As a boy, Jesus was homeschooled by the Blessed Virgin.
In
the century before the birth of Jesus, Simeon ben Shetach, a powerful
Pharisee who was the president of the Sanhedrin, introduced schooling
for children. Until then, instruction of children was primarily the
responsibility of their fathers. The schooling was compulsory for
boys, who were to learn the Scriptures and the Law. Simeon
established the schools in the district towns as well as in
Jerusalem.
Consequently,
it was most unusual for Mary, the mother of Jesus, to insist that she
would teach her young son herself, at home. Certainly she was well
qualified, since she had lived, and was taught, in the Temple at
Jerusalem from her youngest years until her espousal to St. Joseph.
“I
will never send Jesus to school!” says
Mary resolutely. Maria Valtorta reveals why.
On
October 29, 1944, Jesus asks Maria to come back to the years of His
childhood. “What you are now going to see is not without a reason.
On the contrary it enlightens details of My early years and
relationship among relatives. And it is a present for you […] as
you feel the peace of the house in Nazareth being transfused into you
whenever you see it. Write.”
Maria
then has a vision of the Holy House in Nazareth with Mary and Joseph:
I
see the room where they usually take their meals and where Mary works
at Her loom or needlework. The room is near Joseph's workshop and I
can hear the sound of his working. […] Jesus is playing under the
trees with two children who are about His own age. [They are Judas
and James, his cousins; Judas would become known as St. Jude
Thaddeus, and James as St. James the Less.]
They
are playing in perfect harmony with some little carts on which there
are... various articles: leaves, little stones, wood shavings, little
pieces of wood. They must be playing at shops, and Jesus is the one
who buys things for His Mummy, to Whom He takes now one thing, then
another one. Mary accepts all the purchases with a smile.
Then
the game changes. Jesus says: « Let us play this other one: when
Joshua is elected Moses' successor [...] and Judas will be happy to
be a man and My successor. Are you happy? »
«
Yes I am, Jesus. But then You will have to die, because Moses dies
afterwards. But I do not want You to die; You have always been so
fond of me. »
«
Everybody dies... but before dying I shall bless
Israel, and since you are the only ones here, I shall bless the whole
of Israel in you. »
Then
Jesus clambers up the side of the mountain that forms the boundary of
the house, or rather the garden; He stands up straight on top of the
little grotto, and speaks to... Israel. He repeats the orders and the
promises of God, He appoints Joshua as the leader, calls him, and
then Judas in his turn climbs up the cliff. He encourages and blesses
him. He then asks for a... tablet (it is a large fig leaf) and He
writes the canticle [Deuteronomy 32] and reads it. It is not quite
complete, but contains a large part of it, and He seems to be reading
it from the leaf.
He
then dismisses Joshua who embraces Him crying, and He then climbs
further up, right up to the edge of the cliff. And from there He
blesses the whole of Israel, that is the two who are prostrated on
the ground, He then lies down on the short grass, closes His eyes
and... dies.
Mary,
who has been watching from the doorstep smiling, when She sees Him
lying still on the ground shouts: « Jesus, Jesus! Get up! Don't lie
down like that! Your Mummy does not want to see You dead! »
Jesus
gets up smiling, runs towards Her, and kisses Her. Also James and
Judas come. They also receive Mary's caresses.
«
How can Jesus remember that canticle which is so long and difficult
and all those blessings?» asks James.
Mary
smiles and answers: « His memory is very good and He pays a lot of
attention when I read. »
«
I too, at school, pay attention. But then I get sleepy with all the
hubbub... shall I never learn then? »
«
You will learn, be good. »
There
is a knock at the door. Joseph walks quickly across the orchard and
the room and opens it. « Peace to you, Alphaeus and Mary! »
«
And to you, and blessings. »
It
is Joseph's brother with his wife. [They are the parents of Judas and
James.] A rustic cart, drawn by a strong donkey, is outside in the
street. « Did you have a good trip? »
«
Very good. And the children? »
«
They are in the garden with Mary. »
But
the children have already come to greet their mother. Also Mary
comes, holding Jesus by the hand. The two sisters-in-law kiss each
other. « Have they been good? »
«
Very good, and very dear. Are the relatives all well? »
«
Yes they all are. They send You their regards, and they have sent You
many presents from Cana. Grapes, apples, cheese, eggs, honey. And...
Joseph? I have found just what you wanted for Jesus. It is on the
cart, in the round basket. »
Alphaeus'
wife smiles. She bends over Jesus Who is looking at her with His eyes
wide open, […]
and she says:
« Do you know what I have for you? Guess. »
Jesus
thinks, but He cannot guess. […] Joseph in fact comes in, carrying
a large round basket. He lays it down on the floor in front of Jesus,
unties the rope which is holding the lid on, he lifts it... and a
little white sheep, a real flock of foam, appears sleeping in the
very clean hay.
Jesus
utters an « Oh! » of surprise and happiness and He is about to rush
towards the little animal, but then He turns round and runs to
Joseph, who is still bent down as before, He embraces him, and kisses
him, thanking him.
Jesus
continues saying, « For me! For me! Thank you, father! »
«
Do you like it so much! »
«
Oh! Very much! White, clean... a little lamb... Oh! » and He throws
His little arms round the sheep's neck, He lays His blond head on its
little head and remains thus, happy.
«
I brought two, also for you » says Alphaeus to his sons. « But they
are dark. You are not quite so tidy as Jesus and your sheep would
always be untidy, if they were white. They will be your herd, you
will keep them together and so you will no longer be loitering in the
streets, you two little rascals, throwing stones at each other. »
Saint Jude Thaddeus
Soon
the guests are sitting at table and Mary offers them bread, olives
and cheese. […] The
elder people are talking and Alphaeus says: « I hope I have solved
the matter of the boys' quarrels. I got the idea from your request,
Joseph. I said to myself: “My brother wants a little sheep for
Jesus, that He may have something to play with. I will get two, also
for those naughty boys, to keep them quiet a little, and avoid
continuous arguments with other parents with regard to bruised heads
and skinned knees.
What with the school and what
with the sheep, I will manage to keep them quiet.” But this year
You also will have to send Jesus to school. It is time. »
«
I will never send Jesus to school » says
Mary resolutely.
It is most unusual to hear Her talk thus and above all to hear Her
talk before Joseph.
«
Why? The Child must learn to be ready in good time to pass His exam
when He comes of age... »
«
The Child will be ready. But He will not go to school. That is quite
definite. »
«
You will be the only woman in Israel to do that. »
«
I will be the only one. But that is what I am going to do. Isn't that
right, Joseph? »
«
Yes, that's correct. There is no need for Jesus to go to school. Mary
was brought up in the Temple, and She knows the Law as well as any
doctor. She will be His Teacher. That's what I want, too. »
«
You are spoiling the Boy. »
«
You cannot say that. He is the best boy in Nazareth.
Have
you ever heard Him cry, or be naughty, or be disobedient, or lack
respect? »
«
No. That's true. But He will do all that if You continue to spoil
Him. »
«
You
do not necessarily spoil your children just because you keep them at
home.
To keep them at home implies loving them with good common sense and
wholeheartedly. And that is how we love our Jesus, and since Mary is
better educated than a teacher, She will be Jesus' Teacher. »
«
And when Your Jesus is a Man, He will be like a silly little woman
frightened even of flies. »
«
He will not. Mary is a strong woman, and She will give Him a manly
education. I am not a coward, and I can give Him man-like examples.
Jesus is a creature without any physical or moral faults. He will
grow, therefore, upright and strong, both in His body and in His
spirit. You can be sure of that, Alphaeus. He will not be a disgrace
to the family. In any case, that is what I have decided, and that is
all. »
«
Perhaps Mary has decided, and you... »
«
And if it were so? Is it not fair that two, who love each other,
should have the same thoughts and the same wishes, so that each may
accept the wishes of the other as if they were his own? If Mary
should wish silly things, I would say to Her: “No.” But She is
asking for something which is full of wisdom, and I agree, and I make
it my own. We love each other, we do as we did the first day, and we
shall go on doing so as long as we live. Is that right, Mary? »
«
Yes, Joseph. And let us hope it will never happen, but when one
should die without the other, we will still go on loving each other.
»
Joseph
pats Mary on the head as if She were a young daughter and She looks
at him with Her serene loving eyes.
Her
sister-in-law interferes: « You are quite right. I wish I could
teach! Our
children at school learn
evil and good. At
home they only learn what is good.
But I do not know whether... if Mary... »
«
What is it you want, My dear sister-in-law? Speak freely. You know
that I love you and I am happy when I can do something that pleases
you. »
«
I was thinking... James and Judas are only a little older than Jesus.
They are already going to school... for what they have learned!...
Jesus instead already knows the Law so well... I would like... eh, I
mean, if I asked You to take them as well, when You teach Jesus? I
think they would behave better and be better educated. After all,
they are cousins, and it is only fair that they should
love one another like brothers. Oh! I
would be so happy! »
«
If Joseph wants, and your husband agrees, I am quite willing. It is
the same to speak to one as to speak to three. And it is a joy to go
through the whole of Scripture. Let them come. » The three children,
who have come in very quietly, are listening and are awaiting the
final decision.
«
They will drive You to despair, Mary » says Alphaeus.
«
No! They are always good with Me. You will be good if I teach you,
will you not? »
The
two boys move near Mary, one on Her left side, the other on Her
right, they place their arms around Her shoulders, they lean their
little heads on Her shoulders, and they promise all the good in the
world.
«
Let them try, Alphaeus, and let Me try. I am sure you will not be
dissatisfied with the test. They can come every day from the
sixth hour [around
noon] until evening. It will be enough, believe Me. I know how to
teach without tiring them. You must hold their attention and let them
relax at the same time. You must understand them, love them, and be
loved by them, if you wish to get good results. And you will love Me,
will you not? »
Two
big kisses are the answer.
«
See? »
«
I see. I can only say: “Thank You.” And what will Jesus say, when
He sees His Mummy busy with others? What do you say, Jesus? »
«
I say: “Happy those who listen to Her and build their dwelling near
Hers.” As for Wisdom, happy are those who are My Mother's friends,
and I am happy that those whom I love are Her friends. »
«
But who puts such words on the lips of the Child » Alphaeus asks,
astonished.
«
Nobody, brother. Nobody in this world ».
-------------------------------------------------------
At
the close of the vision, Jesus says to Maria Valtorta:
«
And Mary was My teacher and the teacher of James and Judas. That is
why we loved one another like brothers, not only because of our
relationship, but for our science and the fact that we had grown up
together, like three shoots supported by one pole only: My Mother.
There
was no other doctor in Israel like My sweet Mother. Seat of Wisdom,
and of true Wisdom, She taught us for the world, and for Heaven. I
say: “She taught us” because I was Her pupil exactly as My
cousins. And the “seal” was kept on the secret of God against
Satan's investigations, and it was safeguarded by the appearance of a
normal life.
Did
you enjoy this sweet scene? Now be in peace. Jesus is with you. »
---------------------------
Based on The Gospel as Revealed to Me, by Maria Valtorta, Chapter 38.
Learn
more about Maria Valtorta’s works HERE.
View
my Catholic books HERE.
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