The Gospel as Revealed to Me - Maria Valtorta

Well, you know we all have our relationships with our God, which also include our mentors in the faith that God puts in our life. Some personal companions and others through holy writings. What is important is to note, that many mystical writings, many alleged messengers are not going to be "approved" by the church, because this is not what the church does. The church does not govern our spiritual discernment on every point and turn. God gave all of us his Holy Spirit and the gifts and the fruits of his Spirit in order to deepen and direct our journey and not two people are given the same gifts and blessings along the way, many times, because of own doings. Some seem to not accept this. Some feel they are the arbiters and judge of what is good/holy and what is not. Most of the canonized saints were victims of things they did and taught as being wrong, even ones who later were vindicated, such as all those who laughed and mocked St. Bernadette, as she dug in the mud, put it on her face as she was told to dig dirt. They all left and then God raised up the holy water of Lourdes where she was obedient. Same for the children at Fatima who were mocked and ridiculed for what they were doing and saying that wasn't "approved" by the church. So, it is today. Some believe what others cannot. So nothing is new under the sun. Some have been given the grace to believe in what other will reject. One day we will all be judged and know what faith we have accepted as a child and what we have ridiculed that was of God's plan. Maria Valtorta is under the same scrutiny now that many others throughout history have been. Be at peace.

 

This is a young priest speaking about the place that M. V. reading takes in his spiritual journey.
The video is in French with English subtitles -very easy to follow.



In the video that I posted earlier, the same young priest, Fr. Benjamin, responds to the question:
What passages of "The Gospel as Revealed to Me" have touched you most.

 

Absolutely and completely disagree.
We're grown adults here. When someone recommends a movie; I know fairly soon into it whether its appropriate or not. Same applies to a book.
I bought it. And whilst the translation is cumbersome, i find it an exhilarating read.
Plus, the woman may well be a mystic. Saints and holy people appear to have recommended her.
Good God, give it a scan at least...

 

It is interesting that you fail to address any of the concerns. Also interesting that you try to equate those who object to the poem to those who objected to Lourdes and Fatima. I'm really not sure who you think those people are on this board (those who object to Fatima and Lourdes); and I'm equally unsure what issues the objectors had about those two apparitions that contradicted Church teaching. You do realize that the the Immaculate Conception was solid Church doctrine - despite not being declared dogma at the time yet - right? And you do realize that it was the communists and those who sought to appease them/get along that were against Fatima, right?

Can you list any doctrinal objections anybody had/has about either? Can you please list any Vatican intervention against either and the grounds for it?

The answer my friend should tell you all you need to know about trying to use these approved apparitions as a "type" of these unapproved - even condemned - writings.

I also find it quite fascinating the argument that you, and posters like you, keep raising: That those opposed to unapproved apparitions are working against God. Fascinating for the following reasons:

1) You take it upon yourself to be the judge of authenticity. Even in this instance where there has been many official condemnations against the supernatural character of the work.

2) How very protestant of you. Stating that we all have the Holy Spirit and His gifts (while true), you go on to shockingly state that the Church "does not approve" mystical writings/apparitions - which is bizarre at best (and actually flat out wrong):

CCC

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p1s1c2a1.htm

67 Throughout the ages, there have been so-called "private" revelations, some of which have been recognized by the authority of the Church. They do not belong, however, to the deposit of faith. It is not their role to improve or complete Christ's definitive Revelation, but to help live more fully by it in a certain period of history. Guided by the Magisterium of the Church, the sensus fidelium knows how to discern and welcome in these revelations whatever constitutes an authentic call of Christ or his saints to the Church.


3) You don't seem to mention the very obvious possibility of the alternative - that you my friend are promoting works/messages that are against God.

This is such a clear case of false teachings that all but the most blind of Catholic will follow along.

You have failed to show a) where the moral authority of the index was lifted (it wasn't), b) how the objectionable material fits with the faith (hint: it doesn't), and how the promoters of the book actually comply with the official decision of the Church and make it known that the work CANNOT be considered supernatural (again they don't, classic case of disobedience for the promoters).

Given the above, all faithful Catholics who actually want to further develop their faith should look elsewhere - for the Church has a great treasure of material and devotions which has both a) been approved and b) bore much good fruit..

 

Thank you, Frodo. You can always say exactly what I feel about these situations, but I am unable to put it into clear-cut words.

 

Are you saying you are more holy and smarter on the subject than two of our holiest saints, St. Pope John Paul II and Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta who both, according to their closest confidants, had the books as their bedside reading? Sometime one only has to acknowledge that great saints did something and it should be enough for anyone else. I don't buy into hype, I look to what the saints lived as they surely are the great saints of our lifetime and that is good enough for me. Be at peace with it Frodo. You can have your opinion as well, even it if is contrary to great saints.

 

I just did a quick google search to refresh myself. This book was on the Church's list of banned books until VII when the list was done away with. A point made was that even the title is wrong: ' man god' instead of 'god man'. Also, there seem to be salubrious passages such as Jesus kissing St. John while he was half naked on a bed and St. John becoming ardent with love etc etc. There is also a bit where Jesus teases Peter about attempting to spoil Our Lady's virtue by plotting to be alone with her. The passage about the serpent licking Eve's eyes and all over her body and getting her excited does not sit well with me and also Our Lady asking St. Anne and saying she should maybe sin as she would like God to save her is not theologically correct. There would seem to be many such theological errors.
It was obviously not put on a list of banned books for nothing.

 

This was my original point. Thank you for backing it up with examples. It can’t be holy.