"When our Enemy tries to bother you too much, say, 'Hail Mary, Mother of Jesus, I entrust myself to you'... The echo of the name of Mary sets him to flight..."

(Notebooks 1943, p. 87)

(A reader from New Zealand writes:)

"I wonder to whom Our Lord is referring, in the (mostly) latter half of Notebooks 1943?... There are serious and severe warnings and　rebukes to the reader.

"You could say "If the cap fits, wear it!".　But since "the heart is deceitful above all things",　according to the Scriptures, sometimes we can be confused as to what refers to ourselves.　Some people may be so in dread of being bad that it could play on the mind.

"One of the reasons I have these questions is that people so wicked, to whom He appears to be talking, would not be likely to read the 1943 Notebooks.　Therefore it must surely be 'us'..."

[Four years ago I was asked if there was anywhere in The Poem where Jesus laughs. I found a number of references, the best example being in Volume 2, pages 551-2:]

In the house at Cana the rejoicing for Jesus' arrival is little less than it was at the miraculous wedding... but love excels everything and it is given in the right form and measure... Purity and peace flow from Jesus’ eyes, wisdom from His lips, and love from His heart.,. The same place, which before Jesus' coming was an ordinary place... is ennobled as soon as He appears there...

Jesus is never sullen, not even when He is more disgusted with something that has happened, but He is always majestically dignified and communicates such supernatural dignity to the place in which He moves.

Jesus is never a jolly fellow or a complainer laughing coarsely or looking hypochondriac, not even in the moments of greatest delight or deepest depression. His smile is inimitable. No painter will ever be able to reproduce it. It is like a light emanating from His heart, a bright light in the hours of greatest joy because a soul has been redeemed or approaches Perfection. I would say it is a rosy smile, when He approves of the spontaneous deeds of His friends or disciples and enjoys their company; a blue angelical smile, to remain in the field of hues, when He bends over children to listen to them, teach them and then bless them; a smile mitigated by piety when He looks at the miseries of the flesh or the spirit; finally a divine smile, when He speaks of His Father or Mother, or looks at or listens to His Most Pure Mother.

I have never seen Him hypochondriac, not even in the hours of bitter torment. During the torture of being betrayed, during the anguish when He sweated blood, and in the spasm of His passion, if melancholy overwhelmed the sweet refulgence of His smile, it was not sufficient to cancel the peace, which is like a diadem shining with heavenly gems on His smooth forehead and enlightening His divine person. Neither have I ever seen Him indulge in immoderate merriment. He is not averse to a hearty laugh, when the case demands it, but He immediately resumes His noble serenity. But when He laughs, He prodigiously looks younger, to the extent of looking like a twenty-year-old man, and the world seems to blossom through His lovely, hearty, loud, melodious laughter. Neither can I say that I have seen Him do things hurriedly. Whether He moves or speaks, He does so calmly, without, however, being sluggish or listless. It is probably because, tall as He is, He can stride, without running, to go a long way. And He can likewise reach at distant things without having to stand up to do so. Even the way He moves is certainly gentlemanly and majestic.

And what about His voice? Well: I have heard Him speak for almost two years, and yet at times I lose the thread of His speech as I become so engrossed in studying His voice. And Jesus, very kindly and patiently, repeats what He said and He looks at me with His smile of the good Master, to ensure that nothing is missing in His dictation because of my delight in enjoying and listening to His voice and studying its tone and charm. But after two years I am not in a position to say precisely what the tone is. I definitely exclude the bass tone and also the light tenor tone. But I am always doubtful whether it is a powerful tenor voice or a perfect baritone voice with a very wide vocal range. I would say that it is the latter because His voice at times takes bronze-like notes, mellow and so deep, particularly when He speaks to a sinner to lead him back to Grace, or when He points out human deviations to crowds. But when He analyses or condemns forbidden things or He shows the hypocrisy of men, the bronze notes of His voice become clearer; they are as sharp as the peal of thunder when He imposes the Truth or His will; and they vibrate like a sheet of gold struck with a crystal hammer when He sings the praises of Mercy or exalts the work of God. But the timbre of His voice is a most loving one when He speaks to or about His Mother - Jesus' voice is then really imbued with love: the reverent love of a son, and the love of God Who praises His most perfect work. And He uses the same tone, although not so strongly, when speaking to His favourites, to converts and to children. And His voice never tires, not even in very long speeches, because it colours and completes His thoughts and words, emphasising their power or kindness, according to the case.

At times I remain still, with the pen in my hand, listening, and I then realise that He has gone too far ahead, and that it is impossible to catch up with Him… I remain still, and Jesus kindly repeats the words...

Likening her life to a glass of medicine, beautiful to behold but bitter to taste, [Saint Thérèse said] that this bitterness has not made her life sad, because she had learned to find joy and sweetness in bitter things.

"It has come to this," she said, "that I can no longer suffer, because all suffering is sweet."

[The Story of a Soul, (Epilogue), p. 211]

"Always walk on the banks of the great river of Grace. In that way you will always be able to obtain Grace, under the sun of Charity, on the green fields of Hope, tirelessly picking the white flowers of Faith to make yourself immortal crowns with them.

"It is I Who have given My saints the Wisdom of which I am the absolute possessor. It is I Who speak to My beloved so they will disseminate My Wisdom among men. It is I Who, with gratitude, bless My chosen ones who have consumed themselves to be bearers of My Wisdom. It is I Who rewards them, for love for Wisdom is love for God, since there cannot be knowledge of Wisdom and rebellion against God. Those who love Wisdom, love its source: they love God. Those who love God, conquer the reward.

"You, then, that always aspire to glory, aspire to this true, eternal glory. Let earthly scepters and celebrity fall, and aim at conquering the renown and the immortal crown of blessed holiness. Strive to merit Wisdom, and, beginning on earth, you shall possess all. For you shall possess God, Who shall speak in you, guide you, console you, elevate you, and make you My friends and prophets of the Most High. You shall then understand, speak, and see, not with your organs and your capacities, but with the sight and mind of Him Who is in you as the Holy of Holies in His living tabernacle.

"You, O My dear brothers and sisters, shall be as was My Mother when She bore Me in Her womb and I communicated to Her My movements of love. Mary is the most precious and chaste veil for the Living, Wise, and Holy One, already infused with Wisdom because of Her superangelical purity. She was one with Wisdom when Love made Her the Mother of incarnate Wisdom. Nor are you less when, with Me-as-Eucharist in your hearts, and with your hearts wanting to live by God - this is the essential condition - you become one with Me. And you are able to remain in Me even after the Species are consumed, with your worshipping love.

Malachi 3:3 says: "...He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver..." This puzzled some women in a Bible study group, and one of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and report back.

She found a silversmith, who explained that one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest. He has to keep his eyes on the silver the whole time it is in the fire.

The woman asked. "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He answered with a smile, "Oh, that’s easy – when I can see my image in it."

(The Messenger of the Two Hearts, September 2006.)

(Carmiel DeSchutter, from St Clair MI, USA, sends in this testimony about The Poem of the Man-God which he gave to a group recently...)

...If you're like me - and I will assume some of you are - your first reaction after starting to read some parts and/or excerpts will be, "Ba, Humbug, I can't accept this, it's all a hoax!" Then if - and only if - you keep probing, things will start to click in. Then - and I personally believe this - as you read more, the Holy Spirit kicks in, and WOW!!

Needless to say, I've completely changed my mind. I've read the books several times, and each time I re-read them find something else that redirects my thinking and my life. For me it has given the Bible, Scripture and Theology a whole new dimension. Also I have purchased "A Pilgrim's Guide to Maria Valtorta's The Poem of the Man-God", which indexes The Poem to the Bible and vice-versa. It's a Scriptural Cross-Referencing guide that's phenomenal. It's a treasure I'm eager and want to share...

...In her Writings you can feel the exuberance and vibrance of Jesus as He walked this earth, as if you were one of the crowd gathered together listening to Him. It breathes life into the Gospels, giving you a panoramic view of the era in history in which Jesus actually lived... His environmental elements as He made His journey here on earth. When you find something so great and powerful you want to share it...

Personally I've signed up to be on the mailing list of a Readers’ Group in Australia. I recommend this Maria Valtorta's Readers Group, for information and knowledge....

You can listen to the audio track # 31 (28m 31s) of "WHY IS MARY CRYING?", which gives acceptance and testimonies on the writings.

The Poem does not conflict with the Bible in any way; it expands it, giving you what happened and transpired before and after the Gospel readings. However, the one big change is that it gives you the chronological order and how the sequence of events orchestrated the sermons and parables Jesus gave in the Bible...

I sincerely make this suggestion. When you read, undertake and contemplate any task or burden, ask Mary, Our Blessed Lady, the Mother of God and spouse of the Father, to intercede for you to her Son Jesus and the Father, for enlightenment and discernment. She knows the ways, thoughts and desires of her Son Jesus better than anybody could, so why not go to her? For Jesus never refuses His Mother, and the Father gives to the Son and hears all that His spouse intercedes for, as well.

...Last night I finished Volume 5 of The Poem, it was like saying goodbye to my best friend. My heart is broken. It was a wonderful adventure. Now I am starting the Notebooks.　But the words from The Poem are always in my mind, I cannot forget what I read, what my soul experienced was heavenly. Now all I wish I could do is crawl into some hidden cave and spend the rest of my life in prayer...

I only wish to make these works known to as many people as possible. It is sad to think that some people are still unaware of their existence.　 Sometimes one simple sentence can capture someone's heart....

CHRISTINA CASTAGNARO, Ancienne-Lorette QC, Canada.

I am reading Volume 2 of The Poem. I reluctantly fold the pages closed after each sequence,　and I breathe a sigh of pure peace. I sit and drink it in! I love each guided glimpse into the true character of Jesus and His followers, and I smile at recognising the familiar names　while discovering the unfamiliar. A glimpse is like a day!

ROSEMARIE LENNOX, North Dandenong, Vic.

I'm still reading The Poem every morning, nearing the end of Volume 5 again.　 No matter how many times, there is always something that strikes me as new.

BERNICE McKENNA, Riverside, Qld.

I'm reading The　Poem for a second time and am enwrapped with it, I love it so much more this time;　the Apostles, shepherds, women disciples are all my Saints in Heaven that I pray to, along with the Little Flower and Little John(!),　St. Joseph (my patron) ... everyone!!　and do　I love JESUS! MARY MCCARTHY, Tauranga, New Zealand

Thanks for the bulletins. The extract from St. Paul’s Letters about how God created the different grades of life, really enthralled me.

There is so much richness in these writings, that scientists should gather much critical data from studying them. Especially in the Creation/Evolution debate, the writings strike a fatal blow against the flimsy auto genesis theory.

PATRICK OWENS, Calgary AB, Canada.

Thank you. It's always such a privileged moment to receive the latest Bulletins

　GUY LEMICHEL, Lakarnal, France.

These "Valtorta newsletters" satisfy our souls!　 The Holy Spirit knows how much we need these writings, and He wants to nourish us with His Word, may HIs Name be blessed forever! HILDA CABRERA, Burbank CA, USA.

Have sooo much been enjoying the nine [various] booklets ordered around December. They are superb recapitulations, especially appreciated because I don't own copies of the Notebooks or Azariah... [There are] always two in my purse for waiting anywhere - how many around the world have them ??　

Was particularly glad to read in the Priests of Jesus booklet several testimonies from priests.　Here in Santiago　Chile neither my son nor I know a priest who is familiar with the Valtorta books, so we are most heartened to read that there may be many in the world who love, use and depend on them...

The "Sunday Gospels" audios are such a gift, such an incalculable blessing. I am so grateful. And I marvel at the even, measured　voices. Even while assuming so many varied personalities, the wording-phrasing must not be the easiest, yet the flow is perfect. I love lying quietly and listening. How many have the Sunday Gospels, David ? In how many countries ? MIMI KINTNER, Santiago, Chile.

I have been studying these Sunday Gospels week by week and I am finding more depth each time I read and contemplate on them. [The audios] surely magnify the Gospels. The additional details sometimes give a new perspective to the readings, and clarify some of the passages where the meaning is not clear.

MARIE FITZGERALD, Cape Tribulation, Qld.

Frank is almost finished reading "The Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ" and will be going right into "Mary, Mother of the Redeemer and the Church".

On the other hand, I could not put down the Rosary booklet. What a blessing to receive the rose petal and information about it. This is the first we have heard of this.

SONIA & FRANK KORDEWINER, Vancouver, Canada.

Another great labor of love which the Lord will surely bless abundantly. Looks like an excellent topical and scriptural guide for homilists and Valtorta readers... along with the well-chosen excerpts from her various other writings.

I have been delegated by our bishop to be the diocesan delegate for the "Daisy" movement, that creates spiritual families for each priest of the diocese.

7 persons will offer a prayer each day of the week for their priest. In return, the priest prays for his spiritual family. The movement was created about 40 years ago, but had been inactive in the diocese for the past 10 years.

ADELE PLAMONDON, Pierrefonds QC, Canada.

Please pray for the souls of: