Son is found
again. It would have been selfishness. But it was inexpressible joy
to hear the 'Gospel' echoing forth for the first time and to
understand that a few years in advance it was falling into some
hearts and sprouting there into an eternal plant. I rejoiced over
these people instructed in advance.
Jesus
Appears to Mary after His Resurrection:
"The sixth joy was an even greater love for you, redeemed
creatures. The Risen One told me that the Heavens were open and
already inhabited by the holy ones of the Lord who had been awaiting
that hour for centuries and that in those Heavens the seats of all
the saved were ready. And for me, your Mother, to know that your
dwelling was ready was a joy of incalculable depth.
Mary’s
Assumption and Coronation:
"Finally, the seventh joy was not because of my glory. But
because, having been made the Queen of the Heavens
by the goodness of God, as the Queen I could concern myself with you,
my beloved ones, and, chosen as I was to sit at the right hand of
God, I could speak, pray, and obtain graces directly for you, with
powerful entreaty.
"No
joy was for me alone. Selfishness, even the most just and holy,
destroys love. Every joy came to me through perfect love and was
spurred towards an even more perfect love.
"I
am now blessed. I could not be more so because I am surrounded by the
Triune embrace of God. But I still use my blessedness out of love for
you. Even here I apply the law: I love God with my whole self and my
neighbor as myself.341
Myself, not because I am Mary, but because Mary found grace before
the Lord and is loved by Him; she is thus a holy creature in Him and
of Him, part of Him.
"Oh,
my theology! It has only one key word: 'Love.' I am Queen of the
Heavens because I have understood this theology as no other creature
has.
"Love.
You will be saved. Love. Love in words or in silence. Love in action
or immobility. Love in fervor or in the suffering of aridity. Love in
joy and in pain. Love in victory and in weakness. Love in temptation
and in freedom from the Enemy. Always love.
"Let
there be a point in you, the deepest one, which, in the midst of a
whole wounded, stricken, agonizing being stupefied by pain, exhausted
by the devil's assaults, nauseated by life events, and tossed about
like a ship in a storm, is able to remain still and alive in love. A
point in you which has this one mission – to love – and fulfills
it for your mind, heart, and flesh. And
let that point be your sanctuary. Let the altar be there with the
lamp which is always lit, with
flowers which are always fresh, and with praise which is always
resounding.
"Whether
you weep or laugh, hope or doubt, are exhausted or not, let the
holiest part of your spirit, the one living in that point consecrated
for worship of God, always be able to say:
Gloria
tibi, Domine. Gloria! Laudamus Te! Benedicimus Te! Adoramus Te!
Glorificamus Te! Quoniam Tu solus Sanctus, Tu solus Dominus, Tu solus
Altissimus. Cum Angelis et Archangelis, cum Thronis et
Dominationibus, cumque omni militia caelestis exercitus, himnum
gloriae tuae canimus, sine fine dicentes: Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus!
Glory
to you, Lord. Glory! We praise you! Thank you! We adore you! We
glorify you! Because You are the only Holy One, You are the only
Lord, You alone are the Most High. With Angels and Archangels, with
Thrones and Dominions, with all the militia of the heavenly host, we
sing the hymn of your glory, saying without end: Holy, Holy, Holy!
Glory
to you, Lord. Glory! We praise you! Thank you! We adore you! We
glorify you! Because You are the only Holy One, You are the only
Lord, You alone are the Most High. With Angels and Archangels, with
Thrones and Dominions, with all the militia of the heavenly host, we
sing the hymn of your glory, saying without end: Holy, Holy, Holy!
[Glory
to you, Lord. Glory! We praise you! We Thank you! We adore you! We
glorify you! Because You are the only Holy One, You are the only
Lord, You alone are the Most High. With Angels and Archangels, with
Thrones and Dominions, with all the militia of the heavenly host, we
sing the hymn of your glory, saying without end: Holy, Holy, Holy!]
"Before
the Elevation comes praise. Before the Consummation comes praise. Be
able to say your
Mass.
Every victim is a priest. [Maria Valtorta was a victim soul.] But one
is not a priest if one does not know how to celebrate Mass. In all
its parts.
"Look
at my Jesus. Before being elevated and consummated, He gave praise to
the Father.343
And He already knew what awaited Him.
"O
Maria, let your heart sing. Let it sing even if tears rain down from
your eyes. [Maria was then suffering the abandonment of Gethsemane.]
Let song cover your moan and the voices of Satan, who wants to
convince you to mistrust yourself to keep you from following your
mission, who wants to convince you that God does not hear you to keep
you from praying, who wants to convince you that you are lost in
order to destroy you.
"No.
You are not. Persevere. A day or an hour of faithfulness at this
moment is worth more than the ten years spent in physical pain and
penance, but with peace in your heart and God perceptible at your
side. Persevere. 'Whoever perseveres until the end will be saved.'344
My and your Jesus says so. And I tell you so. Suffer in peace. I will
come soon."
Maria
Valtorta, The
Notebooks 1944,
May
13 1944. Order
her books Here.
View
my Catholic books Here.
