CRITIQUE: POEM OF THE MAN-GOD

MEDJUGORJE'S GOSPEL

Maria Valtorta, 1897-1961
Volume I - Part 1
The following text is from Volume I, Poem of the Man-God, until I indicate a change to Volume II.

Page 23 Referring to Mary's birth: "A woman passes by and shouts: 'Joachim! It is coming, It is happening quickly and well!' and she disappears with a small amphora in her hands."

Page 23 After Mary's birth: "Her tiny carmine lips no longer cry but are set in the instinctive act of sucking: they are so small that one cannot understand how they will be able to take a teat."

Page 34 V's Joachim to Anne about Mary: "How will you be able to tear it from your heart when the time comes?"

V's Anne: "Remembering that I did not have it and that God gave it to me. I shall always be happier now than then. When I know She is in the Temple I will say to myself: 'She is praying near the Tabernacle, She is praying the God of Israel also for Her mummy.

Page 38 V's Mary: "I want to be always like this flower, and like the wise king, I want to sing throughout My life canticles and prayers before the Tabernacle."

V's Anne: "How do You know these holy things, my darling? Who told You? Your father?"

V's Mary: "No. I do not know who it is. . . ."

Page 40 V's Mary: "Tell Me, mummy, can one be a sinner out of love of God?"

V's Anne: "What are You saying, my dear? I don't understand You."

V's Mary: "I mean: to commit a sin in order to be loved by God, Who becomes Savior. . . ."

Comment: Sin is an offence against God. Holy Mary, our Immaculate Conception, our Seat of Wisdom, knows that a sinner does not offend God out of love for Him! By that standard, persons condemned to hell will say they sinned out of love for God! Heresy!
Theologically, there is no way to explain that statement. You dodge the issue if you avoid confronting the bull by his horns. To accept that statement, proves spiritual death.

Mrs. R. : "On reflection, I understood what Mary was meaning. I have no difficulty about that at all. Because she loved God so much, she wanted to experience God's love for her to the fullest, so she asked could a person put themselves in such a position as sinner, in order that God would give MORE love still, through mercy and forgiveness as Savior."

Comment: Mrs. R., that is blasphemy against our God! Outside of our Lord Jesus, only Holy Mary was conceived without sin. Because of Adam's fall, he was forced out of the Garden. We weep in this "valley of tears" because of Adam's venial sin, and you think that offending God is Mary's way of experiencing, even more, God's Lovel Poor soul! Would an Angel of God envy a mortal who has offended God, to experience God's Love still more? Our God must remove every trace of sin from us, by either suffering on this earth, or suffering in purgatory, so that we can be in His Presence in Heaven, but you think that Holy Mary wanted to experience God's Love for her to the fullest, so she asked could a person put themselves in such a position as sinner, in order that God would give MORE love still, through mercy and forgiveness as Savior? Poor Mrs. R. At least Holy Mary used Her intelligence to love our God!

Page 54 V's Prophetess Anna to Mary: "You ought to be the Mother of the Christ, since You love Him so much! Is that why You wish to remain a virgin?"

Page 55 V's Anna is silent for a little while and then with her clear voice of a deeply moved old woman, she asks: "Have You anything else to teach me, Mary?"

Page 59 V's Zacharias: "Do You know anyone of Your stock, Mary, who might be Your husband?"

V's Mary: "Nobody."

Pages 59, 60 "How long have You been consecrated to the Lord?"

V's Mary: "I have always been, I think. I was not yet in this Temple, and I had already given Myself to the Lord. I remember that I gave My heart to God, although I do not know when it started. Perhaps it was with the first kiss that I was able to give, with the first word that I learned to say, with the first step that I took. . . Yes, I think I find My first recollection of love with My first steady step."

Comment: The following story is difficult to understand.
Pages 61, 62. 63 Valtorta's dream: 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 moustache, which cover a well shaped chin and rise towards his rosy-brown cheeks, which are not olive-colored as is normal in most people with a brown complexion. His eyes are dark, kindly and deep, very serious and perhaps somewhat sad. 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 curtain, hanging down to about twenty centimetres from the floor, 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 center 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, near the table with the other priests, also endeavors to see. 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, which is now completely clear as the curtain has been pulled to one side. 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 the sun in springtime, it has given life to a branch on earth is in bloom today, the last day of the Feast of Dedication 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 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. 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. 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. . . ."

Joseph, blushing and embarrassed moves forward. He is now near a table, in front of the Pontiff, whom he has greeted reverently.

"Everyone must come here to see the name engraved on the branch. Everyone must take his own branch to make sure that there is no deception."

A person speaks to Joseph, after he is chosen as spouse of Mary: "I told you, Joseph! Who feels less certain, is the one who wins the game!"

[Comment: How did the name "Joseph" become engraved on one branch, of many branches brought in the room, one with flowers? This does not prove that Joseph was selected by our God for Mary. Was there only one Joseph? Valtorta has a wild imagination! Marriage is not a game! Gulliver's Travels is a novel. We are told that poem is history, but common sense tells us that it is garbage!)—
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. You, Zacharias, since you are Her relative, please bring in the bride."

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."

Comment: Joseph is from Bethlehem, not Nazareth. "Go to register in your home town, paying a tax." Joseph went with Mary, his Spouse, to his home city. There was no need to go to Bethlehem if Joseph's home was in Nazareth. Later, Valtorta will gives a description of the marriage ceremony. This description is like Veronica Lueken's descriptions at Bayside.

Comment: Girls who lived in the temple convent, were married on their fourteenth birthday, before leaving the temple. Valtorta has a different story.
Page 6U V's Joseph: "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. ...I remember the evening You were born..."

Valtorta's dream: 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.

Page 65 V's Joseph: "I was not expecting to be the chosen one as I am a Nazirite, 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 may heart, that, like it, has bloomed up till now only for the Lord and is now blooming for You, my spouse."

Valtorta's dream: Nazirite: Hebrew who took special vows of abstinence, see Numbers, 6.

Page 75 "Hello, Mary, I am Sarah, Your mother's friend. I saw You being born. ..."

Page 77 V's Joseph's brother: "When are you thinking of getting married?"

V's Joseph: "When Mary is sixteen. After the feast of the Tabernacles."

Page 81 Archangel Gabriel: "Hail, Mary, full of Grace, Hail."

V's dream: The voice is a sweet arpeggio as of pearls thrown on a precious metal plate. Mary is startled and lowers Her head. She is even more startled when She sees the shining creature kneeling at about a metre from Her and looking at Her with infinite veneration.

Mary jumps to Her feet and She squeezes against the wall. She turns pale and red alternately. Her face shows surprise and fear.

Page 81 Valtorta's Archangel Gabriel: "... Understand, Holy Virgin loved by Cod, Daughter- blessed by Him, called to be the Mother of His Son, what Son You will generate!"

V's Mary to V's Archangel Gabriel: "How can this come about, since I do not know man? Perhaps God will no longer accept the offer of His maidservant not wanting Me a Virgin for His love?"

Comment: Holy Mary, Seat of Wisdom, can realize that if She loses Her Virginity, a natural father cannot generate God's Son in Her!

Page 85 V's Mary: "I did not know I was without stain. I could not think I was. That simple thought would have been presumption and pride, because, since I was born of human parents, it was not right for Me to think that I was the Chosen One to be the Faultless One.

"If you consider in what high esteem the Israelites held a mother, you will realize even more what sacrifice I had made when I consecrated Myself to virginity."

Comment: Our Holy Mary consecrated Herself to God, in a vow of Holy Chastity, thereby remaining a Virgin. She did not consecrate Herself to virginity. Her esteem for Her consecration to God, in Holy Chastity was greater than the desire of any Israelite woman to be a mother.
Page 89 V's Jesus: "The First Parents possessed Grace without ever even nearing Disgrace. They were therefore stronger and more firmly supported by Grace that generated love and innocence. The gift given them by God was infinite. Much graver is therefore their fall not- withstanding that gift.

"Mary, Full of Grace, knew everything, because Wisdom taught Her. Wisdom that is Grace, and She knew how to live in a holy way. Eve also knew what was good for her to know, but not more, because it is valueless to know what is not good.

"I wanted to speak to you about it, because at present ninety per cent of you are like Eve intoxicated by Lucifer's breath and words, and you do not live to love one another, but to glut yourselves with sensuality, you do not live for Heaven but for filth, you are no longer creatures gifted with soul and reason, but dogs without soul and without reason. You have killed your souls and perverted your reason. I tell you that brutes surpass you in the honesty of their love."

Pago 90 Valtorta's dream: The Annunciation of Elizabeth's Pregnancy to Joseph.

The little house of Nazareth appears to me with Mary in it. Mary, a young girl, as when the Angel of Cod appeared to Her. This simple sight fills my soul with the virginal perfume of the house. The scent still remains in the room where the Angel gently waved his golden wings. That divine perfume was all concentrated on Mary to make a mother of Her and it now emanates from Her.

F.J.L. comment: So! Angels definitely have wings, huh? And, golden wings at that!
Page 91 Valtorta's dream: Also before sitting down he [Joseph] offers Mary two eggs and a bunch of grapes, somewhat withered, but well preserved.

Page 92 V's Joseph: "I will count the days waiting for You. Go and do not worry. I will look after the house and Your little garden. You will find the flowers as beautiful as if You had taken care of them. Only ... wait. Before Passover I must go to Jerusalem to buy certain things for my work. If You can wait for a few days, I will come with You as far as Jerusalem. I can't go any farther, because I must hurry back."

Page 96 Valtorta's dream: We are in Jerusalem. I know the town very well now, with its streets and gates.

Page 100 Valtorta's dream: The whole place is surrounded by a hedge of blackberries or wild roses. I cannot tell which, because if you remember, the flowers and leaves of these two thorny hedges are very much alike and until their branches bear fruit it is easy to confuse them. In front of the house, that is on the side that skirts the village, the place is enclosed by a small low white wall, on top of which are rows of rose-bushes, without flowers, already full of buds.

Comment: Since Valtorta cannot tell the difference between berry and rose bushes, how can she tell us about spiritual matters?
Page 104 V's Elizabeth: "I began late preparing clothing for my child, because I wanted to be sure that it was not a deception of the Evil One. Although I felt such a joy within me, that it could not possibly come from Satan. After. . . I suffered so much. I am old, Mary, really old, to be in this state. I suffered so much. Don't You suffer?"

V's Mary: "No. I don't. I have never been so well. First I will spin cloth for you, since you are going to have your baby very shortly, and later I will see to My Jesus."

Page 105 V's Elizabeth: "I hope that when the baby is born also the father will be freed from his punishment. "

V's Mary: "God, I am sure, will grant you the grace. I will pray with you."

Page 106 Mary caresses a little kid lamb, as fair as a child, which rubs itself against Her.

Page 107 V's Elizabeth: "I am exhausted by this heat. I have not suffered any longer, but now the weight is too heavy for my old kidneys."

Page 108 V's Elizabeth: "I have not mentioned it to anybody, not even to Zacharias who would have been very happy. He thinks you are a mother according to nature."

Comment!: Elizabeth was informed by our Holy Spirit of our Lord's presence in Holy Mary! Joseph is informed by Archangel Gabriel that Mary conceived by Holy Spirit. Who informed deaf and dumb Zachary, "that Mary conceived according to nature"?
Paqe 112 V's Elizabeth: "You are good, and You comfort me. I am so old to have a son. Now that I am about to have one, I am afraid."

V's Mary: "No! There is Jesus here."

Page 113 V's Elizabeth: "Mary! Mary! What a pain! I can't stand it any longer, Mary! How much pain one must suffer to be a mother!"

Page 117 Valtorta's dream: I do not see the [John's] circumcision. I see them bring back John, who is screaming at the top of his voice. Not even his mother's breast can calm him down. He is kicking like a little colt. Mary takes and lulls him. He becomes quiet, and lies down peacefully.

Pages 124, 125 V's Mary: "Joseph suffered his passion. It began in Jerusalem when he noticed My condition. He was, to all appearances, a man betrayed by his wife.

"Alone in My house, where everything reminded Me of the Annunciation and the Incarnation, and where everything reminded Me of Joseph, married to Me with spotless virginity, I had to fight despair and satan's insinuation, and hope, hope, hope. Pray and forgive Joseph's suspicion, his disturbance and just despair."

Page 128 V's Mary: "From a human point of view I should have expected to be stoned to death, but I was not afraid because of that. I was suffering because of Joseph's pain. Neither was I upset by the thought that he might accuse Me. I was only sorry and afraid that he might be lacking in charity if he should insist in his accusation. That is why all My blood rushed to My heart when I saw him. It was the moment when even a just man might have offended Justice by offending charity. I would have been extremely upset if a just man were to commit an error since he never erred."

Page 133 V's Mary: "No event can happen unless God allows it. Are you powerful? You became so because God permitted it. Are you a subject? You are such, because God permitted it. Endeavour, therefore, powerful one, not to turn your power to your detriment."

Page 141 V's Mary: "Take Him, Joseph, and hold Him while I look for the linens."

Valtorta's dream: Joseph, blushing almost purple, stretches his arms out and takes the Baby, Who is screaming because of the cold.

Page 151 Valtorta's dream: I can see a beautiful young woman and a man bending over a manger and I can hear a baby crying, and the woman is speaking to Him in a voice.. . oh! what a voice!

V's Mary: "Jesus, little one! Jesus, love of Your Mummy! Don't cry, little Son. Oh if I could only say to You: 'Take some milk, little one', but I have not got any yet."

Page 154 V's Jesus: "You are very tired, but have a little more patience. It is the eve of Corpus Christi. I could speak to you about the Eucharist and the saints who became apostles of Its cult, as I spoke to you of saints who were apostles of the Sacred Heart. I want to speak to you of of a class of worshippers of My Body who are the forerunners of Its cult. That is the shepherds."

Page 157 V's Zachary: "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."

V's dream: Mary looks at Joseph, and Joseph looks at Mary. Above the head of the Child, sleeping unaware of it all, there is a silent exchange of questions. They are questions full of sadness. Mary is thinking of Her little house, Joseph is concerned about his work.

Page 158 V's Mary: "I know you understand. But you will see Me crying more bitterly. For the time being, I want to relieve your spirit by showing you Joseph's holiness. He was a man, that is, he had no other help for his spirit, except his holiness. I had all the gifts of God, in My condition of Immaculate. I did not know I was such.

"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."

Page 161 Valtorta's dream: At first they turn their steps toward an arcade where the merchants arc, to whom Jesus later will give a good lashing: vendors of lambs, doves, and money-changers. Joseph buys two white pigeons. He does not change any money: he obviously has what is required. They then make for a side door, with eight steps, as all the doors seem to have, because the centre of the Temple is raised above the surrounding ground.

Comment: Valtorta is writing the story she "sees" but also writes about events that happen much later: "Jesus will give a good lashing". "They then make for a side door". This reminds me of Veronica Leuken of Bayside. The choice of words are poor; the manner of expressing herself is poor; the grammar is very poor.
Page 162 Simeon, whom I always thought belonged to the sacerdotal class, and is instead a simple believer, at least according to his garments, takes the Child and kisses Him. Jesus smiles at him with the typical smile of sucklings.

Comment: Valtorta: "Mary is thinking of Her little house, Joseph is concerned about his work." Since Valtorta knows what Mary is thinking, could she not know that Simeon is highpriest, regardless of his clothing. How would Valtorta determine if Priests, Sisters, or Brothers, today?
Page 163 V's Jesus: "The Spirit of God can thunder if It wants, and rouse like a thunderbolt and shake like an earthquake the dullest spirit. It can, but generally, as It is an orderly Spirit, as God is Order in each Person and way of acting. It inspires and speaks not where there is sufficient merit to deserve its effusion - in which case Its effusions would be most rare and not even you would know their light - but where It sees the 'good will' to deserve such effusion."

Page 165 y's Jesus: "Remember: the Father, after punishing men with the Deluge, said to Patriarch: 'Never again will I curse the earth because of man, because his heart contrives evil from his infancy. Never again will I strike down every living thing as I have done."

Comment: That we poor mortals are on earth, proves that Valtorta's source is incorrect: "Never again will I strike down every living thing as I have done." Noah and animals were preserved!
Page 166 Valtorta's dream: The Child was about to fall asleep. He seemed a little restless, as if He had teething trouble, or some other minor pain of childhood. V's Mary: "All the sparkling angels - that in Heaven be. Form a wreath around You, innocent Child, enraptured by Your face. You're crying for Your Mummy - Mummy, Mummy, Mum. To sing Your lullaby - lulla, lulla, lu. Sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, cry no more. The sky will soon be red - and dawn will soon be back. Mummy had no rest - to ensure You do not cry. "Mamma" when awake You'll call Me - 'Son' I will reply. A kiss of love and life - I'll give you with My breast. Sleep, sleep, sleep. Cry no more. You do need Your mummy - also if You dream of Heaven. . . ."

Comment: Do you suggest that the translation is not in accordance with the original Italian? Page 169 Valtorta describes the star of Bethlehem, leading the wise men: A star of such unusual size that the moon seems small in comparison, is moving forward in the sky of Bethlehem. . . . The prevailing colour is the one emanating from the globe of the star; the heavenly pale sapphire hue which comes down and makes the houses, the streets, the ground of Bethlehem, the Savior's cradle, look like blue silver. It is no longer the poor town, which by our standards is smaller than a country village. It is a fantastic town of a fairy tale, all in silver. The water of the fountains and of the vessels is liquid diamond.
Page 170 Valtorta: One of the servants is carrying an inlaid coffer, the metal reinforcements of which are all engraved gold; the second servant is holding a beautifully wrought chalice covered with a pure gold lid which is even more finely finished; the third servant has a kind of wide tow amphora, [an ancient Greek jar or vase with a large oval body, narrow cylindrical neck, and two handles that rise almost to the level of the mouth] also in gold, the cover of which is shaped like a pyramid at the top of which there is a diamond. The gifts appear to be heavy, because the servants are carrying them with some effort, particularly the one with the coffer.



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