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47. 1 47. 2hands into the heart of the faithful son, with a blessing that ca­ resses his soul. One must be determined to defeat Satan, and have faith in God, and in His help. Faith in the power of prayer, and in the Lord's bounty. Then Satan can do no harm. Go in peace. This evening I will gladden you with the remain­ der. » 47. The meeting with John and James. 25th February 1944. 1I see Jesus walking along the green strip of vegetation that borders the Jordan. He has gone back to the same place where He was baptised. He is near the ford that apparently was well known and commonly used to cross to the other bank towards Perea. But the place, which was so crowded before, is now de­ serted. There are only a few travellers going on foot, or riding donkeys or horses. Jesus does not seem to be aware of them. He proceeds along His way, northwards, absorbed in His thoughts. When He reach­ es the ford, He meets a group of men of different ages, who are discussing animatedly, and then they part, some southwards, some northwards. Amongst those going northwards, I see John and James. 2John is the first to see Jesus, and he points Him out to his brother and companions. They talk a little amongst themselves, and then John starts walking quickly to reach Jesus. James follows him, walking a little slower. The others do not show any interest. They walk slowly while discussing. When John is near Jesus, about two or three metres behind Him, he shouts : «Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world! » Jesus turns around and looks at him. There are now only a few steps between them. They look at each other : Jesus with His serious, scrutinising look, John with his pure eyes smiling in his beautiful, youthful face, that looks like the face of a girl. He is about twenty years old, and on his rosy cheeks there is only the sign of a blond down, like a golden veil. 304

«Whom are you looking for? » asks Jesus. «For You, Master. » «How do you know I am a Master? » «The Baptist told me. » «Well then, why do you call Me Lamb? » «Because I heard him call You so one day, when You were passing by, just over a month ago. » «What do you want from Me? » «I want You to tell us words of eternal life and to comfort us. » «But who are you? » «I am John of Zebedee, and this is James, my brother. We are from Galilee, and we are fishermen. But we are also disciples of John. He spoke words of life to us and we listened to him, be­ cause we want to follow God and deserve His forgiveness doing penance and thus prepare our hearts for the coming of the Mes­ siah. You are the Messiah. John said so, because he saw the sign of the Dove descending on You. He said to us: “Here is the Lamb of God”. I say to you: Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world, give us peace, because we no longer have anyone who may guide us, and our souls are upset. » «Where is John? » «Herod has taken him. He is in prison, at Machaerus. The most faithful amongst his disciples have tried to free him. But it is not possible. We are coming from there. 3Let us come with You, Master. Show us where You live. » «Come. But do you know what you are asking for? He who follows Me will have to leave everything: his home, his relatives, his way of thinking, also his life. I will make you My disciples and My friends, if you wish so. But I have neither wealth nor protection. I am poor, and I shall be even poorer, to the extent of not having a place where I may rest My head and I will be per­ secuted by My enemies, even more than a lost sheep is pursued by wolves. My doctrine is even more rigid than John's, because it forbids also resentment. And My doctrine is concerned not so much with external matters, as it is with the soul. You must be re-born if you want to be My disciples. Are you willing to do that? » «Yes, Master. Only You have words that can give us light. They descend upon us, and where there was darkness and desolation47. 3 305

47. 4 47. 5because we had no guide, they shed light and sunshine. » «Come, then. Let us go. I will teach you on our way. » 4Jesus says: «The crowd that met Me was a large one. But only one rec­ ognised Me. He, whose soul, mind and flesh were pure and free from all lewdness. I insist on the value of purity. Chastity is always the source of clear ideas. Virginity refines and then preserves intellectual and emotional sensitiveness, elevating it to such a perfection that on­ ly a virgin can experience. 5There are many ways of being a virgin. By compulsion, and this applies particularly to women, when no one ever proposed to them. The same should apply to men. But it does not. And that is bad, because only heads of families, with unhealthy minds and often diseased bodies, can be born of youth soiled with lust be­ fore time. There is wanted virginity, that is the virginity of those who consecrate themselves to the Lord with the ardour of their souls. A beautiful virginity! A sacrifice pleasing to God! But they do not all persist in their purity like lilies which stand upright on their stalks, looking towards Heaven, unaware of the mud on the ground, open to the kisses of God's sun and His dews. Many are faithful only in a material way. But they are un­ faithful in their thoughts, which regret and wish for what they sacrificed. They are virgins only by half. If their flesh is intact, their hearts are not. Their hearts ferment, boil, exhale fumes of sensuality, the more refined and reproved, the more it is the in­ vention of a mind that caresses, nourishes and continually en­ larges the images of satisfactions, illicit even for those who are free, more than illicit for those consecrated to God. Then you have the hypocrisy of the vow. Its appearance is there, its essence is not. And I tell you that between those who come to Me with their lilies broken by the brutality of a tyrant, and those who come with their lilies materially intact, but cov­ ered with the slaver of a sensuality they have caressed and culti­ vated to fill their hours of solitude, I will call “virgins” the for­ mer, and “non virgins” the latter. I will give the former the crown of virgins and a double crown of martyrs, because of their flesh 306

which has been wounded and of their hearts which have been ul­ cerated by a mutilation they did not want. 6The value of purity is such that, as you have seen, the first thing Satan was anxious about, was to deceive Me about impu­ rity. He Knows very well that sensual sins dismantle the soul and make it an easy prey to other sins. Satan's efforts aimed at this capital point, in order to defeat Me. Bread, hunger, are the material forms for the allegory of ap­ petite, of the appetites that Satan takes advantage of for his own purpose. The food he offered Me to make Me fall intoxicated at his feet is quite a different thing! Greed would have followed, then avarice, power, idolatry, blasphemy and the abjuration of the divine Law. But that was the first step to catch Me. Exactly as he did to injure Adam. 7The world sneers at pure people. Those who are guilty of lewdness strike them. John the Baptist is the victim of the lust of an obscene couple. But if there is still some light in the world, this is due to the pure of the world. They are the servants of God, they understand God and repeat God's words. I said*: “Happy the pure in heart, they shall see God”. Also in this world: since the fumes of sensuality do not perturb their hearts, they “see” God, they hear Him, they follow Him and they show Him to other people. 8John of Zebedee is a pure soul. He is the Pure One amongst My disciples. A soul as beautiful as a flower in an angelical body! He calls Me with the words of his first master and asks Me to give him peace. But he already has peace in his heart because of his purity, and I loved him because of his purity, to which I entrusted My teachings, My secrets, and the most dear Creature I had. He was My first disciple, who loved Me from the very first in­ stant he saw Me. His soul had melted with Mine from the day he saw Me passing near the Jordan and he saw the Baptist point­ ing to Me. Even if he had not found Me later, when I came back from the desert, he would have looked for Me until he found Me, because who is pure, is humble and anxious to be taught in the science of God, and like the water that flows to the sea, he goes towards those he knows to be masters in the celestial doctrine. » * I said: Matthew 5: 8 (170. 5. 11). 47. 6 47. 7 47. 8 307

47. 9 47. 109Jesus also says: «I did not want you to speak about the sensual temptation of your Jesus. Even if your internal voice had made you understand Satan's motive in attracting Me towards sensuality, I preferred to speak of it Myself. Think no more about it. It was necessary to mention it. Go on now. Leave Satan's flower on its sands. Follow Jesus as John did. You will be walking among thorns, but as ros­ es you will find the drops of blood of Him Who shed them for you, to defeat the flesh in you too. 10I will forestall a remark as well. In his Gospel, John men­ tioning his meeting with Me says*: “And the following day”. It would therefore appear that the Baptist pointed Me out the day after My baptism and that John and James followed Me at once. But that conflicts with what the other Evangelists said about the forty days spent in the desert. But you should read as follows: “(John having already been arrested), one day, later, the two dis­ ciples of John the Baptist, the ones to whom he had pointed Me out saying: 'Here is the Lamb of God', on seeing Me again, called Me and followed Me”. After I had come back from the desert. And we went back together to the shores of the lake of Galilee, where I had taken shelter to begin evangelising from there, and the two-after being with Me during the whole journey and then for one day in the hospitable house of a friend of My relatives- spoke of Me to the other fishermen. But it was the initiative of John, whose will to do penance had made his soul, already so limpid owing to his purity, a masterpiece of pellucidity in which the Truth was clearly reflected, bestowing on him also the holy daring of the pure and generous, who are never afraid of step­ ping forward, wherever they see that there is God, and truth and doctrine and the way of God. How much I loved him for that sim­ ple, heroical feature of his! » * says; John 1: 35. 308

48. John and James tell Peter of their meeting with the Messiah. 12th October 1944. 1A most clear dawn over the Lake of Galilee. The sky and the water sparkle with rosy flashes, not very different from the mild ones shining on the walls of the little orchards of the lake-vil­ lage, where fruit-trees, with their unkempt, luxuriant foliage, seem to rise from the orchards and peep at the little lanes, bend­ ing over them. The village is beginning to awaken: women start going to the fountain or to the washing place, while fishermen unload the baskets of fish, or haggle over prices, in very loud voices, with merchants who have come from other villages, while others car­ ry the fish to their houses. I call it a village, though not a small one. It is a rather modest place, at least what I see of it, but it is quite large and spreads mostly along the lake. 2John comes out of a little street and goes quickly towards the lake. James follows him, but much more calmly. John looks at the boats that are already on the shore, but cannot see the one he is looking for. He sees it while it is still about one hundred yards from the beach, manoeuvring to enter the harbour, and hold­ ing his hands at the sides of his mouth, he shouts at the top of his voice, a long «Oh-e! », which must be their usual call. When he sees that they have heard him, he gesticulates with both his arms, obviously meaning: «Come, come. » The men in the boat, not knowing what is the matter, lay on the oars and the boat moves faster than it did with the sail, which they have struck, probably to gain time. When they are about ten metres from the shore, John does not wait any longer. He takes off his mantle and his long tunic, and throws them on the shore, takes off his sandals, lifts his undertunic and holds it with one hand almost against his groin, then goes into the water to meet the boat arriving. «Why did you two not come? » asks Andrew. Peter, sulkily, does not say a word. «And why did you not come with me and James? » John replies to Andrew. 48. 1 48. 2 309

48. 3 48. 4«I went fishing. I have no time to waste. You disappeared with that man... » «I beckoned you to come. 3It is Him. You should hear His words! We stayed with Him all day until late at night. We have now come to say to you: “Come”. » «Is it really Him? Are you sure? We only saw Him then, when the Baptist pointed Him out to us. » «It is Him. He did not deny it. » «Anyone can say what suits him to impose himself on idiots. It is not the first time... » mumbles Peter, dissatisfied. «Oh, Simon! Don't say that! He is the Messiah! He knows eve­ rything! He hears you! » John is grieved and dismayed at Simon Peter's words. «Sure! The Messiah! And He showed Himself to you, James and Andrew! Three poor ignorant fishermen! The Messiah will need much more than that! And He hears me! Eh! My poor boy. The first sunshine of spring has damaged your brains! Come on, come and do some work. That's much better. And forget such fairytales! » «I'm telling you. He is the Messiah! John said holy things, but He speaks of God. He who is not Christ cannot speak such words. » 4«Simon, I am not a boy. I am old enough and I am composed and thoughtful. You know that. I did not speak much, but I lis­ tened a lot during the hours we spent with the Lamb of God and I can tell you that really He can but be the Messiah! Why don't you believe? Why do you not want to believe? You may not believe, because you have not heard Him. But I believe Him. We are poor and ignorant? Well, He says that He has come to announce the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, of the Kingdom of peace, to the poor, humble and little ones before the great ones. He said: “The great ones already have their delights. They are not enviable de­ lights when compared with the ones I have come to bring you. The great ones are already capable of understanding by means of their culture. But I have come to the 'little' ones of Israel and of the world, to those who weep and hope, to those who seek Light and are hungry for the real Manna, to whom learned men do not give light and food, but only burdens, darkness, chains, con­ tempt. And I call the 'little ones'. I have come to turn the world 310

upside down. Because I will lower what is now held high, and I will raise what is now held in contempt. Let those who want truth and peace, who want eternal life, come to Me. Those who love Light, let them come to Me. I am the Light of the world”. Did He not say that, John? » James has spoken in a calm, gentle voice. «Yes, and He said: “The world will not love Me. The great world will not love Me, because it is corrupted by vices and idola­ try. Indeed, the world will not want Me: because as it is the off­ spring of Darkness, it does not love the Light. But the earth is not made only of the great world. There are on it also those who, mixed with the world, are not of the world. There are people who are of the world because they have been imprisoned in it, like fish in a net”. He said exactly that, because we were speaking on the shore of the lake and He was pointing to some nets which were being dragged to the shore with fish in them. In fact, He said: “See. None of those fish wanted to be caught in the net. Also men, intentionally, would not like to fall prey to Mammon. Not even the most wicked who, blinded by pride, do not believe they have no right to do what they do. Their real sin is pride. All the other sins grow from it. Those who are not completely wicked, would like even less to fall prey to Mammon. But they fall because of their frivolity and because of a weight that drags them to the bot­ tom, and which is Adam's sin. I have come to remove that sin, and while awaiting the hour of Redemption, to give those who believe in Me such a strength that will enable them to free themselves from the snares that trap them and will make them free to follow Me, the Light of the world”. » 5«Well then, if He said that, we must go to Him at once. » Peter, 48. 5 with his impulsiveness, which is so genuine and I like so much, has decided at once, and is already acting accordingly, hastening to unload the boat which has already reached the shore: the fish­ ermen have almost beached it, unloading nets, ropes and sails. «And you, silly Andrew, why did you not go with them?!... » «But... Simon! You reproached me because I did not persuade them to come with me... You have been grumbling all night, and now you reproach me because I did not go?! » «You are right... But I did not see Him... you did... and you must have seen that He is not like us... He must have something compelling!... » 311

48. 6 48. 7«Oh! Yes. » John says. «His face! His eyes! What beautiful eyes, aren't they, James?! And His voice!... Oh! What a voice! When He speaks, you seem to be dreaming of Heaven. » «Quick, quick. Let's go and see Him. And you, (addressing the other fishermen) take everything to Zebedee and tell him to do as he thinks best. We will be back this evening in time to go fish­ ing. » 6They all get dressed and set out. But Peter, after a few yards stops and gets hold of John's arm and asks him. «Did you say that He knows everything, and hears everything?... » «Yes, I did. Just think that when we saw the moon high up in the sky, I said: “I wonder what Simon will be doing now”, and He said: “He is casting his net and he cannot set his mind at rest be­ cause he has to do it all by himself, since you did not go out with the twin boat in such a good evening for fishing... he does not know that before long he will be fishing with different nets and catching different fish”. » «Holy Mercy! It's true! Well, He will also have heard... also that I called Him little less than a liar... I can't go to Him! » «Oh! He is so good. He certainly knows what you thought. He already knew. Because when we left Him saying that we were coming to you, He said: “Go. But don't let the first words of con­ tempt discourage you. He who wants to come with Me must be able to make headway against the sneering words of the world and the prohibitions of relatives. Because I am above blood and society, and I triumph over them. And he who is with Me will also triumph forever”. And He also said: “Don't be afraid to speak. The man who hears will come, because he is a man of goodwill”. » «Is that what He said? Well, I'll come. 7Speak, speak of Him, while we are going. Where is He? » «In a poor house; they must be His friends» «Is He poor? » «A workman from Nazareth. So He said. » «And how does He live now, if He does not work any longer? » «We did not ask Him. Perhaps His relatives help Him. » «It would have been better if we had brought some fish, some bread and fruit..., something. We are going to consult a rabbi, be­ cause He is like... He is more than a rabbi, and we are going emp­ ty-handed! Our rabbis don't like that... » 312

«But He does. We had but twenty pennies between us, James and I, and we offered Him them, as is customary with rabbis. He did not want them. But since we insisted so much, He said: “May God reward you with the blessings of the poor. Come with Me” and He gave them to some poor people: He knew where they lived. And when we asked Him: “Master, are You not keeping anything for Yourself? ” He replied: “The joy of doing the will of God and serving His glory”. We also said: “You are calling us, Master. But we are all poor. What shall we bring You? ”, He replied with a smile which made us enjoy the delights of Paradise: “I want a great treasure from you”, and we said: “But we have nothing”. And He answered: “A treasure with seven names, which even the poorest may have, while the rich may not possess it. You have it, and I want it. Listen to the names: charity, faith, goodwill, right intention, continence, sincerity, spirit of sacrifice. That is what I want from My followers, only that, and You have it. It is dor­ mant, like a seed under a winter clod, but the spring sunshine will make it sprout into a sevenfold spike”. That is what He said. » «Ah! Now I feel that He is the true Rabboni, the promised Messiah! He is not harsh with the poor, He does not ask for mon­ ey... It is enough to call Him the Holy Man of God. We can go safely. » And it all ends. 49. First meeting with Peter and Andrew after preaching in the synagogue. John of Zebedee is great even in his humility. 13th October 1944. [... ] 1At 2 p. m. I see the following: Jesus is coming along a little road, a path between two fields. He is alone. John is moving towards Him along a different path in the fields and he meets Him at last, going through an opening in a hedge. John, both in yesterday's vision and today's, is very young. His face is rosy and beardless, the fair complexion of a youth who can hardly be called a man. There are no signs of moustache or beard, 31349. 1

but only the smoothness of his rosy cheeks, his red lips, and his bright smile and pure look, not so much because of its deep tur­ quoise hue, but because of the limpidity of his virginal soul shin­ ing through his eyes. His blond-brown long soft hair undulates at each step while he walks almost as fast as if he were running. When he is about to pass through the hedge, he shouts: «Mas­ ter! » Jesus stops and turns around, smiling. «Master, I have longed so much for You! The people in the house where You live told me that You had come towards the country. But they did not say where. I was afraid I might not meet you. » While speaking, John has bent his head slightly, out of re­ spect. And yet, he is full of truthful love, both in his attitude and in his eyes, which he raises towards Jesus, while his head is still gently inclined towards his shoulder. «I saw you were looking for Me and I came towards you. » «You saw me? Where were You, Master? » «Over there» and Jesus points to a group of trees far away, which, by the colour of their foliage, I would say were olive-trees. «I was over there. I was praying, and thinking what to say this evening in the synagogue. But I came away as soon as I saw you. » «But how could You see me, if I can hardly see the place, hid­ den as it is behind that hedge? » «And yet, you see, here I am. I came to meet you because I saw you. What the eye does not do, love does. » «Yes, love does. 2You love me, therefore, Master? » «And do you love Me, John, son of Zebedee? » «So much, Master. I think I have always loved You. Before meeting You, long before my soul was looking for You, and when I saw You, my soul said to me: “Here is the One you are seeking”. I think I met You, because my soul perceived You. » «You said it, John, and what you say is right. I also came to­ wards you because My soul perceived you. For how long will you love Me? » «Forever, Master. I no longer want to love anybody but You. » «You have a father and a mother, brothers and sisters, you have your life, and with your life you have a woman and love. How will you be able to leave all that for My sake? » «Master... I do not know... but I think, if it is not pride to say 31449. 2

so, that Your fondness will take the place of father and mother, of brothers and sisters, and also of a woman. I will be compensated for everything, if You love me. » «And if My love should cause you sorrows and persecutions?» «They will be nothing, if You love me. » «And the day I should die... » «No! You are young, Master... Why die? » «Because the Messiah has come to preach the Law in its truth­ fulness and to accomplish Redemption. And the world loathes the Law and does not want redemption. Therefore they persecute God's messengers. » «Oh! Let that never be! Do not mention that prediction of death to him who loves You!... But if You should die, I would still love You. Allow me to love You. » John's look is an imploring one. He has bowed his head lower than ever, as he walks beside Jesus and seems to be begging for love. Jesus stops. He looks at him, scrutinises him with His deep, penetrating eyes, and then lays His hand on his bowed head. «I want you to love Me. » «Oh! Master! » John is happy. Although his eyes shine with tears, his well shaped young mouth smiles. He takes the divine hand, kisses it on its back, and presses it to his heart. 3They take to the road again. «You said you were looking for Me... » «Yes, to tell You that my friends want to meet You... and be­ cause, oh! how I was longing to be with You again! I left You only a few hours ago... but I could no longer be without You. » «Have you therefore been a good announcer of the Word? » «Also James, Master, spoke of You in such a way as... to con­ vince them. » «So that he too who had no confidence — and is not to be blamed because his reserve was due to prudence — is now con­ vinced. Let us go and give him full assurance. » «He was somewhat afraid... » «No! Not afraid of Me! I have come for good people and even more for those who stand in error. I want to save people, not to condemn them. I will be full of mercy with honest people. » «And with sinners? » «Also. By dishonest people I mean those who are spiritually49. 3 315

49. 4dishonest and hypocritically they feign to be good, whereas they do ill deeds. And they do such things and in such a way for their own profit and to secure an advantage over their neighbours. I will be severe with them. » «Oh! Simon, then, need not worry. He is as loyal as no one else. » «That is what I like, and I want you all to be so. » «Simon wants to tell You many things. » «I will listen to him after speaking in the synagogue. I asked them to inform the poor and sick people in addition to the rich and healthy ones. They are all in need of the Gospel. » 4They are near the village. Some children are playing in the road and one of them runs into Jesus' legs and would have fallen if He were not quick in getting hold of him. The child cries just the same, as if he had been hurt and Jesus, holding him in His arms, says: «An Israelite who is crying? What should the thou­ sands of children have done, who became men crossing the desert with Moses? And yet, the Most High Lord sent the sweet manna for them, rather than for the others, because He loves innocent children and looks after these little angels of the earth, these wingless little birds, just as He sees to the sparrows of woods and towns. Do you like honey? Yes? Well, if you are good, you will eat honey which is sweeter than the honey of your bees. » «Where? When? » «When, after a life of loyalty to God, you go to Him» «I know that I cannot go there unless the Messiah comes. My mother says that now, we in Israel, are like many Moses and we die seeing the Promised Land. She says that we are there, wait­ ing to go in, and that only the Messiah will make us go in. » «What a clever little Israelite! Well, I tell you that when you die, you will go to Paradise at once, because the Messiah will al­ ready have opened the gates of Heaven. But you must be good. » «Mummy! Mummy! » The child slides down from Jesus' arms and runs towards a young woman, who is entering her house holding a copper amphora. «Mummy! The new Rabbi told me that I will go to Paradise at once when I die and. I will eat so much honey.... If I am good. I will be good! » «God grant it! I am sorry, Master, if he troubled You. He is so lively! » 316

«Innocence does not trouble, woman. May God bless you, be­ cause you are a mother who is bringing her children up in the knowledge of the Law. » The woman blushes at being praised and replies: «May the blessing of the Lord be with You, too. » And she disappears with her little one. 5«Do You like children, Master» «Yes, I do, because they are pure... sincere... and affection­ ate. » «Have you any nephews, Master? » «I have but My Mother... In Her there is purity, sincerity, the love of the most holy children, together with wisdom, justice and the fortitude of adults. I have everything in My Mother, John. » «And You left Her? » «God is above also the holiest mother. » «Will I meet Her? » «Yes, you will. » «And will She love me? » «She will love you because She loves whoever loves Her Je­ sus. » «Then You have no brothers? » «I have some cousins on My Mother's husband's side. But eve­ ry man is My brother, and I have come for everybody. 6We are now at the synagogue. I am going in, and you will join Me with your friends. » John goes away, and Jesus goes into a square room with the usual display of triangular lamps and lecterns with rolls of parchment. There is already a crowd waiting and praying. Jesus also prays. The people whisper and make their comments behind Him, as He bows to the head of the synagogue, greeting him, and He asks for a roll at random. Jesus begins His lesson. He says: «The Spirit makes Me read the following things for you. At chapter seven of the book of Jeremiah, we read: “Yahweh Sabaoth, the God of Israel, says this: Amend your behaviour and your actions and I will stay with you here in this place. Put no trust in delusive words like these: This is the sanctuary of Yah­ weh, the sanctuary of Yahweh, the sanctuary of Yahweh! But if you do amend your behaviour and your actions, if you treat each49. 5 49. 6 317

other fairly, if you do not exploit the stranger, the orphan and the widow, if you do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow alien gods, to your own ruin, then here in this place I will stay with you, in the land that long ago I gave to your fa­ thers forever'”. Listen, Israel. Here I am to illuminate for you the words of light, which your dimmed souls can no longer see or understand. Listen. There is much weeping in the land of the People of God: old people cry remembering past glories, adults cry because they are bent under the yoke, children cry because they have no pros­ pects of future glory. But the glory of the earth is nothing com­ pared to a glory which no oppressor, except Mammon and ill will, can take away. Why are you crying? Because the Most High, Who was al­ ways good to His people, has now turned His face elsewhere and no longer allows His children to see His Countenance? Is He no longer the God Who parted the sea and made Israel cross it and led the people through the desert and nourished them, and de­ fended them from their enemies and, that they might not lose the way to Heaven, He gave a Law for their souls, as He had sent them a cloud for their bodies? Is He no longer the God that sweet­ ened the waters and sent manna to His worn out children? Is He not the God Who wanted you to settle in His land and made an alliance with you as Father with his children? Well, then, why has the foreigner struck you? Many amongst you mumble: “And yet the Temple is here!” It is not enough to have the Temple and to go and pray God in it. The first temple is in the heart of every man and that is where holy prayers should be said. But a prayer cannot be holy unless the heart first amends its way of living and with his heart man al­ so amends his habits, affections, the rules of justice towards the poor, servants, relatives and God. Now look. I see rich hard-hearted men who make rich offer­ ings to the Temple, but they never say to a poor man: “Broth­ er, here is a piece of bread and a penny. Take them. From man to man, and let not my help discourage you as my offering may not make me proud”. I see people who, in their prayers, complain to God because He does not hear their prayers promptly; then when a poor wretch, very often a relative, says to them: “Lis-318

ten to me”, they reply heartlessly: “No”. I see you crying because your money is squeezed out of your purses by your ruler. But then you squeeze blood out of those you hate and you are not filled with horror when you take the blood and life away from a body. O Israel! The time of Redemption has come. Prepare its ways in hearts with goodwill. Be honest, good, love one another. The rich must not despise the poor; merchants must not defraud; the poor must not envy the rich. You are all of one blood, and you belong to one God. You are all called to one destiny. Do not shut with your sins the Heavens that the Messiah will open for you. Have you erred so far? Err no longer. Abandon all errors. The Law is simple, easy and good as it goes back to the origi­ nal ten commandments, illuminated by the light of love. Come. I will show you which they are: love, love, love. God's love for you. Your love for God. Love for your neighbours. Always love, be­ cause God is love, and those are the Father's children who know how to live love. I am here for everybody, and to give everybody the light of God. Here is the Word of the Father that becomes food for you. Come, taste, change the blood of your spirits with this food. Let every poison vanish, let every lust die. A new glory is offered to you: the eternal one, to which all those will come whose hearts will truly study the Law of God. Start from love. There is nothing greater. When you know how to love, you will already know everything, and God will love you, God's love means help against all temptations. May the bless­ ing of God be on those who turn to God with their hearts full of goodwill. » Jesus is silent. The people whisper. The meeting breaks up af­ ter some hymns, many of which are sung like psalms. 7Jesus goes out onto the little square. On the doorstep there 49. 7 are John and James with Peter and Andrew. «Peace to you» says Jesus and He adds: «Here is the man who in order to be just must not judge before knowing. But he is hon­ est in admitting he is wrong. Simon, you wanted to see Me? Here I am. And you, Andrew, why did you not come before? » The two brothers look at each other embarrassed. Andrew whispers: «I did not dare. » Peter blushes, but does not speak. But when he hears Jesus say 319

to his brother: «Were you doing any wrong in coming? One must not dare do only evil things» he intervenes frankly: «It was my fault. He wanted to bring me to You at once. But I... I said... Yes, I said “I don't believe it”, and I did not want to come. Oh! I feel bet­ ter now!... » Jesus smiles, then He says: «And because of your sincerity I tell you that I love you. » «But I... I am not good... I am not capable of doing what You said in the synagogue. I am quick-tempered and if anyone of­ fends me... eh!... I am greedy and I like money... and in my fish business... eh!... not always... I have not always been honest. And I am ignorant. And I have little time to follow You to receive Your Light. What shall I do? I would like to become as You say... but... » «It is not difficult, Simon. Are you acquainted a little with the Scriptures? Are you? Well, think of the prophet Micah. God wants from you what Micah said*. He does not ask you to tear your heart apart, neither does He ask you to sacrifice your most holy affections. He does not ask yon for the time being. One day, without being requested by God, you will give God your own self. But He will wait while the sun and the dew turn you, a thin blade of grass as you are now, into a sturdy, glorious palm tree. For the time being, He asks you only this: to be just, to love mercy, to take the greatest care in following your God. Strive to do that and Si­ mon's past will be cancelled and you will become a new man, the friend of God and of His Christ. No longer Simon, but Cephas**, the safe rock on which I lean. » «I like that! I understand that. The Law is so... is so... that is, I cannot comply with it any longer, as the rabbis have made it. But what You say, yes,... I think I will be able to do it. And You will help me. Are You staying in this house? I know the owner. » «I am staying here. But I am going to Jerusalem and after I will preach throughout Palestine. I came for that. But I will often be here. » «I will come to hear You again. I want to be Your disciple. A little of the light will enter my head. » «Your heart, above all, Simon. Your heart. And you, Andrew, have you nothing to say? » * said: Micah 6: 8. ** Cephas: John 1: 42. 320

«I am listening, Master. » «My brother is shy. » «He will become a lion. It is getting dark. May God bless you, and grant you a good haul. Go now. » «Peace be with You. » They go away. 8As soon as they are out Peter says: «I wonder what He meant before, when He said that I will be fishing with other nets and catching different fish. » «Why did you not ask Him? You wanted to say so many things, but you hardly spoke. » «I... was bashful. He is so different from all the other rabbis! » «Now He is going to Jerusalem... » says John, with so much longing and nostalgia. «I wanted to ask Him if He would let me go with Him... But I did not dare... » «Go and ask Him now, my boy» says Peter. «We left Him so... without a word of affection. Let Him at least know that we ad­ mire Him. I will tell your father. » «Shall I go, James? » «Go. » John runs away... and he runs back, overjoyed. «I said to Him: “Do You want me to come to Jerusalem with You? ” He replied: “Come, My friend”. Friend, He said! Tomorrow, I will be here at this time. Ah! To Jerusalem with Him!... ».... the vision ends. 9With regards to the previous vision, this morning, the 14th of October Jesus says to me: «I want you and everybody to consider John's behaviour: par­ ticularly one point that always escapes everybody's notice. You admire him because he was pure, loving, faithful. But you do not notice that he was great in humility as well. He, the first one responsible for Peter's coming to Me, was modestly silent about that detail. The apostle of Peter, and con­ sequently the first of My apostles, was John. First in recognising Me, first in speaking to Me, in following Me, in preaching Me. And yet, see what he says*? “Andrew, Simon's brother, was one of * says : John 1: 40-42. 49. 8 49. 9 321

49. 10the two who had heard John's words and had followed Jesus. The first person he met was his brother Simon, to whom he said: 'We have found the Messiah' and he took him to Jesus”. Besides being good, he is just, and since he knows that An­ drew is distressed because of his shy and reserved disposition, and that he would like to do so much, but does not succeed in doing it, he wants the acknowledgement of Andrew's goodwill to be handed down to posterity. He wants Andrew to appear as Christ's first apostle with Peter, notwithstanding that Andrew's shyness and uneasiness with his brother have been the cause of the failure of his apostolate. 10Amongst those who do something for Me, who can imitate John, instead of proclaiming himself an unexcelled apostle, without considering that his success depends on a multitude of things, which are not only holiness, but also human daring, luck and the occasional chance of being with other people less daring and less lucky, but perhaps holier? When you succeed doing some good, do not boast about it, as if the merit were entirely yours. Praise God, the Lord of the ap­ ostolic workers, and have a clear eye and a sincere heart to see and give each the praise they deserve. A clear eye to discern the apostles who sacrificed themselves and are the first real incen­ tive for the work of the others. Only God sees them: they are tim­ id and seem to be doing nothing, whereas they draw from Heaven the fire that urges daring workers. A sincere heart in saying: “I work. But this fellow loves more than I do, he prays better than I do, I am not able to sacrifice myself as he does and as Jesus said*: '... in your private room with the door closed pray secretly. ' Since I am aware of his humble holy virtue, I want to make it known and say: 'I am an active instrument; he is a power that inspires me, because, joined as he is to God, he is a channel of celestial en­ ergy for me'”. And the Blessing of the Father, that descends to reward the humble man, who secretly sacrifices himself to give strength to the apostles, will descend also on the apostle who sincerely ac­ knowledges both the supernatural and silent help of the humble one, and his merits that superficial men do not notice. * Jesus said, in Matthew 6: 6 (172. 5/6). 322

It is a lesson for everybody. 11Is he My favourite? Yes, he is. Does he not resemble Me also in this? Pure, loving, obedient, but also humble. I looked at Myself in him as in a mirror and I could see My virtues in him. I there­ fore loved him like another Self. I could see in him the glance of My Father, Who considered him a little Christ. And My Mother would say to Me: “I feel as if he were My second son. I seem to be seeing You, reproduced in a man”. Oh! How well the One Full of Wisdom knows you, My beloved! The two celestial blues of your pure hearts mingled into one veil only to form a protection of love for Me, and they became one love only, even before I gave My Mother to John and John to My Moth­ er. They loved each other because they realised they were alike: children and brothers of the Father and of the Son. » 50. At Bethsaida in Peter's House. The meeting with Philip and Nathanael. 15th October 1944. [... ] 1Later on (at 9: 30) I had to describe this. John knocks at the door of the house where Jesus is a guest. A woman comes to the door and when she sees who it is, she calls Jesus. They greet each other with a sign of peace. Then Jesus says: «You have come early, John. » «I have come to tell You that Peter asks You to pass by Beth­ saida. He has spoken to many people about You... We did not go out fishing last night. We prayed as well as we could, and we gave up the profit... because the Sabbath was not yet over. And this morning, we went through the streets speaking about You. There are many people who would like to hear You... Will You come, Master? » «I will, although I must go to Nazareth before going to Jeru­ salem. » «Peter will take You from Bethsaida to Tiberias in his boat. It will be even quicker for You. » «Let us go, then. »49. 11 50. 1 323

50. 2Jesus takes His mantle and haversack. But John relieves Him of the latter. And they set out, after saying goodbye to the land­ lady. 2The vision shows them coming out of the village and starting their journey to Bethsaida. But I do not hear what they are say­ ing, in fact the vision is interrupted and it is resumed only when they are entering Bethsaida. I realise that it is that town because I see Peter, Andrew and James, with their wives, awaiting Jesus at the entrance to the village. «Peace be with you. Here I am. » «We thank You, Master, also on behalf of those who are wait­ ing for You. It is not the Sabbath today, but will You speak Your words to those waiting to hear You? » «Yes, Peter, I will. In your house. » Peter is overjoyed: «Come, then. This is my wife and this is John's mother and these are their friends. But there are other people waiting for You: relations and friends of ours. » «Tell them that I will speak to them this evening, before I leave. » I forgot to mention that they left Capernaum at sunset and ar­ rived at Bethsaida the following morning. «Master... please: stay one night at my house. The road to Je­ rusalem is a long one, even if I will shorten it for You, taking You to Tiberias by boat. My house is poor, but honest and friendly. Stay with us tonight. » Jesus looks at Peter and at all the rest who are waiting. He looks at them inquisitively. He then smiles and says: «Yes; I will stay. » It is a great joy for Peter. People look out from their doors and exchange knowing glances with one another. A man calls James by his name and speaks to him in a low voice, pointing to Jesus. James nods in as­ sent and the man goes and speaks to other people standing at a crossroads. They go into Peter's house. There is a large smoky kitchen. In a corner there are nets, ropes, fishing baskets. In the middle there is a long, low fireplace, but there is no fire. Through two opposite doors one can see the street on one side, and the kitchen garden with a fig-tree and vines on the other 324

side. Beyond the street the rippling on the sky-blue lake can be seen, and beyond the kitchen garden there is the dark, low wall of another house. «I offer You what I have, Master, and as best as I know how to... » «You could not offer any more or any better, because you are making your offering with love. » They give Jesus some water to refresh Himself and then some bread and olives. Jesus takes a few mouthfuls only to please them, then He thanks them and eats no more. Some children look in inquisitively from the kitchen garden and the street. I do not know whether they are Peter's children. I only know that he frowns at the intruders to keep them out. Jesus smiles and says: «Leave them alone. » «Master, do You want to rest? My room is here and Andrew's is over there. Take Your choice. We will not make any noise while You are resting. » «Have you got a terrace? » «Yes, and the vine, although it is still almost bare, gives a lit­ tle shade. » «Then take Me up there. I prefer to rest there. I will think arid pray. » «As You wish. Come. » A little staircase rises from the kitchen garden up to the roof, which is a terrace surrounded by a low wall. Even there, there are nets and ropes. But how much bright light, and what a beau­ tiful view of the blue lake! Jesus sits on a stool, leaning His back against the little wall. Peter bustles with a sail that he spreads over and on the side of the vine to make a shield against the sun. There is a breeze and silence. Jesus is visibly happy. «I am going, Master. » «Go. Go with John and tell people that I will be speaking here at sunset. » Jesus remains alone and prays for a long time. With the excep­ tion of two pairs of doves that come and go from their nests, and the twittering of sparrows, there is no noise or living being near Jesus praying. The hours pass peacefully and quietly. 3Then Jesus stands up, He walks round the terrace, looks at50. 3 325

the lake, smiles at some children playing in the street and they smile back at Him, He looks along the street, towards the little square about one hundred yards away from Peter's house. He goes downstairs. He looks into the kitchen: «Woman, I am going for a walk on the shore. » He goes out and walks to the beach, near the children. He asks them: «What are you doing? » «We wanted to play at war. But he does not want to, and we are playing at fishing. » The boy who does not want to play at war, is a frail little fel­ low with a most bright face. Perhaps he is aware that, as frail as he is, he would get a beating in making «war» and so he pleads for peace. But Jesus takes the opportunity to speak to the children: «He is right. War is a punishment of God to chastise men, and it is a sign that man is no longer a true son of God. When the Most High created the world, He made all things: the sun, the sea, the stars, the rivers, the plants, the animals, but He did not make arms. He created man and gave him eyes that he might cast loving glanc­ es, and a mouth to utter loving words, and ears to listen to such words, and hands to give help and to caress, and feet to run fast to assist our neighbours in need, and a heart capable of loving. He gave man intelligence, speech, affections and taste. But He did not give man hatred. Why? Because man, a creature of God, was to be love as God is Love. If man had remained a creature of God, he would have persevered in love, and the human family would have not known either war or death. » «But he does not want to make war, because he always loses. » (I had guessed right. ) Jesus smiles and says: «We must not reject what is harmful to us simply because it is harmful to us. We must reject a thing when it is harmful to everybody. If a person says: “I do not want that because I would lose”, that person is selfish. Instead, the good child of God says: “Brothers, I know I would win, but I say to you: don't let us do that because you would suffer a loss”. Oh! That fellow has understood the main precept! Who can tell Me which is the main precept? » The eleven mouths say altogether: «“You shall love your God with all your strength, and your neighbour as yourself”. » 326

50. 4«Oh! You are clever children. 4Do you all go to school? » «Yes, we do. » «Who is the most clever? » «Him. » It is the frail little fellow who does not want war. «What is your name? » «Joel. » «A great name! He says*: “... let the weakling say: 'I am strong'”. But strong in what? In the Law of the true God, to be amongst those whom in the Valley of Decision He will judge to be His saints. But the judgement is already near. Not in the Val­ ley of Decision, but on the mountain of Redemption. There, the sun and the moon will grow dark with horror, the stars will tremble and shed tears of mercy, and the children of Light will be judged and separated from the children of Darkness. And the whole of Israel will know that its God has come. Happy are those who will have recognised Him. Honey, milk and fresh wa­ ter will descend into their hearts and thorns will become eter­ nal roses. Which of you wants to be amongst those who will be judged saints of God? » «Me! Me! Me! » «Will you love the Messiah, then? » «Yes! Yes! You! You! It's You we love. We know who You are! Simon and James have told us, and our mothers have told us. Take us with You! » «Yes, I will take you if you are good. No more bad words, no more arrogance, quarrels, no answering back to your parents. Prayer, study, work, obedience. And I will love you and come with you. » The children are all round Jesus. They look like a gaily-col­ oured corolla around a long, deep-blue pistil. 5An elderly man goes near the group, inquisitively. Jesus turns around to caress a child who is pulling His mantle and sees him. He stares at him, intensely. The man blushes and greets Him, but does not say anything else. «Come! Follow Me! » «Yes, Master. » Jesus blesses the children and walking beside Philip, (He calls * He says : Joel 4: 10. 50. 5 327

50. 6 50. 7him by his name) He goes back home. They sit in the little kitchen garden. «Do you want to be My disciple? » «Yes, I do... but I dare not hope for so much. » «I have called you. » «Then I am Your disciple. Here I am. » «Did you know about Me? » «Andrew spoke to me about You. He said to me : “The One you were pining after has come”. Because Andrew knew that I yearned for the Messiah. » «Your expectation has not been disappointed. He is in front of you. » «My Master and my God! » «You are a well-intentioned Israelite. That is why I am mani­ festing Myself to you. 6Another friend of yours is waiting, he is a sincere Israelite, too. Go and say to him: “We have found Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph of the House of David, Him of Whom Moses and the Prophets have spoken”. Go. » Jesus remains alone until Philip comes back with Nathanael- Bartholomew. «Here is a true Israelite in whom there is no fraud. Peace be with you, Nathanael. » «How do You know me? » «Before Philip came to call you, I saw you under the fig-tree. » «Master, You are the Son of God. You are the King of Israel! » «Because I said I saw you, while you were meditating under the fig-tree, you believe? You will see greater things than that. I solemnly tell you that Heaven is open and because of your faith you will see angels descending and ascending above the Son of man : that is above Me, Who am speaking to you. » «Master! I am not worthy of such a favour! » «Believe in Me and you will be worthy of Heaven. Will you be­ lieve? » «I will, Master. » 7The vision is interrupted... it starts again on the terrace full of people; other people are in Peter's kitchen garden. Jesus starts speaking. «Peace to men of goodwill. Peace and blessings to their homes, their women, their children. May the grace and the light of God 328

reign in your homes and in the hearts dwelling in them. You have wished to hear Me. The Word is speaking. It speaks with joy to the honest, with sorrow to the dishonest, with delight to the holy and the pure, with mercy to sinners. It does not deny Itself. It has come to spread out like a river that flows to irrigate lands needing water, refreshing them and fertilising them at the same time with humus. You want to know what is required to become disciples of the Word of God, of the Messiah, Word of the Father, Who has come to gather Israel together, that it may hear once again the words of the holy and immutable Decalogue and may be sanctified by them and thus be purified for the hour of Redemption and of the Kingdom, as far as man can be purified by himself. Now, I say to the deaf, the blind, the dumb, the lepers, the par­ alytic, the dead: “Rise, you are healed, rise, walk, may the rivers of light, of words, of sounds be opened for you, that you may see and hear Me and speak of Me”. But rather than to your bodies, I am speaking to your souls. Men of goodwill, come to Me without any fear. If your souls are injured, I will cure them; if they are ill, I will heal them; if they are dead, I will raise them. All I want is your goodwill. Is what I ask for difficult? No. It is not. I do not impose on you the hundreds of precepts of the rabbis. I say to you: follow the Decalogue. The Law is one and immutable. Many centuries have gone by since it was given, beautiful, pure, fresh, like a new-born creature, like a rose just opened on its stem. Simple, neat, easy to follow. Throughout centuries faults and trends have complicated it with many minor laws, with burdens and restrictions, with too many painful clauses. I am bringing once again the Law to you as the Most High gave it. But, in your own interest, I ask you to accept it with sincere hearts, like the true Israelites of bygone times. You grumble, more in your hearts than with your lips, that it is the fault of people in the upper classes, rather than of humble people. I know. Deuteronomy states what is to be done, nothing else was necessary. But do not judge those who acted for other people, not for themselves. Do what God commands. And above all, strive and be perfect in the two main precepts. If you love God with all your souls, you will not sin, because sin gives pain 329

50. 8to God. Those who love do not want to give pain. If you love your neighbours, as you love yourselves, you will be respectful chil­ dren to your parents, faithful husbands to your wives, honest merchants in your trade, without any violence against your en­ emies, truthful in bearing witness, without envy of wealthy peo­ ple, without any incentive of lewdness for another man's wife. And as you do not want to do to other people what you do not wish should be done to you, you will not steal, or kill, or slander, or enter someone else's nest like cuckoos. In fact, I say to you. “Carry to perfection your obedience to the two precepts of love: love also your enemies”. How much the Most High Will love you, since He loves man so much. Although man became His enemy because of the original sin, and because of his personal sins, He sent man the Redeemer, the Lamb Who is His Son, that is I, Who am speaking to you, the Messiah promised to redeem you from all your sins, if you will learn to love as He does. Love. May your love become a ladder by which, like angels, you will ascend to Heaven, as Jacob saw them, when you hear the Father say to each and everybody: “I will be your protector wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this place; to Heav­ en, the Eternal Kingdom”. Peace be with you. » 8The crowd utter words of emotional approval and slowly go away. Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip and Bartholomew stay. «Are You leaving tomorrow, Master? » «Tomorrow, at dawn, if you do not mind. » «I am sorry that You are going away. But I do not mind the hour. On the contrary, it suits me. » «Are you going fishing? » «Yes, tonight, when the moon rises. » «You did well, Simon, not fishing last night. The Sabbath was not yet finished. Nehemiah in his reformation wants* the Sabbath to be respected in Judah. Even nowadays too many people work on the Sabbath day at presses, carry wood, wine and fruit and buy and sell fish and lambs. You have six days for that. The Sabbath is of the Lord. Only one thing you may do on * wants, in: Nehemiah 13: 15-22. 330

the Sabbath: you may do good to your neighbour. But all profit must be excluded from such help. He who infringes the Sabbath to make a profit will be punished by God. He makes a profit? He will lose it during the other six days. He makes no profit? He has fatigued his body for no purpose, because he did not grant it the rest that Intelligence prescribed for it, and thus he irritated his soul having worked in vain, and goes to the extent of curs­ ing. The day of the Lord, instead, is to be spent with your hearts united to God in sweet prayer of love. You must be faithful in everything. » «But... scribes and doctors, who are so severe with us... do not work on Sabbath days, they do not even give a piece of bread to their neighbours, to avoid the fatigue of handing it over, but they practise usury also on a Sabbath. As it is not a material work, is it legal to practise usury on a Sabbath? » «No. Never. Neither on a Sabbath nor any other day. Those Who practise usury are dishonest and cruel. » «The scribes and the Pharisees, then... » «Simon: don't judge. Do not do it. » «But I have eyes to see... » «Is there only evil to be seen, Simon? » «No, Master. » «Well, then, why look at evil deeds? » «You are right, Master. » 9«Well, tomorrow morning at dawn, I will leave with John. » 50. 9 «Master... » «Yes, Simon, what is it? » «Master... are You going to Jerusalem? » «You know I am. » «I am going at Passover too... and also Andrew and James. » «Well?.. Do you mean that you would like to come with Me? And your fishing? And your profit? You told Me that you like to have money, and I will be away for many days. I am going to My Mother's first. And I will go there on My way back as well. I will stop there to preach. How will you manage?... » Peter is perplexed, undecided... then he makes up his mind: «I think... I will come. I prefer You to money! » «I am coming, too. » «And so am I. » 331

51. 1«We are going too, aren't we, Philip? » «Come, then, you will help Me. » «Oh!... » Peter is more than excited at the idea of helping Je­ sus. «How shall we do that? » «I will tell you. To do good, all you need do, is do what I tell you. He who obeys always does good. We will now pray and then each of us will go and perform his duties. » «What will You do, Master? » «I will continue to pray. I am the Light of the world, but I am also the Son of man. I must, therefore, draw from the Light, to become the Man Who redeems man. Let us pray. » Jesus says a psalm. The one beginning: «He who rests in the help of the Most High, will live in the protection of the God of Heaven. He will say to the Lord: “You are my protector and my shelter. He is my God, I will hope in Him. He rescued me from the snares of fowlers and from harsh words” etc. » I find it in the fourth book. It is the sec­ ond psalm in book four, I think it is number 90*, (if I read the Ro­ man number correctly). The vision ends in this way. 51. Mary sends Judas Thaddeus to invite Jesus to the wedding at Cana. 17th October 1944. 1I see the kitchen in Peter's house. In addition to Jesus, there are Peter and his wife, James and John. I think they have just finished eating their supper. They are talking, and Jesus takes an interest in fishing. Andrew enters and says: «Master, there is the man here in whose house You are living, together with another man who says he is Your cousin. » Jesus gets up and goes towards the door saying: «Let them come in. » And when He sees Judas Thaddeus in the light of the oil lamp and of the fireplace, He exclaims: «You, Judas?! » «Yes, Jesus. » They kiss each other. Judas Thaddeus is a handsome man, in the fullness of his vir­ * number 90. Now in Psalms 91. 332

ile manhood. He is tall, although not quite so tall as Jesus, well built and strong, of a dark brown-olive complexion, like saint Joseph when young, but not sallow: his eyes have something in common with those of Jesus, because they are blue, verging on periwinkle. His brown beard is squarely cut, his hair wavy, but not so curly as Jesus', and is the same hue as his beard. «I have come from Capernaum, I went there by boat and I have come here in the same boat to gain time. Your Mother sends me; She says: “Susanna is getting married tomorrow; please come to the wedding”. Mary will be there, and also my mother and broth­ ers. All the relatives have been invited. You would be the only one absent, and they ask You to come and make the young couple happy. » 2Jesus bows lightly stretching out His arms and says: «A wish 51. 2 of My Mother is a law for Me. But I will come also for Susan­ na's and our relatives' sake. Only... I am sorry for you... » and He looks at Peter and the others. «They are My friends» He ex­ plains to His cousin. And then He mentions their names, begin­ ning with Peter's. He then adds: «And this is John» with a spe­ cial expression that causes Judas Thaddeus to look at him more carefully while the beloved disciple blushes. He ends the intro­ ductions stating: «My friends, this is Judas, son of Alphaeus, My cousin according to the custom of the world, because he is the son of the brother of My Mother's spouse. A very good friend of Mine, and a companion both in life and in work. » «My house is open to you as it is to the Master. Sit down» and then addressing Jesus, Peter says: «So? Are we no longer going to Jerusalem with You? » «Of course you will come. I will go after the wedding feast. The only difference is that I will not stop at Nazareth any long­ er. » «Quite right, Jesus, because Your Mother is my guest for a few days. That is what we intend to do. She also will go there after the wedding. » It is the man from Capernaum who speaks thus. «This is what we will do. I will now go in Judas' boat to Tibe­ rias and from there to Cana. With the same boat I will come back to Capernaum with My Mother, and with you. You will come the day after the next Sabbath, Simon, if you still wish to come, and we will go to Jerusalem for Passover. » 333

51. 3 51. 4«Of course I want to come! In fact, I will come on the Sabbath to hear You in the synagogue. » 3«Are You already teaching, Jesus? » asks Thaddeus. «Yes, My cousin. » «And you should hear His words! Ah! no one else speaks like Him! » exclaims Peter. Judas sighs. With his head resting on his hand, his elbow on his knee, he looks at Jesus and sighs. He seems anxious to speak but does not dare. Jesus encourages him: «What is the matter, Judas? Why do you look at Me and sigh? » «Nothing. » «No. It must be something. Am I no longer the Jesus of Whom you were fond? For Whom you had no secrets? » «Of course You are! And how I miss You, You the Master of Your older cousin... » «Well, then! Speak. » «I wanted to tell You... Jesus... be careful... You have a Moth­ er... She has but You... You want to be a “rabbi” different from the others and You know, better than I do, that... that the power­ ful classes do not allow anything that may differ from the cus­ tomary laws they have laid down. I know Your way of think­ ing... it is a holy one... But the world is not holy... and it oppresses saints... Jesus... You know the fate of Your cousin the Baptist... He is in jail, and if he is not yet dead, it is because that evil Te­ trarch is afraid of the crowds and of the wrath of God. As evil and superstitious as cruel and lustful... You... what are You go­ ing to do? To what fate are You going to expose Yourself? » «Judas, you are so familiar with My way of thinking, and that is what you ask Me? Are you speaking on your own initiative? No, don't lie! You have been sent, certainly not by My Mother, to tell Me such things... » Judas lowers his head and becomes silent. «Speak, cousin. » «My father... and Joseph and Simon with him... You know, for Your sake, because they are fond of You and Mary... do not look favourably on what You intend doing... and... and they would like You to think of Your Mother... » 4«And what do you think? » 334

«I... I... » «You are drawn in opposite directions by the voices coming from High Above and those coming from the world. I am not say­ ing from below. I say from the world. The same applies to James, even more so. But I tell you that above the world there is Heaven, and above the interest of the world there is the cause of God. You must change your ways of thinking. When you learn to do that, you will be perfect. » «But... and Your Mother? » «Judas, She is the only one who, according to the way of thinking of the world, should be entitled to recall Me to My duty as a son: that is to My duty to work for Her, and provide for Her material needs, to My duty to assist and comfort Her with My presence. But She does not ask for any of these things. Since She had Me, She knew She would lose Me, to find Me once again in a much wider manner than the small family circle... And since then She has prepared Herself for that. Her unreserved voluntary donation of Herself to God is noth­ ing new. Her mother offered Her in the Temple before She even smiled at life. And — as She told Me the innumerable times She spoke to Me of Her holy childhood, holding Me close to Her heart in the long winter evenings or in the clear starry summer nights — She gave Herself to God since the dawn of Her life in this world. And She gave Herself even more when She had Me, that She might be where I am, fulfilling the Mission given to Me by God. Everybody will abandon Me at a certain point, perhaps on­ ly for a few minutes, but everyone will be overcome by cowardice, and you will think that it would have been better, for your own safety, if you had never known Me. But She, Who understood and knows, She will always be with Me. And you will become Mine, once again, through Her. With the power of Her unshaken, loving faith, She will draw you to Herself and will thus bring you to Me, because I am in My Mother, and She is in Me, and We are in God. I would like you all to understand that, both you who are My relatives according to the world, and you, friends and children in a supernatural way. Neither you, nor anyone else know Who My Mother is. But if you knew, you would not criticise Her in your hearts stating She is not capable of keeping Me subject to Her, but you would venerate Her as the closest friend of God, the 335

Mighty Woman Who can obtain all graces from the heart of the Eternal Father and from Her beloved Son. I will certainly come to Cana. I want to make Her happy. You will understand better after the wedding. » Jesus is majestic and persuasive. Judas gazes at Him. He is thinking. He then says: «And I will certainly come with You, with these friends, if You want me... because I feel that what You say is right. Forgive my blindness and my brothers'. You are so much holier than we are!... » «I bear no grudge against those who do not know Me. I am al­ so without ill-feeling towards those who hate Me. But I feel sorry 51. 5 for them, because of the harm they do themselves. 5What have you got in that satchel? » «The tunic Your Mother sent You. It is a big feast tomorrow. She thinks that Her Jesus will need it, so that He may not look out of place amongst all the guests. She worked from early morn­ ing till late night every day, to have it ready for You. But She did not finish the mantle. Its fringes are not yet ready and She is very sorry about it. » «It does not matter. I will wear this one, and I will keep that one for Jerusalem. The Temple is much more important than a wedding feast. » «She will be so happy. » «If you want to be on the way to Cana at dawn, you ought to leave at once. The moon is rising and it will be a pleasant cross­ ing» says Peter. «Let us go, then. Come, John. I am taking you with Me. Good­ bye, Simon Peter, James, Andrew. I will see you on the Sabbath evening at Capernaum. Goodbye, woman. Peace be with you and your house. » Jesus goes out with Judas and John. Peter follows them as far as the lake and helps them cast off. And the vision ends. 51. 6 6Jesus says: «When it is time to arrange the work in order, insert the vision of the wedding at Cana here. Put in the date (16th January 1944). » 336

52. The wedding at Cana. The Son, no longer subject to His Mother, performs His first miracle for Her. The evening of 16th January 1944. The wedding at Cana. 1I see a house. A typical middle east house: a long, low, white house, with few windows and doors, with a terraced roof, sur­ rounded by a little wall, about one metre high, with a shady vine pergola, which reaches up to the sunny terrace and stretches its branches over more than half of its surface. An outside staircase climbs up along the front, reaching up to a door which is situated half way up the facade. At ground level there are a few low doors, not more than two on each side of the house, and they open into low dark rooms. The house is built in the middle of what looks like a kind of threshing-floor, but is actually more a grassy open space than a threshing-floor, with a well in the middle. There are some fig and apple-trees. The house faces the road, but it is not set right on the roadside. It is a little way off the road and a path along the grass links it to the road, which looks like a main road. It seems to be on the outskirts of Cana: a house owned by farmers who live in the middle of their holding. The country stretches calm and green far beyond the house. The sun is shin­ ing in a completely blue sky. At first I do not see anything else. There is no one near the house. 2Then I see two women, with long dresses and mantles that also cover their heads like veils, walking along the road and then on the path. One is older than the other: about fifty years old, with a dark dress, the grey-brown hue of raw wool. The other woman is wearing lighter garments: a pale yellow dress and a blue mantle. She looks about thirty-five years old. She is really beautiful, slender, and Her carriage is most dignified, although She is most kind and humble. When She is nearer, I notice Her pale face, Her blue eyes and Her blond hair visible on Her fore­ head. I recognise Our Most Holy Lady. I do not know who the other older woman is. They are speaking to each other and Our Lady smiles. When they are near the house, someone, who is ob­ viously watching the arrival of the guests, informs the others in the house, and two men and two women, all in their best clothes, go to meet them. They give the two women and particularly Our Lady a most warm welcome. 52. 1 52. 2 337

52. 3It is early morning, I would say about nine o'clock, perhaps earlier, because the country has the fresh look of the early morn­ ing hours, when the dew makes the grass look greener and the air is still free from dust. It appears to be springtime because the grass in the meadows is not parched by the summer sun and the corn in the fields is still young and green and earless. The leaves of the fig-tree and apple-tree are green and tender and those of the vines are the same. But I see no flowers on the apple-tree and there is no fruit on the apple and fig-tree or on the vines: which means that the apple-tree blossomed only recently and the little fruits cannot be seen as yet. 3Mary, Who is most warmly welcomed and is escorted by an elderly man who appears to be the landlord, climbs up the outside staircase and enters a large hall which seems to fill the whole of the house upstairs, or most of it. If I am correct, the rooms on the ground floor are the ones where they actually live, where they have their storeroom, wine cellar, whereas the hall upstairs is used on special occasions, such as feast days, or for tasks that require a lot of space, such as drying and pressing foodstuffs. For special celebrations the hall is cleared of every object and then decorated, as it is today, with green branches, mats and tables prepared with rich dishes. In the centre there is a richly laid table with amphorae and plates full of fruit. Along the right-hand side wall, compared to where I am, there is another table already prepared, but not so sumptuously. On the left-hand side, there is a kind of long dresser with plates of cheese and other foodstuffs, which look like cakes covered with honey and sweetmeats. On the floor, near the same wall, there are more amphorae and six large vases, shaped more or less like copper pitchers. I would call them jars. Mary listens benignly to what they are telling Her, then She takes off Her mantle and kindly helps to finish laying the tables. I see Her going to and fro sorting out the bed-seats, straightening up the wreaths of flowers, improving the appearance of the fruit dishes, making sure that the lamps are filled with oil. She smiles, speaks very little and in a very low voice. Instead She listens a lot and with so much patience. A loud sound of musical instruments (not very harmonious) is heard coming from the road. They all rush out, with the excep­ 338

tion of Mary. I see the bride come in, smartly dressed and happy, surrounded by relatives and friends. The bridegroom, who was the first to rush out and meet her, is now beside her. 4At this point there is a change in the vision. Instead of the house I see a village. I do not know whether it is Cana or a nearby village. And I see Jesus with John and another man, who I think is Judas Thaddeus, but I may be wrong. I am sure about John. Jesus is wearing a white tunic and a dark blue mantle. When he hears the sound of the instruments, Jesus' companion questions a man about something and then tells Jesus. Then Jesus, smil­ ing, says: «Let us go and make My Mother happy. » And He starts walking across the fields towards the house, with His two com­ panions. I forgot to mention that it is my impression that Mary is either a relation or a close friend of the bridegroom's relatives, because She is on familiar terms with them. When Jesus arrives, the same watchman as before informs the others. The landlord with his son, the bridegroom, and Mary goes down to meet Him, and greets Him respectfully. He then greets the other two and so does the bridegroom. But what I like is the loving and respectful way in which Jesus and Mary exchange their greetings. There are no effusions, but the words «Peace be with You» are pronounced with a look and a smile worth one hundred embraces and one hundred kisses. A kiss trembles on Mary's lips, but it is not given. She only lays Her little white hand on Jesus' shoulder and lightly touches a curl of His long hair. The caress of a chaste lover. 5Jesus climbs the staircase beside His Mother, followed by His disciples, the landlord and the groom, and enters the banquet hall, where the women start bustling about, adding seats and plates for the three guests, who, apparently, were not expected. I would say that Jesus' coming was uncertain and the arrival of His companions was completely unforeseen. I can distinctly hear the Master's full, virile, most sweet voice say on entering the hall: «May peace be in this house and the blessing of God on you all. » A greeting of majesty addressed to all the people present. Jesus dominates everybody with His bear­ ing and His height. He is a guest, and a casual one, but He seems to be the king of the banquet, more than the groom, more than52. 4 52. 5 339

52. 6 52. 7the landlord. No matter how humble and obliging, He is the one who dominates. Jesus sits at the middle table with the bride and the bride­ groom, their relatives and the most influential friends. The two disciples are also invited to sit at the same table, out of respect for Jesus. Jesus' back is turned to the wall where the large jars and the dresser are. He therefore cannot see them, neither can He see the steward bustling about the dishes of roast meat, which are brought in through a little door near the dresser. I notice one thing. With the exception of the mothers of the young couple and of Mary, no woman is sitting at that table. All the women, who are making a din worthy of one hundred people, are sitting at the other table near the wall, and are served after the young couple and the guests of importance. Jesus is sitting near the landlord, in front of Mary, Whose place is near the bride. The banquet starts. And I can assure you that they lack nei­ ther appetite nor thirst. The ones who eat and drink little are Jesus and His Mother, Who speaks also very little. Jesus talks a little more. But although very moderate, He is neither sullen nor disdainful in the little He says. He is kind, but not talkative. He answers when He is questioned, when they speak to Him, He takes an interest in the subject, he states His opinion, but then He concentrates on His thoughts, like one accustomed to meditation. He smiles, He never laughs. If He hears any inconsiderate joke, He pretends He has not heard. Mary is nourished by the contem­ plation of Her Jesus, and so is John, who is at the end of the table and hangs on His Master's lips. 6Mary notices that the servants are talking in low voices to the steward, who looks very embarrassed and She understands what the cause of the unpleasant situation is. «Son», She whispers in a low voice, thus drawing Jesus' attention. «Son, they have no more wine. » «Woman, what is there still between Me and You? » Jesus, when saying these words, smiles even more gently, and Mary smiles too, like two people aware of some truth which is their joyful secret and is ignored by everyone else. 7Jesus explains the meaning of the sentence to me. 340

«That “still”, which is omitted by many translators, is the keyword of the sentence and explains its true meaning. I was the Son, submissive to My Mother, up to the moment when the will of My Father told Me that the hour had come when I was to be the Master. From the moment My mission started, I was no longer the Son submissive to My Mother, but I was the Servant of God. My moral ties with My Mother were broken. They had turned into higher bonds, all of a spiritual nature. I always called Mary, My Holy “Mother”. Our love suffered no in­ terruptions, neither did it even cool down, on the contrary, it was never so perfect as when I was separated from Her as by a second birth and She gave Me to the world and for the world, as the Mes­ siah and Evangeliser. Her third sublime mystical maternity took place when She bore Me to the cross in the torture of Golgotha, and made Me the Redeemer of the world. “What is there still between Me and You? ” Before I was Yours, only Yours. You gave Me orders, and I obeyed You. I was “sub­ ject” to You. Now I belong to My mission. Did I not say*: “He, who lays his hand on the plough and looks back to bid farewell to those who are staying, is not fit for the Kingdom of God”? I had laid My hand on the plough not to cut the ground with the plough, but to open the hearts of men and sow there the word of God. I was to take My hand away from the plough only when they would tear it away to nail it to the Cross and to open with My torturing nail My Father's heart, out of which forgiveness for mankind was to flow. That “still”, forgotten by most, meant this: “You were every­ thing for Me, Mother, as long as I was only Jesus of Mary of Naza­ reth, and You are everything in My spirit; but since I became the expected Messiah, I belong to My Father. Wait for a little while and once My mission is over, I will be, once again, entirely Yours; You will hold Me once again in Your arms, as when I was a little child, and no one will ever again contend with You for Your Son, considered as the disgrace of mankind, that will throw His mor­ tal remains at You, to bring on You the shame of being the mother of a criminal. And afterwards You will have Me once again, tri­ umphant, and finally You will have Me forever when You are tri­ * say, in Luke 9: 62 (178. 4 and 276. 6). 341

52. 8 52. 9umphant in Heaven. But now I belong to all these men. And I be­ long to the Father, Who sent Me to them”. That is the sense of that short but so full of meaning “still”. » 8Mary says to the servants: «Do what He will tell you. » In the smiling eyes of Her Son, Mary has read His consent, veiled by the great teaching to all those «who are called». And Jesus says to the servants: «Fill the jars with water. » I see the servants filling the jars with water brought from the well (I hear the pulley screeching as the dripping pail is pulled up and lowered down). I see the steward pour out some of the liquid with astonished eyes, then taste it with gestures of even greater astonishment, relish it and speak to the landlord and the groom (they were near each other). Mary looks at Her Son once again, and smiles; then having re­ ceived a smile from Him, She bows Her head, blushing slightly. She is happy. A murmur spreads throughout the hall, they all turn their heads towards Jesus and Mary, some stand up to get a better view, some go near the jars. Then a moment's silence, which is immediately broken by an outburst of praises for Jesus. He stands up and simply says: «Thank Mary» and withdraws from the banquet. His disciples follow Him. On the threshold He repeats: «May peace be in this house and God's blessing on you» and He adds: «Goodbye, Mother. » The vision ends. 9Jesus teaches me as follows: «When I said to the disciples: “Let us go and make My Moth­ er happy”, I had given the sentence a deeper meaning than it seemed. I did not mean the happiness of seeing Me, but the joy of being the initiator of My miraculous activity and the first ben­ efactress of mankind. Always remember that. My first miracle occurred because of Mary. The very first one. It is a symbol that Mary is the key to miracles. I never refuse My Mother anything and because of Her prayer I bring forward also the time of grace. I know My Moth­ er, the second in goodness after God. I know that to grant you a grace is to make Her happy, because She is All Love. That is why 342

I said, knowing Her: “Let us go and make Her happy”. Besides, I wanted to make Her power known to the world, to­ gether with Mine. Since She was destined to be joined to Me in the flesh, it was fair She should be joined to Me in the power that is shown to the world. Because we were one flesh: I in Her, She around Me, like the petals of a lily round its scented lively pistil; and She was united to Me in sorrow: because we were both on the cross, I with My body, She with Her soul, as a lily is scented be­ cause of its corolla and because of the essence extracted from it. I say to you what I said to the guests: “Thank Mary. It is through Her that you had with you the Master of the miracle and you have My graces, particularly those of forgiveness”. Rest in peace. We are with you. » 53. Jesus drives out the merchants from the Temple. 24th October 1944. [... ]. 1I see Jesus entering the enclosure of the Temple with Peter, 53. 1 Andrew, John, James, Philip and Bartholomew. There is a very large crowd both inside and outside the enclosure. Pilgrims are arriving in flocks from every part of the town. From the top of the hill on which the Temple is built, one can see the narrow twisted streets of the town, swarming with peo­ ple. It seems as though a mobile, multi-coloured ribbon has been laid between the white houses. The town looks like a rare toy in­ deed, a toy made of gaily-coloured ribbons between two white threads, all converging onto the point where the domes of the House of the Lord are shining. Inside it is... a real market. The concentration of a holy place has been destroyed. Some run, some call, some bargain for lambs, shouting and cursing because of the extortionate prices, some drive the poor bleating animals into their enclosures (rough par­ titions made of ropes and pegs, at the entrance of which stand the merchants or owners, awaiting buyers). Blows with cudgels, bleatings, curses, shouts, insults to the boys who are not quick in gathering together or selecting the animals, abuses to the pur- chasers who haggle over prices or who go away, more serious in-343

suits to those who wisely brought their own lambs. Near the benches of the money-changers there is more bawl­ ing. It is obvious that either always, or at Passover time, the Tem­ ple operated as a... stock exchange or black market. There was no fixed rate of exchange. There must have been a legal rate, but the money-changers imposed a different one, making whatever profit they fancied for exchanging the money. And I can assure you they were not joking in their usury transactions!... The poor­ er the people were and the farther they came from, the more they were fleeced: old people more than young people, those coming from beyond Palestine more than the old folk. Some poor old men looked over and over again at the money they had saved in a whole year, I wonder with how much hard work, they took it out and put it back into their purses dozens and dozens of times, going from one money-changer to another and at times ending up by going back to the first one, who took avenge for their original desertion by increasing the premium for the ex­ change. And the big coins passed from the hands of the sighing owners into the clutches of the usurers and were changed into smaller coins. Then a further tragedy would take place with ven­ dors over the choice and payment of their lambs, and the poor old men, particularly if they were half blind, were fobbed off with the most wretched little lambs. 2I see an old couple, man and wife, come back pushing a poor little lamb which must have been found faulty by the sacrificers. They cried and begged the vendor, who, far from being moved, replied with nasty words and rude manners. «Considering what you want to spend, Galileans, the lamb I gave you is even too good. Go away! Or if you want a better one, you must pay five more coins. » «In the name of God! We are poor and old! Are you going to prevent us from celebrating this Passover which may be our last one? Are you not satisfied with what you wanted for a poor little lamb? » «Go away, you filthy lot. Joseph the Elder is now coming here. I enjoy his favour. God be with you, Joseph! Come and make your choice! » The man whose name is Joseph the Elder, that is Joseph of Arimathea, enters the enclosure and picks a magnificent lamb. 34453. 2

He passes by, stately and proud, magnificently dressed, without even looking at the poor old people weeping at the gate, that is the enclosure entrance. He almost bumps into them when he goes out with the fat, bleating lamb. 3But Jesus also is now nearby. He also has made His purchase, and Peter, who probably bargained for Him, is pulling a fairly good lamb. Peter would like to go at once where they offer the sacrifices. But Jesus turns to the right, towards the dismayed, weeping, un­ decided old couple, who are knocked about by the crowds and in­ sulted by the vendor. Jesus, Who is so tall that the heads of the poor old souls reach only up to His heart, lays one hand on the shoulder of the woman and asks her: «Why are you crying, woman? » The little old woman turns round and she sees the young, tall, stately man, wearing a beautiful new white tunic and a snow- white mantle. She must think He is a doctor because of His gar­ ments and His appearance and is greatly surprised, because doc­ tors and priests pay no attention to the poor, neither do they pro­ tect them from the stinginess of merchants. She explains to Jesus the reason for their tears. Jesus addresses the lamb vendor: «Change this lamb for these believers. It is not worthy of the altar, neither is it fair that you should take advantage of two poor old people, only because they are weak and unprotected. » «And who are You? » «A just man. » «By Your way of speaking and Your companions', I know You are a Galilean. Can there be a just man in Galilee? » «Do what I told you, and be a just man yourself. » «Listen! Listen to the Galilean Who is defending His equals! And He wants to teach us of the Temple! » The man laughs and jeers, imitating the Galilean accent, which is more musical and softer than the Judaean, at least I think so. Many people go near them and other merchants and money­ changers take their companion's side against Jesus. Amongst the people present there are two or three ironical rabbis. One of them asks: «Are You a doctor? », in such a way that even Job would lose his temper. 53. 3 345

53. 4 53. 5«Yes, I am. » «What do You teach? » «This I teach: to make the House of God a house of prayer and not a usury or a market place. That is what I teach. » 4Jesus is formidable. He looks like the archangel posted on the threshold of Eden. He has no flashing sword in His hand but the beams from His eyes strike the impious mockers like lightning. Jesus has nothing in His hands. All He has is His wrath. And full of wrath, He walks fast and solemn between the benches, He scatters the coins which had been sorted out so meticulously according to their values, He overturns the benches and tables, and everything falls on the ground with great noise, in the bustle of rebounding metals and beaten wood, angry cries, shrieks of terror and shouts of approval. He then snatches from the hands of the stable-boys some ropes with which they were holding ox­ en, sheep and lambs, and He makes a very hard lash, in which the slip-knots are real scourges: He lifts it, swings it and strikes mercilessly with it. Yes, I can assure you: mercilessly. The unforeseen storm hits heads and backs. The believers move to one side admiring the scene; the guilty ones, chased as far as the external wall, take to their heels, leaving their money on the ground and abandoning in a great confusion of legs, horns and wings, their animals, some of which run and fly away. The bellows, bleatings, and fluttering of turtle doves and pigeons, added to the burst of laughter and shouting of the believers at the escaping usurers, overcome even the plaintive chorus of lambs, slaughtered in another yard. 5Priests, rabbis and Pharisees rush to the spot. Jesus is still in the middle of the yard, on His way back from the chase. The lash is still in His hands. «Who are You? How dare You do that, upsetting the pre­ scribed ceremonies? From which school are You? We do not know You, neither do we know where You come from. » «I am He Who is Mighty. I can do anything. Destroy this true Temple and I will raise it to give praise to God. I am not upset­ ting the holiness of the House of God or of the ceremonies, but you are perturbing it, allowing His House to become the centre of usurers and merchants. My school is the school of God. The same school that the whole of Israel had when the Eternal God spoke 346

to Moses. You do not know Me? You will know Me. You do not know where I come from? You will learn. » 6And turning towards the people, without noticing the priests 53. 6 any longer, tall in His white tunic, with His mantle open and blowing behind His back, His arms stretched out like an orator at the most important part of his speech, He says: «Listen, Israel! Deuteronomy* states: “You are to appoint judges and scribes at all the gates... and they must administer an impartial judgement to the people. You must be impartial; you must take no bribes, for a bribe blinds wise men's eyes and jeopardises the cause of the just. Strict justice must be your ideal, so that you may live in right­ ful possession of the land that Yahweh your God is giving you”. Listen, Israel. Deuteronomy states: “The priests and scribes and the whole of the tribe of Levi shall have no share or inherit­ ance with Israel, because they must live on the foods offered to Yahweh and on His dues; they shall have no inheritance among their brothers, because Yahweh will be their inheritance”. Listen, Israel. Deuteronomy states: “You must not lend on in­ terest to your brother, whether the lack be of money or food or anything else. You may demand interest on a loan of a foreigner; you will lend without interest to your brother whatever he needs”. The Lord said that. But now you see that in Israel judgements are administered without justice for the poor. They are not inclined to justice, but they are partial with the rich, and to be poor, to be of the com­ mon people means to be oppressed. How can the people say: “Our judges are just” when they see that only the mighty ones are re­ spected and satisfied, whereas the poor have no one who will lis­ ten to them? How can the people respect the Lord, when they see that the Lord is not respected by those who should respect Him more than everyone else? Does he who infringes the Lord's com­ mandment respect Him? Why then do the priests in Israel pos­ sess property and accept bribes from tax-collectors and sinners, who make them offerings to obtain their favours, while they ac­ cept gifts to fill their coffers? God is the inheritance of His priests. He, the Father of Israel, is more than a Father to them and provides them with food, as it * Deuteronomy 16: 18-20; 18: 1-2; 23: 20-21. 347

52. 7 54. 1is just. But not more than what is just. He did not promise money and possessions to His servants of the sanctuary. In eternal life, they will possess Heaven for their justice, as Moses, Elijah, Jacob and Abraham will, but in this world they must have but a linen garment and a diadem of incorruptible gold: purity and charity, and their bodies must be subject to their souls, which are to be subject to the true God, and their bodies are not to be masters over their souls and against God. I have been asked on what authority I do this. And on what au­ thority do they violate God's command and allow in the shade of the sacred walls usury on their brothers of Israel, who have come to obey the divine command? I have been asked from what school I come and I replied: “From God's school” Yes, Israel, I have come from and I will take you back to that holy and immutable school. 7He who wants to know the Light, the Truth, the Way, he who wants to hear once again the voice of God speaking to his peo­ ple, let him come to Me. You followed Moses through the deserts, Israel. Follow Me, because I shall lead you through a far worse desert, to the true blessed Land. At God's command, I will drew you to it, across an open sea. I will cure you of all evils lifting up My Sign. The time of Grace has come. The Prophets expected it and died waiting for it. The Prophets prophesied it and died in that hope. The just have dreamt of it and died comforted by that dream. It is now here. Come. “The Lord is about to judge His people and have mercy on His servants”, as He promised through Moses. » The people crowding around Jesus stand open-mouthed lis­ tening to Him. Then they comment on the new Rabbi's words and ask His companions questions. Jesus goes to another yard, separated from this one only by a porch. His friends follow Him, and the vision ends. 54. The meeting with Judas of Kerioth and Thomas. Simon the Zealot healed of leprosy. 26th October 1944. 1Jesus is together with His six disciples. Neither the other day 348

nor today have I seen Judas Thaddeus, who said he wanted to come to Jerusalem with Jesus. It must still be Passover time, because there is always a lot of people in town. It is evening and many people are hurrying home. Jesus also goes towards the house where He is a guest. It is not the house of the last Supper, which is in town, although not far from its walls. This house, instead, is a real country house, amongst thick olive- trees. From the rustic open space in front of the house one can see the olive-trees down the terraces of the hill, right down to a little torrent, with very little water, which flows away along the val­ ley formed by two hills: on the top of one there is the Temple, on the other hill there are only olive-trees. Jesus is at the first slopes of the latter hill, which rises smoothly, completely covered with peaceful trees. «John, there are two men awaiting your friend» says an elder­ ly man, who must be the farmer or the owner of the olive-grove. I would say that John knows him. «Where are they? Who are they? » «I don't know. One is certainly a Judaean. The other... I don't know. I didn't ask him. » «Where are they? » «In the kitchen, waiting, and... and... yes... there is another man who is all covered with sores. I made him stay over there, because I am afraid he may be a leper. He says he wants to see the Prophet Who spoke in the Temple. » Jesus, Who up to this moment had been silent, says: «Let us go to him first. Tell the others to come if they so wish. I will speak to them there, in the olive-grove. » And He makes for the place indi­ cated by the man. «And what about us? What shall we do? » asks Peter. «Come, if you want. » 2A man, muffled up, is leaning against the rustic wall sup­ porting a terrace, the nearest to the boundary of the property. He must have climbed up there along a path coasting the torrent. When he sees Jesus approaching him, he shouts: «Go back. Back! Have mercy on me! » And he uncovers his trunk drop­ ping his tunic to the ground. If his face is covered with scabs, his trunk is one big sore. Some of the sores have already become deep54. 2 349

wounds, some are like burns, some are whitish and glossy, as if there was a thin white pane of glass on them. «Are you a leper? What do you want of Me? » «Don't curse me! Don't stone me. I have been told that the other evening You revealed Yourself as the Voice of God and the Bearer of Grace. I was also told that You gave assurance that by raising Your Sign, You will cure all diseases. Please raise it on me. I have come from the sepulchres... over there... I crept like a snake amongst the bushes near the torrent to reach here without being seen. I waited until evening before leaving because at dusk it is more difficult to see who I am. I dared... I found this man, the man of the house, he is good. He did not kill me. He only said: “Wait over there, near the little wall”. Have mercy on me” and as Jesus is going near him, all by Himself, because the six disci­ ples and the landlord, as well as the two strangers, are far away and are evidently disgusted, he adds: «Don't come nearer. Don't! I am infected! » But Jesus proceeds. He looks at him so merciful­ ly, that the man starts crying and kneels down almost touching the ground with his face, moaning: «Your Sign! Your Sign! » «It will be raised when it is time. But now I say to you: Stand up. Be healed. I want it. And be the sign in this town that must recognise Me. Rise, I say. And do not sin, out of gratitude to God! » The man rises slowly. He seems to emerge from the long flow­ ery grass as from a shroud... and is healed. He looks at himself in the last dim light of the day. He is healed. He shouts: «I am clean! Oh! What shall I do for You now? » «You must comply with the Law. Go to the priest. Be good in future. Go. » The man is on the point of throwing himself at Jesus' feet, but he remembers he is still impure, according to the Law, and he re­ strains himself. But he kisses his own hand, and throws a kiss to Jesus and weeps. He weeps out of joy. 3The others are dumbfounded. Jesus turns away from the healed man and rouses them smiling. «My friends, it was only a leprosy of the flesh. But you will see leprosy fall from hearts. Is it you that wanted Me? » He asks the two strangers. «Here I am. Who are you? » «We heard You the other evening... in the Temple. We looked for You in town. A man, who said he is a relative of Yours, told us 35054. 3

You stay here. » «Why are you looking for Me? » «To follow You, if You will allow us, because You have words of truth. » «Follow Me? But do you know where I am going? » «No, Master, but certainly to glory. » «Yes. But not to a glory of this world. I am going to a glory which is in Heaven and is conquered by virtue and sacrifice. Why do you want to follow Me? » He asks them again. «To take part in Your glory. » «According to Heaven? » «Yes, according to Heaven. » «Not everybody is able to go there. Because Mammon lays more snares for those yearning for Heaven than for the others. And only he who has strong willpower can resist. Why follow Me, if to follow Me implies a continuous struggle against the en­ emy, which is in us, against the hostile world, and against the En­ emy who is Satan? » «Because that is the desire of our souls, which have been con­ quered by You. You are holy and powerful. We want to be Your friends. » «Friends!!! » Jesus is silent and sighs. Then He stares at the one who has spoken all the time and who has now removed the mantle-hood from his head, and is bareheaded. He is Judas of Kerioth. «Who are you? You speak better than a man of the peo­ ple. » «I am Judas, the son of Simon. I come from Kerioth. But I am of the Temple. I am waiting for and dreaming of the King of the Jews. I heard You speak like a king. I saw Your kingly gestures. Take me with You. » «Take you? Now? At once? No. » «Why not, Master? » «Because it is better to examine ourselves carefully before venturing on very steep roads. » «Do You not believe I am sincere? » «You have said it. I believe in your impulsiveness. But I do not believe in your perseverance. Think about it, Judas. I am going away now and I will be back for Pentecost. If you are in the Tem­ ple, you will see Me. Examine yourself. 4And who are you? ». 54. 4 351

«I am another one who saw You. I would like to be with You. But now I am frightened. » «No. Presumption ruins people. Fear may be an impediment, but it is a help when it originates from humbleness. Do not be afraid. Think about it, too, and when I come back... » «Master, You are so holy! I am afraid of not being worthy. Nothing else. Because I do not doubt my love... » «What is your name? » «Thomas, also known as Didymus. » «I will remember your name. Go in peace. » Jesus dismisses them and He goes into the hospitable house for supper. 5The six disciples who are with Him want to know many things. «Why, Master, why did You treat them differently? Because there was a difference. Both of them had the same impulsive­ ness... » asks John. «My friend, also the same impulsiveness may have a differ­ ent taste and bring about a different effect. They both certainly had the same impulsiveness. But they were not the same in their purposes. And the one who appears less perfect is, in fact, more perfect, because he has no incentive to human glory. He loves Me because he loves Me. » «And so do I. » «And I, too. » «And I. » «And I. » «And I. » «And I. » «I know. I know you for what you are. » «Are we therefore perfect? » «Oh! No! But, like Thomas, you will become perfect if you persevere in your desire to love. Perfect?! Oh! My friends! And who is perfect but God? » «You are! » «I solemnly tell you that I am not perfect by Myself, if you think I am prophet. No man is perfect. But I am perfect because He Who is speaking to you is the Word of the Father: part of God. His thought that becomes Word. I have Perfection in Myself. And 35254. 5

you must believe Me to be such if you believe that I am the Word of the Father. And yet, see, My friends, I want to be called the Son of man because I lower Myself taking upon Myself all the miser­ ies of man, to bear them as My first scaffold, and cancel them, after bearing them, without suffering from them Myself. What a burden, My friends! But I bear it with joy. It is a joy for Me to bear it, because, since I am the Son of mankind, I will make mankind once again the child of God. As it was on the first day. » Jesus is speaking very gently, sitting at the poor table, gestic­ ulating calmly with His hands on the table, His head slightly in­ clined to one side, His face lit up from below by a small oil lamp on the table. He smiles gently, He Who formerly was so majestic a Master in His bearing, is now so friendly in His gestures. His dis­ ciples are listening to Him carefully. 6«Master... why did Your cousin not come, although he knows 54. 6 where You live? » «My Peter!... You will be one of My stones, the first one. But not all the stones can be easily used. Have you seen the marble blocks in the Praetorium building? With hard labour they have been torn away from the bosom of the mountain side, and are now part of the Praetorium. Look instead at those stones down there shining in the moonlight, in the water of the Kidron. They reached the riverbed by themselves, and if anyone wants to take them, they do not put up any resistance. My cousin is like the first stones I am speaking of... The bosom of the mountain side: his family, they contend for him with Me. » «But I want to be exactly like the stones in the torrent. I am quite prepared to leave everything for You: home, wife, fishing, brothers. Everything, Rabboni, for You. » «I know, Peter. That is why I love you. Also Judas will come. » «Who? Judas of Kerioth? I don't care for him. He is a dandy young man, but... I prefer... I prefer myself... » They all laugh at Peter's witty remark. «There is nothing to laugh at. I mean that I prefer a sincere Galilean, a rough fisherman, but without any fraud to... to townsfolk who... I don't know... here: the Master knows what I mean. » «Yes, I know. But do not judge. We need one another in this world, the good are mixed with the wicked, just like flowers in a » field. Hemlock grows beside the salutary mallow. » 353

54. 7 54. 87«I would like to ask one thing... » «What, Andrew? » «John told me about the miracle You performed at Cana... We were hoping so much that You would perform one at Caper­ naum... and You said that You would not perform any miracles before fulfilling the Law. Why Cana then? And why here and not in Your own fatherland? » «To obey the Law is to be united to God and that increases our capabilities. A miracle is the proof of the union with God, as well as of God's benevolent and assenting presence. That is why I wanted to perform My duty as an Israelite, before starting the series of miracles. » «But You were not bound to fulfil the Law. » «Why? As the Son of God, I was not. But as a son of the Law, yes, I was. For the time being, Israel knows Me only as such... and, even later, almost everyone in Israel will know Me as such, in fact, even less. But I do not want to scandalise Israel and there­ fore I obey the Law. » «You are holy. » «Holiness does not bar obedience. On the contrary, it makes obedience perfect. Besides everything else, there is a good exam­ ple to be given. What would you say of a father, of an elder broth­ er, of a teacher, of a priest who did not give good examples? » «And what about Cana? » «Cana was to make My Mother happy. Cana is the advance due to My Mother. She anticipates Grace. Here I honour the Ho­ ly City, making her, in public, the starting point of My power as Messiah. But there, at Cana, I paid honour to the Holy Mother of God, Full of Grace. The world received Me through Her. It is only fair that My first miracle in the world should be for Her. » 8There is a knocking at the door. It is Thomas once again. He goes in and throws himself at Jesus' feet. «Master... I cannot wait until You come back. Let me come with You. I am full of faults, but I have my love, my only real great treasure. It is Yours, it's for You. Let me come, Master... » Jesus lays His hand on Thomas' head. «You may stay, Didy­ mus. Follow Me. Blessed are those who are sincere and persistent in their will. You are all blessed. You are more than relatives to Me, because you are My children and My brothers, not accord-354

ing to the blood, that dies, but according to the will of God and to your spiritual wishes. Now I tell you that I have no closer relative than those who do the will of My Father, and you do it, because you want what is good. » The vision ends in this way. 9It is 4 p. m. and the shadows of 54. 9 torpor are already falling upon me: a torpidity I perceive will be violent, a logical consequence of yesterday's painful hour... But I was very ill also on October the 24th. So much so, that when the vision was over — I wrote it suffering from a headache almost as bad as meningitis — I did not have enough strength to add that at last I saw Jesus dressed as He appears to me when the vision is entirely for me: wearing a soft tunic of white wool just verging to ivory and a mantle of the same shade. The garments He was wearing the first time He revealed Himself as Messiah in Jerusalem. 55. A task entrusted to Thomas. 27th October 1944. 1This morning, as I recovered my senses after a very heavy 55. 1 torpor which had lasted many hours, while I was praying await­ ing daylight, I saw the resumption of the vision. I say resumption because we are still in the same place: the low, wide kitchen, with its dark, smoky walls, dimly lit up by the small flame of an oil lamp on the rustic table. It is a long narrow table at which eight people are sitting: Jesus and His six disci­ ples, and the landlord, four on each side. Jesus, sitting on a stool — the only seats here are three-legged stools, real country furniture — is still turned around speak­ ing to Thomas. Jesus' hand has fallen from Thomas' head onto his shoulder. Jesus says: «Stand up, My friend. Have you had any supper yet? » «No, Master. I walked a few yards with the other fellow who was with me, then I left him and I came back saying that I want­ ed to speak to the healed leper... I said that because I thought he would disdain approaching an impure man. I guessed right. But I wanted to see You, not the leper... I wanted to say to You: “Please take me”... I wandered up and down the olive-grove until 355

a young man asked me what I was doing. He must have thought I was ill-disposed. He was near a pillar, at the boundary of the olive-grove. » The landlord smiles. «It's my son» he explains and adds: «He is on guard at the oil-mill. In the caves under the mill, we still have almost all the crop of the year. It was a very good one and we made a lot of oil. And when there are large crowds about, robbers always get together to plunder unguarded places. Eight years ago, just at Parasceve, they robbed us of everything. Since then we keep a good watch one night each. His mother has gone to take him his supper. » «Well, he asked me: “What do you want? ”, and he spoke in such a tone that to save my back from his stick, I answered at once: “I am looking for the Master Who lives here”. He then replied: “If what you say is true, come to the house”. And he brought me here. It was he who knocked at the door and he did not go away until he heard my first words. » «Do you live far away? » «I live on the other side of the town, near the Eastern Gate. » «Are you alone? » «I was with some relatives. But they have gone to stay with other relatives on the road to Bethlehem. I stayed here to look for You day and night, until I found You. » Jesus smiles and says: «So no one is waiting for you? » «No, Master. » «It is a long way, it is a dark night, the Roman patrols are around the town. I say: stay with us, if you wish. » «Oh! Master! » Thomas is happy. «Make room for him. And each of us will give something to our brother. » Jesus gives him the portion of cheese He had in front of Him. He explains to Thomas: «We are poor and our sup­ per is almost over. But there is so much heart in those who offer. » And He says to John who is sitting beside Him: «Give your seat to our friend. » John gets up at once and sits down at the end of the table near the landlord. «Sit down, Thomas, and eat. » 2And then He says to them all: «You will always behave like that, My friends, according to the law of charity. A pilgrim is already protected by the law of God. 35655. 2

But now, in My name, you must love him even more. When any­ one asks you for some bread, a drop of water or a shelter in the name of God, you must give it in the same name. And you will receive your reward from God. You must behave so with every­ body. Even with your enemies. And that is the new Law. Up until now you were told: “Love those who love you and hate your enemies”. I say: “Love also those who hate you”. Oh! if you only knew how much you will be loved by God, if you love as I am telling you! And when anyone says: “I want to be your companion in serving the true Lord God and following His Lamb”, then he must be dearer to you than a brother by blood, because you will be joined by an eternal bond: the bond of Christ. » «But if someone comes who is not sincere? It is easy to say: “I want to do this or that”. But words do not always correspond to the truth» says Peter, rather irritated. I do not know why, but he is not in his usual jovial mood. «Peter, listen. What you say is sensible and fair. But, see: it is better to exceed in bounty and trust rather than exceed in dis­ trust and hardness. If you help an undeserving person, what harm will befall you? None. In fact, God's reward will always be active for you, whereas the person will be guilty of betraying your trust. » «No harm? Eh! Very often a worthless person is not satisfied with ingratitude, but goes much further, even to the extreme of ruining one's reputation, wealth and one's very life. » «True. But would that diminish your merit? No, it would not. Even if the whole world should believe in slander, even if you be­ came poorer than Job, even if the cruel person should take your life, what would change in the eyes of God? Nothing. Or rath­ er, something would change. But to your advantage. God, to the merits of your bounty, would add the merits of your intellectual, financial, physical martyrdom. » «Alright! Perhaps it is so. » Peter does not speak any more. He sulkily rests his head on his hand. 3Jesus addresses Thomas: «My friend, before, in the olive-55. 3 grove I said to you: “When I come back here, if you are still will­ ing, you will be one of My disciples”. Now I say to you: “Are you» willing to do Jesus a favour? ”» 357

«Most certainly. » «And if this favour should cost you some sacrifice? » «There is no sacrifice in serving You. What is it You want? » «I wanted to say... but you may have some business, some af­ fections... » «None, none! I have You! Tell me. » «Listen. Tomorrow at daybreak the leper will leave the sep­ ulchres to find someone who will inform the priest. You will be the first to go to the sepulchres. It is charity. And you will shout: “Come out, you, the one who was cleansed yesterday. I have been sent by Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah of Israel, He who cleansed you”. Let the world of the “living dead” know My name, let them throb with hope, and let those come to Me, who will have faith in addition to hope, that I may heal them. It is the first form of purity that I am bringing, the first form of the res­ urrection, of which I am the lord. One day I will grant a great­ er purity... One day the sealed tombs will violently expel those who are really dead, and they will appear and laugh with their empty eye sockets, with their bare jaws, because of the rejoicing of the souls freed from Limbo, a remote rejoicing and yet per­ ceived even by skeletons. They will appear to laugh because of this liberation and to throb knowing it is due to... Go! He will come to you. You will do what he asks you to do. You will as­ sist him in everything, as if he were your brother. And you will also say to him: “When you are completely purified, we will go together along the road of the river, beyond Doco and Ephraim. Jesus, the Master, will be waiting for us to tell us in what we have to serve him”. » «I will do that. And what about the other one? » «Who? The Iscariot? » «Yes, Master. » «The advice I gave him still stands. Let him decide by himself and let him take a long time. Even better, avoid seeing him. » « I will be with the leper. Only lepers wander about in the val­ ley of the sepulchres and those who pitifully are in touch with them. » 4Peter mumbles something. Jesus hears him. «What is the matter with you, Peter? You either grumble or are silent. You seem to be discontented. Why? » 35855. 4

«I am discontented. We were the first and You did not work a miracle for us. We were the first and You let a stranger sit be­ side You. We were the first and You entrust him, not us, with a task. We were the first and... yet, yes, we seem to be the last ones. Why are You going to wait for them on the road near the river? Certainly to entrust them with some mission. Why them, and not us? » Jesus looks at him. He is not angry. On the contrary He smiles as one smiles at a child. He gets up, goes slowly over to Peter and, smiling, says to him: «Peter! Peter! You are a big, old baby! » And He says to Andrew, who is sitting beside his brother: «Go and take My seat» and He sits beside Peter, clasping his shoulders with His arm, and He speaks to him, holding him thus against His own shoulder: «Peter, you think I am being unfair, but I am not. On the contrary it is a proof that I know what you are worth. Look. Who needs proof? He who is not yet certain. I knew you were so certain about Me, that I did not feel any need to give you evidence of My power. Proof is required here in Jerusalem, where vices, lack of religion, politics and many worldly things dim souls to such an extent that they can no longer see the Light passing by. But up there, on our beautiful lake, so clear under a clear sky, amongst honest and good willing people, no proof is required. You will have miracles. I will pour torrents of graces upon you. But consider how I valued you, I took you without demanding any proof and without finding it necessary to give you any, because I know who you are. You are dear to Me, so dear, and so faithful. » Peter cheers up: «Forgive me, Jesus. » «Yes, I forgive you because your sulkiness is a sign of love. But do not be envious any more, Simon of Jonas. Do you know what the heart of your Jesus is? Have you ever seen the sea, the real sea? You have? Well, My heart is bigger than the immense sea! And there is room for everybody. For the whole of mankind. And the smallest person has a place just like the greatest. And a sinner finds love just like an innocent. I am entrusting these with a mission. Certainly. Do you want to forbid Me? I chose you. You did not choose yourselves. I am therefore free to decide how I want to employ you. And if I leave them here with a mission — which might well be a test, as the lapse of time granted to the Iscariot may be due to mercy — can you reproach Me? How do 359

55. 5you know that I am not keeping a greater mission for you? And is not the nicest mission to be told: “You will come with me”? » «It is true. I am a blockhead! Forgive me... » «Yes. I forgive everything. Oh! Peter!... But I beg you all never to discuss merits and positions. I could have been born a king. I was born poor, in a stable. I could have been rich. I lived with My work and now I live out of charity. And yet, believe Me, My friends, there is no one greater than I in the eyes of God. Greater than I am, Who am here: the servant of man. » «You a servant? Never! » «Why not, Peter? » «Because I will serve You. » «Even if You served Me as a mother serves her child, I have come to serve man. I will be a Saviour for him. What service is there like that? » «Oh! Master! You explain everything. And what seemed dark becomes clear at once! » «Are you happy now, Peter? 5Now let Me finish talking to Thomas. Are you sure you will recognise the leper? He is the on­ ly one healed; but he may already have left by starlight, to find an early wayfarer. And someone, anxious to enter the town and see his relatives, might perhaps take his place. Listen to his de­ scription. I was near him and I saw him well in the twilight. He is tall and thin. Of a dark complexion, like a cross-breed, very deep and dark eyes with snow-white eyebrows, hair as white as linen and somewhat curly, and a long snubbed nose like the Ly­ bians', two thick protruding lips particularly the lower one. He is so olive-coloured that his lips verge on violet. He has an old scar on his forehead and it will be the only stain, now that he has been cleaned from scabs and dirt. » «He must be old, if he is all white. » «No, Philip, he looks old, but he is not. Leprosy made him white. » «What is he? A cross-breed? » «Perhaps, Peter. He resembles African people. » «Will he be an Israelite, then? » «We will find out. But suppose he is not? » «Eh! If he were not, he would go away. He is already lucky that he deserved to be healed. » 360

«No, Peter. Even if he is an idolater, I will not send him away. Jesus has come for everybody. And I solemnly tell you that peo­ ple living in darkness will overcome the children of the people of Light... » Jesus sighs. He then stands up. He thanks the Father with a hymn and blesses everyone. The vision ends in this way. 6I point out incidentally that my internal adviser said to me, since yesterday evening when I saw the leper: «It is Simon, the apostle. You will see him and Thaddeus coming to the Master. » This morning, after Holy Communion (today is Friday) I opened my missal and I saw that this is the eve of the feast of Saints Si­ mon and Judas, and tomorrow's Gospel deals with charity, al­ most repeating the very words I heard before the vision. Howev­ er, I have not seen Judas Thaddeus so far. 56. Simon the Zealot and Judas Thaddeus joined in the same destiny. 28th October 1944. 1You are beautiful, o banks of the Jordan, as beautiful as you were in the times of Jesus! I admire you and am enraptured by your solemn green-blue peace, resounding with flowing waters and leafy branches, as sweet as a melody. I am on a road which is quite wide and also well maintained. It must be a highway, or more likely a military road, built by the Romans to link the various regions with the capital. It runs near the river, but not precisely along it. It is in fact separated from it by woodland, the function of which I think is to consolidate the river banks and contain the water in times of flood. The wood­ land continues on the other side of the road, so that the road looks like a natural tunnel over which the trees interlace their leafy branches, a beneficial protection for wayfarers in the hot climate of this country. At the point where I am, the river, and consequently the road as well, form a wide bend, so that the leafy embankment appears to me like a huge green barrier built to enclose a basin of calm waters. It almost looks like a lake in a luxury park. But the water55. 6 56. 1 361

56. 2is not as still as the water of a lake. It flows, although slowly. This is evident from its rustling against the first reed thickets, the more daring ones that have grown down there, in the gravel bed, and also from the undulation of the long ribbon-like leaves of the canes, reaching down to the water by which they are sweetly lulled. Also a group of willows, with flexible falling branches, have entrusted the ends of their green foliage to the river, that combs the thin branches with a graceful caress, stretching them softly on the water surface. There is peace and silence in the early morning. One can only sense the warbling of birds, the rustling of water and leaves, the glittering of dew drops on the tall green grass between the trees, a grass not yet hardened or parched by the summer sunshine, but tender and fresh, since it came up after the springtime showers, which nourished the earth, in its very depth, with moisture and rich juices. 2Three wayfarers are standing on the road, in the middle of the bend. They look up and down, to the south, where Jerusalem is and to the north, where Samaria lies. They look anxiously be­ tween the trees to see whether anyone is arriving as expected. They are Thomas, Judas Thaddeus and the healed leper. They are speaking. «Can you see anything? » «No, I can't. » «Neither can I. » «And yet this is the place. » «Are you sure? » «I'm sure, Simon. One of the six said to me, when the Master was going away amid the acclamations of the crowd, after the miraculous healing of a crippled beggar, who was healed at the Fish Gate: “We are now going out of Jerusalem. Wait for us five miles between Jericho and Doco, at the bend of the river, along the road in the woodland”. This one. He also said: “We will be there in three days' time at dawn”. This is the third day, and we have been here before dawn. » «Will He come? Perhaps we should have followed Him from Jerusalem. » «You were not yet allowed to mix with the crowds, Simon. » «If my cousin told you to come here, He will certainly come 362

here. He always keeps His promise. All we can do is wait. » 3«Have you always been with Him? » 56. 3 «Yes, always. Since He came back to Nazareth He was my good companion. We were always together. We are about the same age, I am a little older. And I was the favourite of His father, who was my father's brother. Also His Mother was very fond of me. I grew up more with Her than with my own mother. » «She was fond... Is She no longer as fond of you, now? » «Oh! Yes, She is. But we have parted a little since He became a prophet. My relatives are not happy about it. » «Which relatives? » «My father and the two older brothers. The other one is un­ decided... My father is very old and I did not have the courage to hurt him. But now... Now, no longer so. Now I am going where my heart and my mind tell me. I am going to Jesus. I don't think I am offending the Law by doing so. In any case... if whet I want to do was not right, Jesus would tell me. I will do what He says. Is it right for a father to prevent a son from doing good? If I feel that my salvation is there, why prevent me from reaching it? Why, at times, are our fathers our enemies? » Simon sighs as if he were overwhelmed by sad memories, he lowers his head, but does not speak. Thomas instead replies: «I have already overcome the obsta­ cle. My father listened to me and he understood me. He blessed me saying: “Go. May this Passover be for you the liberation from the slavery of waiting. You are lucky because you can believe. I will wait. But if it is really Him, and you will find out following Him, then come and say to your old father: 'Come, Israel has the Expected One'”. » « You are luckier than I am. And we always lived beside Him!... And we, in the family, do not believe!... We say, that is: they say: “He has gone mad”! » 4«There, there is a group of people» shouts Simon. «It's Him, 56. 4 it's Him! I recognise His fair head! Oh! Come! Let us run! » They start walking fast southwards. When they reach the centre of the bend, the trees cover the remainder of the road, so that the two groups face each other unexpectedly. Jesus seems to be coming up from the river, because He is among the trees on the bank. 363

«Master! » «Jesus! » «My Lord! » The three cries of the disciple, the cousin and the cured leper are full of joy and veneration. «Peace to you! » There is the beautiful, unmistakable, full, resonant, calm, expressive, clear, virile, sweet, incisive voice! 56. 5 5«You too, Judas, My cousin, are here? » They embrace each other. Judas is weeping. «Why are you weeping? » «Oh! Jesus! I want to stay with You! » «I have been waiting for you all the time. Why did you not come? » Judas lowers his head and is silent. «They did not let you! And now? » «Jesus, I... I cannot obey them. I want to obey You only. » «But I did not give you an order. » «No, You did not. But it is Your mission that gives it! It is He, Who sent You, Who is speaking here, in my heart, and says to me: “Go to Him”. It is She, Who bore You, my sweet teacher, Who with Her gentle look, as mild as a dove's, says to me without uttering a word: “Be of Jesus! ”. Can I ignore that heavenly voice that pierces my heart? Can I ignore the prayers of such a Holy Woman, Who implores me for my own good? Only because I am Your cousin on Joseph's side, am I not to acknowledge You for what You are, whereas the Baptist recognised You, although he had never seen You, here, on the banks of this river and he greeted You as the “Lamb of God”? And I, should I not be capable of anything, al­ though I was brought up with You, and I was good because I fol­ lowed You, and I became a son of the Law through Your Mother, from Whom I learned not the six hundred and thirteen precepts of the rabbis, besides the Scriptures and the prayers, but the es­ sence of them all? » «And your father? » «My father? He does not lack bread and assistance, and then... You give me the example. You have thought of the welfare of the people, rather than the little advantage of Mary. And She is alone. Tell me, Master, is it not right for a son to say to his father, without lacking respect: “Father, I love you. But God is above 364

you and I will follow Him”? » «Judas, My cousin and My friend, I tell you: you have made good progress on the way to Light. Come. It is lawful to speak thus to a father, when it is God Who calls. There is nothing above God. Also the laws of relationship cease, that is they are raised to a dignity, because with our tears we give our fathers and moth­ ers a greater help and for something everlasting, not for a short time in this world. We draw them with us to Heaven, and by sac­ rificing our affections, to God. So, Judas, stay here. I have been waiting for you and I am happy to have you, the friend of My life at Nazareth. » Judas is touched. 6Jesus addresses Thomas: «You obeyed faithfully. That is the first virtue of a disciple. » «I came because I want to be faithful to You. » «And you will be. I tell you. And you, who are hiding shyly in the shade, come here. Do not be afraid. » «My Lord! » The ex-leper is at Jesus' feet. «Stand up. Your name? » «Simon. » «Your family? » «My Lord... it was powerful... I was powerful too... But bitter sectarian hatred... and errors of youth damaged its power. My father... Oh! I must speak against him who caused me to shed so many earthly tears! You see, You saw the gift he gave me. » «Was he a leper? » «He was not. Neither was I. But he suffered from another dis­ ease which we in Israel associate with various forms of leprosy. He.... his caste was then triumphant, he lived and died as a pow­ erful man, at home. I... if You had not saved me, I would have died in the valley of sepulchres. » «Are you alone? » «Yes, I am. I have a faithful servant who looks after what property is left. I sent word to him. » «And your mother? » «She... is dead. » The man seems embarrassed. Jesus looks at him attentively. «Simon, you asked me: “What shall I do for You? ” Now I say to you: “Follow Me”. » «I will, at once, my Lord... But... But I... let me tell You one 36556. 6

thing. I am, I was called “Zealot” because of the caste, and “Cananean”, because of my mother. See. I am of a dark complex­ ion. In my veins there is the blood of a slave woman. My father had no children from his wife, and he had me from a slave. His wife was a good woman and she brought me up as her own son, she took care of me in my endless illnesses until she died... » «There are no slaves or freemen in the eyes of God. There is only one slavery in His eyes: sin. And I have come to abolish it. I am calling everybody, because the Kingdom is of all men. Are you a learned man? » «Yes, I am. I also had my position amongst the important peo­ ple, as long as my disease was hidden under my clothes. But when it spread to my face... My enemies then could not believe they were at last able to confine me amongst the “dead”, although a Roman doctor of Caesarea, when I consulted him, told me that mine was not real leprosy, but hereditary serpigo, which I would spread only by procreation. Is it possible for me not to curse my father? » «You must not curse him. He has caused you all sorts of trou­ ble... » «Yes, he did! He was a squanderer, a vicious, cruel, heartless man without any love. He deprived me of my health, he denied me love and peace, he branded me with a shameful name and with a disease which is a mark of infamy... He wanted everything for himself, even his son's future. He deprived me of everything, also of the joy of being a father. » «That is why I say to you: “Follow Me”. As My follower you will find father and children. Look up, Simon. There, the True Father is smiling at you. Look at the wide world, at the conti­ nents, at the countries: there are children and children every­ where; children of the souls for the childless. They are waiting for you, and many like you are also waiting. There are no found­ lings under My Sign. There is no solitude, no difference in My 56. 7 Sign. It is a sign of love, and it gives love. 7Come, My childless Si­ mon. Come, Judas, who are losing your father for My sake. I join you in the same destiny. » They are both beside Him. He is holding His hands on their shoulders as if He were taking possession of them and imposing a common yoke on them. He then says: «And I unite you togeth­ 366

er. But now I will separate you. Simon, you will stay here with Thomas. You will prepare with him the way for My return: I will be back soon, and I want the people to be waiting for Me. Tell the sick people that He Who can cure their illnesses is about to come here: you can certainly tell them that. Tell those who are waiting, that the Messiah is among His people. Tell the sinners that He Who forgives has come to give them strength to rise... » «Will we be able to do that? » «Yes, you will. All you have to say is: “He has come. He calls you. He is waiting for you. He has come to grant you graces. Come here to see Him”, and to these words add a report of what you know. And you, Judas, My cousin, come with Me and these. But you will stay at Nazareth. » «Why, Jesus? » «Because you must prepare My way in My fatherland. Do you think it is a small mission? I can tell you that there is not a harder one... » Jesus sighs. «And will I succeed? » «You will and you will not. But it will be sufficient to be justi­ fied. » «Justified of what? And with whom? » «With God. With your fatherland. With your family. They will not be able to reproach us, because we offered good things: and if the fatherland and the family will disdain our offer, we shall not be blamed for their loss. » «And what about us? » «You, Peter? You will go back to your fishing nets. » «Why? » «Because I will teach you slowly and I will take you with Me, when I find that you are ready. » «But will we see You, then? » «Certainly. I will often come to see you, or I will send for you when I am at Capernaum. Now, let us say goodbye, My friends and let us go. I bless you, who are staying here. May My peace be with you. » And the vision ends. 367

57. In Nazareth with Judas Thaddeus and other six disciples. 57. 1 57. 231st October 1944. 1 Jesus is near Nazareth with His cousin and the six disciples. From the top of the hill where they are, the white village can be seen amongst the green of the trees, with its houses scattered up and down the sweetly undulating slopes, gently declining in some cases, more steep in others. «Here we are, My friends. That is My house. My Mother is at home because there is smoke rising from the house. Perhaps She is baking. I will not ask you to stay with Me, because I imagine you will be anxious to go to your homes. But if you wish to share My bread with Me and meet My Mother, Whom John has already met, then I say to You: “Come”. » The six disciples, who were already sad because of the im­ pending separation, are all happy again and they accept the invi­ tation wholeheartedly. «Let us go, then. » They go down the hillock quickly and take to the main road. It is evening. It is still warm, but the shades of evening are falling over the country, where the crops are beginning to ripen. They go into the village. Women are coming and going from the fountain, men standing on the thresholds of their little work­ shops or working in the kitchen gardens wave to Jesus and James. The children press round Jesus. «Have You come back? » «Are You staying here, now? » «The wheel of my little barrow is broken again. » «Do You know, Jesus. I have a new baby sister, and they have called her Mary. » «The schoolmaster told me that I have learned everything and that I am a true son of the Law. » «Sarah is not here, because her mother is very ill. She cries, because she is afraid. » «My brother Isaac got married. We had a lovely feast. » Jesus listens, caresses, praises, promises His help. 2And they reach the house thus. Mary is already at the door, as a thoughtful boy informed Her. 368

«Son! » «Mother! » They are in each other's arms. Mary, Who is much smaller than Jesus, is leaning with Her head on Her Son's chest, clasped in His arms. He kisses Her blond hair. They enter the house. The disciples, including Judas, remain outside, to leave Jesus and Mary free in their first effusions. «Jesus! My Son! » Mary's voice trembles, as if it were choked with sobs. «Why, Mother, why are You so upset? » «Oh! Son. They told Me... In the Temple, that day, there were some Galileans and some Nazarenes... They came back... and they told Me... Oh! Son! » «But You can see, Mother, that I am well. I suffered no harm. God was glorified in His House. » «Yes, I know, Son of My heart. I know it was like the blare awaking the sleepers. And I am happy for the glory given to God... I am happy that these people of Mine awake to God... I am not reproaching You... I will not be a hindrance to You... I understand You and... and I am happy, but I begot You, Son!... » Mary is still clasped by Jesus' arms and She has spoken hold­ ing Her little open hands pressed against Her Son's chest, Her head turned up towards Him, Her eyes shining with tears ready to run down Her cheeks. She is now silent, leaning Her head on His chest. She looks like a grey turtle-dove, in Her greyish dress, sheltered by two strong white wings, because Jesus still wears His white tunic and mantle. «Mother! Poor Mother! Dear Mother!... » Jesus kisses Her again. 3He then says: «Well, see? I am here, but I am not alone. I have My first disciples with Me, and the other ones are in Judaea. Also My cousin Judas is with Me and follows Me... » «Judas? » «Yes, Judas. I know why You are surprised. Among those who told You what happened, there certainly was Alphaeus with his sons, and I am not mistaken if I tell You that they criticised Me. But do not be afraid. Today it is so, tomorrow it will be differ­ ent. A man is to be cultivated like the soil, and where there are thorns, there will be roses. Judas, of whom You are so fond, is al­ ready with Me. »57. 3 369

57. 4 57. 5«Where is he now? » «Outside with the others. Have You got enough bread for eve­ rybody? » «Yes, Son. Mary of Alphaeus is taking it out of the oven just now. Mary is very good to Me, particularly now. » «God will give her glory. » He goes to the door and calls: «Ju­ das! Your mother is here! Come in, My friends! » They go in and greet Jesus' Mother. Judas kisses Her and then runs looking for his mother. Jesus introduces the five disciples indicating their names: Pe­ ter, Andrew, James, Nathanael, Philip; because John, who has al­ ready met Mary, spoke to Her immediately after Judas, bowing down to Her and receiving Her blessing. 4Mary greets them and asks them to sit down. She is the land­ lady and although adoring Her Jesus with Her glances — Her soul seems to be speaking to Her Son through Her eyes — She takes care of Her guests. She would like to bring some water to refresh them, but Peter objects: «No, Woman. I cannot allow that. Please sit near Your Son, Holy Mother. I will go, we will all go into the kitchen garden to refresh ourselves. » Mary of Alphaeus rushes in, flushed and covered with flour, she greets Jesus Who blesses her, she then leads the six men into the kitchen garden, to the fountain, and comes back happy. «Oh! Mary! » she says to the Virgin. «Judas told me. How happy I am! For Judas and for You, my dear sister-in-law. I know that the oth­ ers will scold me. But it does not matter. I will be happy the day I know that they are all for Jesus. We are mothers and we know... we feel what is good for our children. And I feel that You, Jesus, are the wealth of my children. » Jesus caresses her head and smiles at her. The disciples come back in and Mary of Alphaeus serves them sweet-smelling bread, olives and cheese. She then brings a small amphora of red wine, which Jesus pours out to his friends. It is always Jesus Who offers and then hands things out. 5At first the disciples are somewhat embarrassed, then they become more sure of themselves and they speak about their hous­ es, of the journey to Jerusalem, of the miracles worked by Jesus. They are full of zeal and affection and Peter endeavours to form an alliance with Mary in order to be taken by Jesus at once, with-370

out having to wait at Bethsaida. «Do what He tells you» urges Mary, with a gentle smile. «The wait will be more useful to you than an immediate union. What­ ever My Jesus does is always well done. » Peter's hope vanishes. But he submits with good grace. He on­ ly asks: «Will it be a long wait? » Jesus smiles at him, but does not say anything. Mary interprets Jesus' smile as a favourable sign and She ex­ plains: «Simon of Jonas, He is smiling... I therefore say to you: as fast as a swallow's flight over the lake will be the time of your obedient waiting. » «Thank You, Woman. » 6«Have you nothing to say, Judas? And you, John? » «I am looking at You, Mary. » «And I. » «I am also looking at you... and do you know? This reminds Me of bygone days. Also then I had three pairs of eyes staring at Me lovingly. Do you remember, Mary, My three pupils? » «Oh! I do remember! You are quite right! And even now, three of almost the same age, are looking at You with all their love. And I think that John is like Jesus, as Jesus was then, so fair and rosy, the youngest of them all. » The others are anxious to know more... and memories and stories of the past are awakened and related. It is growing dark.-«My friends, I have no bedrooms. But the workshop where I used to work is over there. If you wish to take shelter there... But there is nothing but benches in it. » «A comfortable bed for fishermen, used to sleeping on nar­ row boards. Thank You, Master. It is an honour and a blessing to sleep under Your roof. » They withdraw after saying goodnight. Judas also goes home with his mother. Jesus and Mary are left in the room, sitting on the chest, in the light of the little oil lamp, each with one arm round the other's shoulder, and Jesus tells Mary of His recent journey. And Mary listens blissful, anxious, happy. The vision ends in this way. 57. 6 371

58. 1 58. 2 58. 358. The healing of a blind man in Capernaum after a fishing lesson applied to the souls. 7th October 1944. 1Jesus says, and I become calm at once and the joy of such bright peace makes my heart cheerful: «See. He is so fond of epi­ sodes of blind people. Let us give him another one. » And I see. 2I see a beautiful summer sunset. The sun has inflamed the whole of the western sky and the Lake of Gennesaret looks like a huge disc aflame, under a sky ablaze. The streets in Capernaum are just beginning to become crowded; women go to the fountain, fishermen prepare their nets and boats to go fishing at night, children run playing in the streets, little donkeys carrying hampers go towards the country, probably to get vegetables. Jesus appears at a door which opens onto a little yard com­ pletely shaded by a vine and a fig-tree. Beyond it there is a stony lane, that runs along the lake. It must be Peter's house*, be­ cause he is on the shore with Andrew, arranging the fish baskets and nets in the boat, and sorting the seats and coils of rope. He is preparing everything to go fishing, and Andrew is helping him, coming and going from the house to the boat. 3Jesus asks His apostle: «Will you have a good haul? » «The weather is right. The water is calm, it will be clear moonlight. The fish will come to the surface from the bottom and my net will drag them. » «Are we going by ourselves? » «Oh! Master! How could we manage by ourselves with this type of net. » «I have never gone fishing and I expect to be taught by you. » Jesus goes down very slowly towards the lake and He stops near the boat, on the coarse, pebbly sands. «See, Master: this is what we do. I go out beside the boat of James of Zebedee, and we go thus to the right point, both boats together. Then we lower the net. We hold one end. You said You wanted to hold it. » «Yes, if you tell Me what I have to do. » * Peter's house: M. V. in a note, clarifies to be his mother-in-law's instead. 372

«Oh! You only have to watch it going down. It must be low­ ered slowly without making any knots. Very slowly, because we will be in a fishing area, and any harsh movement may drive the fish away. Without knots, otherwise the net would close up, whereas it must open like a bag, or if You prefer so, like a veil blown by the wind. Then, when the net is fully lowered, we will row gently, or we may set sail, according to circumstances, form­ ing a semicircle on the lake. And when we understand by the vi­ bration of the safety peg that the haul is good, we head for the shore. When we are almost on the shore — not before to avoid running the risk of losing all the fish; not after, to avoid damag­ ing both the fish and net on the stones — we will haul in the net. At this point we must be very careful, because the boats must be so close as to allow one boat to catch the end of the net from the other one, but they must not collide, to avoid crushing the netful of fish. 4Please, Master, be careful, it is our daily bread. Keep an 58. 4 eye on the net, that jolts may not overturn it. The fish fight for their freedom with strong strokes of their tails, and if there is a lot of them... You will understand... They are small things, but if ten, one hundred, a thousand get together, they become as strong as Leviathan. » «The same happens with sins, Peter. After all, one fault is not irreparable. But if one is not careful in controlling oneself, and one adds fault to fault, at the end a little fault, perhaps a single omission, or a simple weakness, becomes bigger and bigger, it be­ comes a habit, it becomes a capital vice. At times one starts with a lustful glance and ends up by committing adultery. At times, while simply lacking charity when speaking to a relative, one ends up by doing violence to one's neighbour. Never, never allow faults to increase in seriousness and in numbers, if you wish to avoid trouble! They become dangerous and overbearing like the infernal Snake himself, and they will drag you down into Ge­ henna. » «What You say is right, Master... But we are so weak! » «Care and prayer are necessary to become strong and obtain help, together with a strong will not to sin. And you must have full trust in the loving justice of the Father. » «Do You think He will not be too severe with poor Simon? » «He might have been severe with the old Simon. But with My 373

Peter, with the new man, the man of His Christ... no, Peter, He will not. He loves you and will love you. » «And what about me? » «You, too, Andrew; and John, James, Philip and Nathanael as well. You are the first chosen by Me. » 5«Will there be any more? There is Your cousin, and in Ju­ daea... » «Oh! There will be many more. My Kingdom is open to all mankind and I solemnly tell you that My haul, in the nights of centuries, will be more plentiful than your richest one... Because every century is one night in which not the pure light of Orion or of the sailing moon will be the guide and light of mankind, but the word of Christ and the Grace He will bestow; a night that will become the dawn of a day with no sunset and of a light in which all the faithful will live, and will be the dawn of a sun­ shine that will make all the chosen resplendent, beautiful, happy forever even like gods. Minor gods, children of God the Father and like Me... It is not possible for you to understand now. But I solemnly tell you that your Christian life will cause you to re­ semble your Master, and you will shine in Heaven with His signs. So, notwithstanding the envious malice of Satan and the weak will of men, My haul will be more plentiful than yours. » «But shall we be Your only apostles? » «Are you jealous, Peter? No, don't be! Others will come and in My heart there will be love for everybody. Don't be greedy, Peter. You do not yet know Who loves you. Have you ever counted the stars? Or the stones in the depth of the lake? No, you could not. And even less you would be able to count the loving throbs of which My heart is capable. Have you ever been able to count how many times this lake kisses the shore with its waves in the course of twelve moons? No, you would never be able to do so. And even less you would be able to count the loving waves that My heart pours out to kiss men. Be sure of My love, Peter. » Peter takes Jesus' hand and kisses it. He is deeply moved. Andrew looks, but does not dare take Jesus' hand. But Jesus caressing his hair with His hand says: «I love you very much, too. In the hour of your dawn, without having to lift your eyes, you will see your Jesus reflected in the vault of heaven, and He will be smiling at you to say to you: “I love you. Come”, and your passing 37458. 5

away at dawn will be sweeter than entering a nuptial room... » 6«Simon! Simon! Andrew! Here I am... I am coming... » John 58. 6 is rushing towards them, panting. «Oh! Master! Have I kept You waiting? » John looks at Jesus with the eyes of a lover. Peter answers: «To tell you the truth, I was beginning to think you were no longer coming. Get your boat ready quickly. And James?... » «Well... we are late because of a blind man. He thought Jesus was in our house and he came there. We said to him: “He is not here. Perhaps He will cure you tomorrow. Just wait”. But he did not want to wait. James said to him: “You have been waiting so long to see the light, what does it matter if you have to wait an­ other night? ” But he will not listen to reason... » «John, if you were blind, would you be anxious to see your mother? » «Eh!.. most certainly! » «Well then? Where is the blind man? » «He is coming with James. He got hold of his mantle and will not let it go. But he is coming very slowly because the shore is covered with stones, and he stumbles against them... Master, will You forgive me for being hard? » «Yes, I will, but to make amends, go and help the blind man and bring him to Me. » John runs away. Peter shakes his head, but does not say anything. He looks at the sky which is becoming blue after being a deep copper hue, he looks at the lake and the other boats which are already out fish­ ing and he sighs. «Simon? » «Master? » «Don't be afraid. You will have a good haul, even if you are the last one to go out. » «Also this time? » «Every time you are charitable, God will grant you the grace of abundance. » 7«Here is the blind man. » 58. 7 The poor man is coming forward between James and John. He is holding a walking stick in his hand, but is not using it at pre­ sent. He walks better, supported by the two men. 375

«Here, man, the Master is in front of you. » The blind man kneels down: «My Lord! Have mercy on me. » «Do you want to see? Stand up. How long have you been blind? » The four apostles gather around the other two. «Seven years, Lord. Before, I could see well, and I worked. I was a blacksmith at Caesarea on Sea. I was doing well. The har­ bour, the good trading, they always needed me for one job or an­ other. But while striking a piece of iron to make an anchor, and You can imagine how red hot it was to be pliable, a splinter came off it, and burnt my eye. My eyes were already sore because of the heat of the forge. I lost the wounded eye, and also the other one became blind after three months. I have finished all my savings, and now I live on charity... » «Are you alone? » «I am married with three little children... ; I have not even seen the face of one of them... and I have an old mother. And yet she and my wife earn a little bread, and with what they earn and the alms I take home, we manage not to starve. If I were cured!... I would go back to work. All I ask for is to be able to work like a good Israelite and thus feed those I love. » «And you came to Me? Who told you? » «A leper who was cured by You at the foot of Mount Tabor, when You were coming back to the lake after that beautiful speech of Yours. » «What did he tell you? » «That You can do everything. That You are the health of bodies and of souls. That You are a light for souls and bodies, because You are the Light of God. He, although a leper, had dared to mingle with the crowd, at the risk of being stoned, all wrapped in his mantle, because he had seen You passing by on the way to the mountain, and Your face had kindled hope in his heart. He said to me: “I saw something in that face that whis­ pered to me: 'There is health there. Go!' And I went”. Then he repeated Your speech to me and he told me that You cured him, touching him with Your hand, without any disgust. He was com­ ing back from the priest after his purification. I knew him. I had done some work for him when he had a store at Caesarea. I came, asking for You in every town and village. Now I have found 376

You... Have mercy on me! » 8«Come. The light is still too bright for one coming out of 58. 8 darkness! » «Are you going to cure me, then? » Jesus takes him to Peter's house, in the dim light of the kitch­ en garden, he places him in front of Himself, in such a position that his cured eyes may not see, as first sight, the lake still spar­ kling with light. The man looks like a very docile child, he obeys without asking questions. «Father! Your Light to this son of Yours! » Jesus has stretched His hands over the head of the kneeling man. He remains in that position for a moment. He then moistens the tips of His fingers with saliva and with His right hand He lightly touches the open, but lifeless eyes. A moment. Then the man blinks, rubs his eyelids as if he were awakening from sleep, and his eyes were dimmed. «What do you see? » «Oh!... oh!... oh!... Eternal God! I think... I think... oh! that I can see... I see Your mantle... it's red, isn't it? And a white hand... and a woolen belt... oh! Good Jesus... I can see better and better, the more I get used to seeing... There is the grass of the earth... and that is certainly a well... and there is a vine... » «Stand up, My friend. » The man who is crying and laughing, stands up, and after a moment's hesitation between respect and desire, he lifts his face and meets Jesus' eyes: Jesus smiling full of merciful love. It must be beautiful to recover your sight and see that face as the first thing! The man screams and stretches out his arms. It is an in­ stinctive action. But he controls himself. But Jesus opens His arms and draws to Himself the man who is much shorter than He. «Go home, now, and be happy and just. Go with My peace. » «Master, Master! Lord! Jesus! Holy! Blessed! The light... I see... I see everything... There is the blue lake, the clear sky, the setting sun, and then the horns of the waxing moon... But it is in Your eyes that I see the most beautiful and clear blue, and in You I see the beauty of the most real sun, and the chaste light of the blessed moon. You are the Star of those who suffer, the Light of the blind, the living active Mercy! » 377

59. 1 59. 2«I am the Light of souls. Be a son of the Light. » «Yes, Jesus, always. Every time I close my re-born eyes, I will renew my oath. May You and the Most High be blessed. » «Blessed be the Most High Father! Go! » And the man goes away, happy, sure of himself, while Jesus and the dumbfounded apostles get into two boats and begin their navigation manoeuvres. And the vision ends. 59. A possessed man healed in the synagogue of Capernaum at the end of a dispute. 2nd November 1944. 1I see the synagogue of Capernaum. It is already crowded with people waiting. People near the door cast glances at the square, which is still sunny, though it is almost evening. At last there is a shout: «The Rabbi is coming. » They all turn towards the door, the shorter people stand on their toes or endeavour to push their way to the front. Some start discussing and shoving, notwith­ standing the reproaches of those employed in the synagogue and of the elders of the town. «May peace be with all those seeking the Truth. » Jesus is at the entrance and He greets them, blessing with His arms stretched forward. His tall figure stands out against the very bright light in the sunny square. He has taken off His white man­ tle and is wearing the usual deep blue one. He makes His way through the crowd, which opens out and then throngs around Him, like the waves round a ship. 2«I am ill, heal me! » moans a young man who appears to be consumptive, and pulls Jesus by His mantle. Jesus lays His hands on his head and says: «Have faith. God will listen to you. Let Me speak to the people now, then I will come to you. » The young man lets Him go and calms down. «What did He say to you? » asks a woman holding a child in her arms. «He said that after He has spoken to the people, He will come to me. » 378

«Is He going to heal you then? » «I don't know. He said to me: “Have faith”. I can only hope. » «What did He say? What did He say? » The people want to know. Jesus' answer is repeated through the crowd. «In that case, I am going to get my child. » «And I am bringing my old father here. » «Oh! If Aggaeus would only come! I'll try... but he will not come. » 3Jesus has reached His place. He greets the head of the syna­ gogue who exchanges the greeting. He is a small, stout, rather el­ derly man. When speaking to him Jesus bends down. It is like a palm bending over a shrub which is wider than it is taller. «What shall I give You? » asks the little man. «Whatever you wish, or anything at random. The Spirit will be our guide. » «But... will You be prepared? » «I am. Give me a roll at random. I tell you: the Spirit of the Lord will guide the choice for the sake of this people. » The head of the synagogue stretches his hand out to the pile of rolls, he picks one and unrolls it, he stops at a certain point. «Here» he says. Jesus takes the roll and starts reading at the shown point*: «Joshua: “Rise and sanctify the people and say to them: 'Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, because the Lord of Israel declares: the ban is now among you, Israel; you can never stand up to your en­ emies until you take from among you him who is contaminated by such crime'”. » He stops, He rolls the parchment and hands it back. The crowd is most attentive. Only one whispers: «We shall hear some very nice words against our enemies!» «It is the King of Israel, the Promised One, Who gathers His people together! » 4Jesus stretches out His arms in His usual oratoriai attitude. Silence is now perfect. «He who came to sanctify you has risen. He has come out from the secrecy of His house, where He prepared Himself for this mission. He purified Himself to give you an example of purifi­ * at the shown point : Joshua 7: 13. 59. 3 59. 4 379

cation. He established His position with the mighty ones in the Temple and with the people of God, and is now amongst you. It is I. Not as some of you think and hope, with clouded minds and un­ rest in their hearts. The Kingdom of which I am the future King and to which I call you is more notable and greater. I am calling you, Israel, before any other people, because in the fathers of your fathers you received the promise of this hour and of the alliance with the Most High Lord. But His Kingdom will not be established with armed multitudes or wild blood shedding and neither the violent nor the overbearing, the proud, the wrathful, the envious, the lustful, the greedy will enter it but only the good, the meek, the continent, the merciful, the humble, the patient and those who love God and their neighbours will be admitted. Israel! You are not asked to fight against external enemies, but against internal ones. Against those who are in all your hearts. In the hearts of thousands and thousands of your chil­ dren. Remove the barrier of sin from all your hearts, if you want God to gather you together tomorrow and say to you: “My people, yours is the Kingdom that will never be defeated, or invaded, or undermined by enemies”. Tomorrow. Which tomorrow? In a year or a month's time? Oh! Do not be inquisitive! Do not allow an unhealthy thirst to in­ quire into the future by means which taste of guilty witchcraft. Leave the Python spirit to the heathens. Leave to Eternal God the secrecy of time. As from tomorrow, the morrow that will rise after this evening, and the morrow that will come after tonight and will rise at cock-crow, come and be purified by sincere pen­ ance. R epent of your sins to be forgiven and to be ready for the Kingdom. Remove from yourselves the barrier of sin. Each of you has his own. Each has the one against the ten commandments of eternal salvation. Examine your consciences with sincerity and you will find your errors. Repent with sincere humbleness. You must repent. Not just with your mouths. You cannot laugh at or deceive God. But repent with a firm will, that will make you change your ways of living and return to the Law of the Lord. The Kingdom of Heaven is waiting for you. Tomorrow. Tomorrow? you may ask. Oh! the hour of God is always an ear-380

ly morrow, even when it comes at the end of a life as long as the Patriarchs'. Eternity does not use as a measure of time the slow flowing of a sandglass. And the measures of time which you call days, months, years, centuries are but heartbeats of the Eternal Spirit that keeps you alive. But your souls are eternal and you must adopt the same measure of time for your souls as your Crea­ tor does. You must, therefore, say: “Tomorrow will be the day of my death”. No, not death for the faithful. But rest of expectation, waiting for the Messiah to open the gates of Heaven. And I solemnly tell you that only twenty-seven of you here present will die and have to wait. The rest will be judged be­ fore their death, and their death will be a transition to God or Mammon without any delay because the Messiah has come, He is amongst you and calls you to give you the Gospel, to teach you the Truth and save you in Heaven. Do penance! The “morrow” of the Kingdom of Heaven is im­ pending. May it find you pure so that you may possess the eternal day. Peace be with you. » 5A bearded sumptuously dressed Israelite stands up to con­ 59. 5 tradict Him. He says: «Master, what You have stated appears to be in contrast with what is said in the second book of Maccabees, glory of Israel. It is said there: “Indeed when evil-doers are not left for long to their own devices but incur swift retribution, it is, a sign of great benevolence. In the case of the other nations, the Lord waits patiently for them to obtain the full measure of their sins, before He punishes them”. According to what You said, in­ stead, the Most High would appear to be very slow in punishing us, waiting, as for the other nations, the time of Judgement, when the measure of sins is full. Events, indeed, give You the lie. Israel is punished as stated by the historian of the Maccabees. But if what You say is correct, is there no conflict between Your doc­ trine and the sentence I have quoted? » «I do not know who you are, but I will give you My answer, whoever you are. There is no conflict in the doctrine, but only in the interpretation of the words. You interpret them in a hu­ man sense, I, instead, in a spiritual one. You see everything as re­ ferred to the present time and transient things, and you represent the majority of people who think likewise. I represent God and I 381

59. 6 59. 7explain and apply everything to eternal and supernatural mat­ ters. It is true, Yahweh did strike you at present because of your pride and because you considered yourselves a “nation” accord­ ing to the world. But how much He loved you and how patient He is with you, more than with anyone else, granting you the Sav­ iour, His Messiah, that you may listen to Him and be saved before the hour of the wrath of God! He does not want you to be sinners any longer. But if He struck you in the fleeting worldly things, seeing that the injury does not cure your souls, on the contra­ ry it makes them duller and duller, He does not inflict a further punishment, but He grants you salvation. He sends you Him Who cures and saves you! I, Who am speaking to you. » 6«Do You not consider Yourself bold in avowing Yourself a representative of God? None of the Prophets dared so much and You... Who are You, Who are speaking? And by whose order do You speak? » «The Prophets could not say of themselves what I state of My­ self. Who am I? The Expected One, The Promised One, the Sav­ iour. You have already heard His Precursor say: “Prepare the way for the Lord... Here the Lord God is coming... Like a shep­ herd He will feed His flock, although He is the Lamb of the true Passover”. Many amongst you heard these words from the Pre­ cursor and they saw the heavens brighten with a light that de­ scended in the shape of a dove and they heard a voice speak and say who I am. By whose order do I speak? By the order of Him Who is and Who sends Me. » «You say that, but You may be a liar or a dreamer. Your words are holy, but Satan sometimes uses deceitful words painted with holiness to deceive people. We do not know You. » «I am Jesus of Joseph of the House of David, I was born at Bethlehem Ephrathah, as was promised, named Nazarene, be­ cause I live at Nazareth. And that according to the world. Ac­ cording to God I am His Messenger. My disciples know. » «Oh! They! They can say what they like or what You tell them to say. » «Another will speak, who does not love Me, and will say Who I am. Wait till I call one of the people present here. » 7Jesus looks at the crowd, who are astonished and annoyed at the dispute, and divided between the two opposite doctrines. 382

He looks for someone with His sapphire eyes, and then in a loud voice He calls: «Aggaeus! Come here. It is an order. » There is great excitement in the crowd. They open out to let a man pass, who is violently shaking all over his body and is sup­ ported by a woman. «Do you know this man? » «Yes, he is Aggaeus, of Malachi, of Capernaum. He is pos­ sessed by an evil spirit which tortures him with sudden fits of fury. » «Does everybody know him? » The crowd shout: «Yes, we do. » «Can any of you say that he has spoken to Me, even for a few minutes? » The crowd shout: «No, no, he is half-witted, he never leaves his house, and nobody has seen You in it. » «Woman, bring him here in front of Me. » The woman pushes and drags him, while the poor man trem­ bles more than ever. The head of the synagogue warns Jesus: «Be careful! The dev­ il is about to torture him... and then he rushes at people, scratch­ es and bites them. » The crowd moves away thronging against the walls. Jesus and the man are now facing each other. There is a mo­ ment's struggle. The man, used to being dumb, seems to have dif­ ficulty in speaking, he moans, then his voice turns into words: «What is there between us and You, Jesus of Nazareth? Why have You come to torture us? Why do You want to destroy us, You, the Lord of Heaven and Earth? I know who You are: the Holy of God. No one, in human flesh, was ever greater than You, because in Your flesh of man is enclosed the Spirit of the Eternal Winner. You have already beaten me in... » 8«Be quiet! I order you to come out of this man. » The man has a fit of strange convulsions. He is tossed about by jerks and thrusts, as if someone pulled and pushed him, violently ill-treating him, he shouts in a wild voice, foams at his mouth, and is then thrown down onto the ground. He gets up, astonished and cured. «Have you heard? What do you say now? » Jesus asks His op­ ponent. 38359. 8

The bearded sumptuous man shrugs his shoulders and, obvi­ ously beaten, goes out without replying. The crowd scoff at him and applaud Jesus. «Silence! This place is sacred! » says Jesus and He orders: «Bring Me the man to whom I promised help from God. » The sick man comes forward. Jesus caresses him: «You be­ lieved Me! Be cured. Go in peace and be just. » The young man lets out a yell. I wonder what he feels. He kneels down before Jesus, kisses His feet thanking Him: «Thanks from me and from my mother! » Other sick people come: a little boy with paralysed legs. Je­ sus takes him in His arms, caresses him and puts him down... and leaves him. The child does not fall, but runs to his mother, who clasps him to her heart, weeping, and in a loud voice blesses «the Holy One of Israel». A little old blind man comes, led by his daughter. He also is cured with a caress on his diseased eyes. There is a roar of blessing from the crowd. Jesus makes His way through the crowd smiling, and al­ though He is tall, He would not succeed in pushing through, if Peter, James, Andrew and John did not work generously with their elbows, to make their way and reach Jesus, and then escort Him to the exit onto the square, which is now dark. The vision ends in this way. 60. The healing of Simon Peter's mother-in-law. 3rd November 1944. 1Peter is speaking to Jesus. He says: «Master, I would like to ask You to come to my house. I did not dare to ask You last Sab­ bath. But... I would like You to come. » «To Bethsaida? » «No, here... to my wife's house. I mean her home. » «Why do you want that, Peter? » «Well, for many reasons... also because today I was told that my mother-in-law is ill. If You would heal her, perhaps she... » «Tell Me, Simon. » «What I wanted to say is... if You go to her, she would stop... yes, well, You know, it is not the same thing to hear people speak 38460. 1

of someone and to see and listen to someone, and if the person in question heals... well... » «You mean also the ill-feeling would come to an end? » «No, not exactly ill-feeling. But, You know... there are many opinions in the village, and she... does not know whom she should listen to. Come, Jesus. » «I will come. Let us go. You will tell those who are waiting for Me that I will speak to them from your house. » 2They go as far as a low house, even lower than Peter's house at 60. 2 Bethsaida, and it is also closer to the lake. It is separated from the lake by the pebbly shore and I think that when there is a storm, the waves break against the walls of the house, which, while be­ ing low, is very wide, as if several people lived in it. In the kitchen garden in front of the house, facing the lake, there is only an old gnarled vine, supported by a rustic pergola, and an old fig-tree which the winds, blowing from the lake, have bent towards the house. The ruffled foliage of the tree brushes the walls of the house and beats against the shutters of the little windows, which are now closed as a protection against the bright sunshine. There is nothing but the vine and the fig-tree and a greenish little wall of a low well. «Come in, Master. » There are some women in the kitchen, some are busy mending the nets, some are preparing the food. They greet Peter and they bow embarrassed to Jesus, peering up at Him curiously. «Peace be to this house. How is the patient? » «Tell Him, you who are the oldest daughter-in-law» three of the women say to another one, who is drying her hands on the edge of her dress. «Her temperature is very high. The doctor has seen her and he said she is too old to get better and that when the disease goes from the bones to the heart, and gives a temperature, one dies, particularly at an old age. She will not eat any more... I try and prepare something good, even now, see, Simon, I was preparing the soup she used to like so much. I chose the best fish that I got from my brothers-in-law. But I do not think she will be able to eat it. And... she is so restless! She complains, and shouts, and cries, and curses... » «Be patient, as if she were your mother and God will grant 385

60. 3 60. 4you merit for it. 3Take Me to her. » «Rabbi... Rabbi... I don't know if she will be pleased to see You. She does not want to see anybody. I dare not say to her: “I am now bringing the Rabbi in to see you”. » Jesus smiles calmly. He addresses Peter: «It is your turn, Si­ mon. You are a man and the oldest son-in-law, you told Me. Go. » Peter makes a significant grimace and obeys. He walks across the kitchen, and goes into another room and through the door which he closes, I can hear him talking to a woman. He looks out and says: «Come, Master, quick. » And he whispers in a very low, just audible voice: «Before she changes her mind. » Jesus walks across the kitchen and opens the door wide. Standing on the threshold, He pronounces His sweet, solemn greeting: «Peace be with you. » He goes in, although He gets no reply. He goes near a low bed on which a little old woman is ly­ ing, grey-haired, thin, panting because of the high temperature which causes her wasted face to flush. Jesus bends over the little bed, smiles at the old woman: «Are you in pain? » «I am dying! » «No. You will not die. Do you believe that I can heal you? » «Why would You want to do that? You do not know me. » «For Simon, who asked Me... and for you, to give your soul time to see and love the Light. » «Simon? It would be better if he... How come Simon thought of me? » «Because he is better than you think. I know him and I am sure. I know him, and I am happy to satisfy him. » «Would You heal me, then? I will not die, then? » «No, woman. You will not die as yet. Can you believe in Me? » «I believe, I believe. It is enough for me not to die! » 4Jesus smiles once again. He takes her hand. Her hand, wrin­ kled and with swollen veins, disappears in the younger hand of Jesus, Who stands straight up, and takes the position He normal­ ly assumes when performing a miracle. He shouts: «Be healed! I want it! Get up! » and He lets her hand go. And her hand falls down without any complaint, whereas before, notwithstanding Jesus had taken it very gently, she groaned when it was moved. There is silence for a few moments. Then the old woman cries 386

out: «Oh! God of our fathers! But there is nothing wrong with me! I am healed! Come! Come! » Her daughters-in-law rush in. «Look! » says the old woman: «I can move and I feel no pain! And I am no longer feverish! Feel how cool I am. And my heart no longer feels like the blacksmith's hammer. Ah! I am not dying any longer! » Not one word for the Lord! But Jesus does not mind. He says to the oldest daughter-in- law: «Dress her that she may get up. She is fit to be up. » And He makes for the door. Simon, mortified, says to his mother-in-law: «The Master has healed you. Have you nothing to say to Him? » «Certainly. I wasn't thinking of that. Thank You. What can I do to thank You? » «Be good, very good. Because the Eternal Father has been good to you. And if it is not too much trouble for you, allow Me to rest in your home today. I have been to all the nearby villages the past week, and I arrived here at dawn this morning. I am tired. » «Certainly! Certainly! You may stay if You wish. » But there is not much enthusiasm in her words. 5Jesus, Peter, Andrew, James and John go and sit down in the 60. 5 kitchen garden. «Master!... » «Yes, Peter? » «I feel humiliated. » Jesus makes a gesture, which meant: «Never mind. » He then goes on: «She is not the first, and will not be the last who do not feel immediate gratitude. But I do not seek gratitude. All I want is to give souls the chance to save themselves. I do My duty. Let them do theirs. » «Ah! There have been other cases like this one? Where? » «Curious Simon! But I will please you, although I do not like useless curiosity. At Nazareth. Do you remember Sarah's moth­ er? She was very ill when we arrived in Nazareth and we were told that the little girl cried. Since she is good and gentle, and I did not want her to become an orphan and a stepdaughter in the future, I went to see the woman... I wanted to heal her... But I had not yet set foot in the house, when her husband and a broth­ er drove Me away, saying: “Away! Go away! We do not want to, get into trouble with the synagogue”. For them, for too many, I 387

60. 6am already a rebel... I healed her just the same... for the sake of her children. And I said to Sarah in the kitchen garden, caress­ ing her: “I will heal your mother. Go home. Do not cry any more”. And the woman was healed the same moment and the little girl told her, and she told also her father and her uncle... and she was punished for speaking to Me. I know, because the child ran after Me when I was leaving the village... But it does not matter. » «I would have made her become ill again. » «Peter! » Jesus is severe. «Is that what I teach you and the oth­ ers? What have you heard Me say from the very first time you heard Me? Of what have I always spoken as being the first condi­ tion to be My true disciples? » «It is true, Master. I am a real beast. Forgive me. But... I can­ not bear the fact that they do not love You! » «Oh! Peter! You will see much greater indifference! You will have many surprises, Peter! People that the so called “holy” world scorns as being money-changers, who instead will set an example in the world, an example which will not be followed by those who despise them. Heathens who will be My most faithful ones. Prostitutes who will become pure by strong will power and penance. Sinners who amend their way of living... » «Listen: that a sinner amends his way... it may well be. But a prostitute and a money-changer!... » «You do not believe it? » «I do not. » «You are mistaken, Simon. 6But here is your mother-in-law coming towards us. » «Master, I beg You to come and sit at my table. » «Thank you, woman. May God reward you. » They go into the kitchen and sit at the table. The old woman serves them with plenty of fish, both as soup and roasted. «I have nothing else but this» she apologises. And, to keep up the hab­ it, she says to Peter: «Your brothers-in-law are doing even too much, all alone as they are, since you went to Bethsaida! If it had only helped to make my daughter richer... But I hear that you are very often absent and you do not go fishing. » «I follow the Master. I have been to Jerusalem with Him and I am with Him on Sabbaths. I do not spend my time in revelries. » «But you don't earn any money. Since you want to be the 388

Prophet's servant, you had better come back here again. At least that poor daughter of mine will be fed by her relatives while you are acting the saint. » «But are you not ashamed of speaking like that in front of Him Who healed you? » «I am not criticising Him. He is doing His job. I am criticising you, you are a sluggard. In any case, you will never be a prophet or a priest. You are an ignorant sinner, a good for nothing. » «You are lucky that He is here, otherwise... » «Simon, your mother-in-law gave you very good advice. You can go fishing even here. I am told that you used to go fishing al­ so at Capernaum. You can come back again. » «And live here again? But Master, You do not... » «Be good, Peter. If you are here, you will be either on the lake or with Me. So what difference is it for you if you are or you are not in this house? » Jesus has laid His hand on Peter's shoulder and His calmness seems to pass into the fiery apostle. «You are right. You are always right. I will do that. But... what about these? » and he points to his partners John and James. «Can they not come, too? » «Oh! Our father and above all our mother will be happier if they know we are with You, rather than with them. They will not object. » «Perhaps Zebedee will come, too» says Peter. «Quite likely. And others with him. We will come, Master. We will certainly come. » 7«Is Jesus of Nazareth here? » asks a little boy appearing at the 60. 7 door. «He is here, come in. » A boy comes in, whom I recognise as one of the boys I saw in the first visions of Capernaum, and exactly the one who tum­ bled down near Jesus' feet, and promised he would be good, so he would get the honey of Paradise. «My little friend, come here» says Jesus. The little fellow, somewhat embarrassed because so many are looking at him, takes heart and runs to Jesus, Who embraces him and sits him on His knees, and gives him a bit of His fish on a slice of bread. «Here, Jesus. This is for You. Also today that person said: «It 389

is the Sabbath. Take this to the Rabbi of Nazareth and tell your friend to pray for me. » He knows that You are my friend!... » The child smiles happily, and eats his bread and fish. « Well done, little James! You will tell that person that My prayers rise to the Father for him. » «Is it for the poor? » asks Peter. «Yes, it is. » «Is it always the same offering? Let us look. » Jesus hands over the purse. Peter empties it and counts the coins. «Still the same large sum! But who is this person? Say, boy, who is it? » «I must not say, and I will not say! » «You little rascal! Be good, and I will give you some fruit. » «I will not speak, whether you insult me or caress me. » «What a tongue he has! Just listen! » «Little James is right, Peter. He is keeping his word: leave him alone. » «Master, do You know who the person is? » Jesus does not reply. He is busy with the child, to whom He gives another bit of roasted fish, after removing all the bones. But Peter insists, and Jesus is obliged to answer. «I know everything, Simon. » «And we are not to know? » «And will you never be cured of your fault? » Jesus reproaches him, but smiles at the same time. And He adds: «You will soon know. Because if evil wants to be hidden and cannot always be such, good, even if it wants to be hidden, to be meritorious, will be made known one day, for the glory of God, Whose nature shines in one of His sons. The nature of God: love. And this per­ son understands all that, because he loves his neighbours. Go, James. Take My blessing to that person. » The vision ends in this way. 61. Jesus benefits the poor after telling the parable of the favourite horse of the king. 4th November 1944. 1Jesus has climbed on top of a pile of baskets and ropes at the 39061. 1

entrance to the kitchen garden of the house of Peter's mother-in- law. The kitchen garden is crowded with people, and other peo­ ple are on the lake shore, some sitting on the shore, some on the beached boats. It looks as if He has been speaking for some time, because the sermon has started. I hear: «... Certainly many times you have thought so in your hearts. But it is not so. The Lord has not lacked in kindness of heart towards His people. Notwithstanding His people lacked in loyalty to Him thousands of times. Listen to this parable. It will help you to understand. A king had many wonderful horses in his stables. But he was particularly fond of one of them. He gazed fondly at it, even be­ fore he had it. Afterwards, when he got it, he put it in a delightful place and he often went to admire his favourite horse, both with his eyes and with his heart, dreaming it would become the won­ der of his kingdom. And when the horse rebelled against com­ mands, disobeyed and ran away under another master, the king, in his sorrow and his severity, promised he would forgive the re­ bel after it had been punished. And loyal as he was, although far away, he watched over his favourite and sent gifts and guard­ ians to it, hoping they would keep his remembrance in the horse's heart. But the horse, although suffering from the exile from the kingdom, was not steady, as the king was, in loving and wishing complete forgiveness. At times it was good, at times bad; neither was its goodness greater than its badness. In fact, it was the other way round. And yet the king was patient and, with reproaches and caresses, he endeavoured to turn his horse into a dearer and more docile friend. As time went by, the horse became more and more loath. It invoked its king, it cried under the whip of other masters, but it did not really want to belong to the king. It simply did not want to. Oppressed, exhausted, moaning, it did not say: “I am such through my own fault”. Instead; it accused its king for it. The king, after trying everything, decided to make one last ef­ fort. “So far” he said, “I have sent messengers and friends. Now I will send my own son. His heart is like my own and will speak the same love as I would, and will make use of the same caresses and gifts as I used, indeed, he will be even kinder, because my 391

61. 2son is like myself, but made more sublime by love”. And he sent his son. That is the parable. 2Now tell Me: do you think that king loved his favourite horse? » The crowd together reply: «He loved it with infinite love. » «Could the animal complain of its king about all the ill it had suffered after leaving him? » «No, it could not» reply the people. «Answer also this question: how do you think that horse will have received the king's son who went to rescue and cure it and take it back once again to the delightful land? » «With great joy, of course, with gratitude and love. » «Now, if the king's son said to the horse: “I have come for this reason, to do such and such a thing for you, but now you must be good, obedient, willing and loyal to me”, what do you think the horse replied? » «Oh! There is no need to ask! Now that it was aware of how much it cost to be expelled from the kingdom, it will have said that it wanted to be as the king's son suggested. » «Well, then, what was the duty of that horse, according to you? » «To be even better than it was requested, more affectionate, more docile, to be forgiven for past faults, and out of gratitude for all the good received. » «And if it did not do that? » «It would deserve death, because it was worse than a wild beast. » «My friends, you have judged correctly. But do exactly your­ selves as you would have liked that horse to do. I beseech you, men, the favourite creatures of the King of Heaven, of God, My Father and yours, to be at least as you judge that horse to be. Be­ cause after the Prophets, God sends you His own Son and I im­ plore you, for your good, and because I love you as only God can love, the God Who is in Me to work the miracle of Redemption. Woe to those men who lower themselves to a lower degree than animals! But if it was possible to excuse those who committed sin up to the present time — because too long a time has elapsed since the Law was given and too much worldly dust has settled on the Law — now it is no longer so. I have come to bring the word 392

of God once again. The Son of man is amongst men to lead them back to God. Follow Me. I am the Way, the Truth, the Life. » 3The usual whispering of the crowd. Jesus tells His disciples: «Let the poor come forward. There is a rich offer for them made by one who begs to obtain forgiveness from God. » Three tattered old men come forward, two blind men and a cripple; they are followed by a widow with seven emaciated chil­ dren. Jesus stares at them, one by one, He smiles at the widow and particularly at the children. He says to John: «Put those over there in the kitchen garden. I want to speak to them. » But He becomes stern, with blazing eyes, when a little old man appears. But He says nothing for the time being. He calls Peter, whom He asks for the purse received shortly before and for another one containing smaller coins, which are offerings collected from good-hearted people. He empties the coins onto the bench near the well, He counts them, and divides them. He makes six parts. A very big one, all silver coins, and five smaller ones in size, with many bronze coins and a few big ones. He calls the poor, sick people and asks them: «Have you nothing to tell Me? » The blind men are silent; the cripple says: «May He Who sent You, protect You. » Nothing else. Jesus puts the offering into his good hand. The man says: «May God reward You. But more than this of­ fering, I would like to be healed by You. » «You did not ask for that. » «I am poor, a worm trodden on by the mighty ones, I dared not hope You would have mercy on a beggar. » «I am Mercy that bends over all miseries calling Me. I refuse no one. All I ask for is faith and love, that I may say: I am listen­ ing to you. » «Oh! My Lord! I believe You and I love You. Save me, then! Heal Your servant! » Jesus lays His hand on the crook-back, He moves it gently, as if He were caressing the man and says: «I want you to be healed. » The man straightens up, agile and wholesome, uttering endless blessings. 61. 3 393

61. 4 61. 54Jesus hands the offering to the blind men and waits an in­ stant before dismissing them... then He lets them go. He calls the old people. He gives the alms to the first one, and helps him to put the coins into his belt pouch. He listens pitifully to the mishaps of the second one, who informs Jesus of the disease of one of his daughters. «I have but her! And she is dying. What will happen to me? Oh! if only You came! She cannot come, she cannot stand up. She would love to... but cannot. Master, Lord, Jesus, have mercy on us! » «Where do you live, father? » «At Korazim. Ask for Isaac of Jonah, named the Adult. Will You really come? Will You not forget our misfortunes? And will You heal my daughter? » «Do you believe I can heal her? » «Oh! I do believe it. That is why I am speaking to You about it. » «Go home, father. Your daughter will be greeting you on the doorstep. » «But she is in bed and she has not been able to get up for the last three... Ah! I now understand! Oh! Thank You, Rabboni! Blessed are You and He Who sent You! Praise be to God and His Messiah! » The old man goes away, plodding along as fast as he can. But when he is almost outside the kitchen garden he says: «Master, will You come just the same to my poor house? Isaac will be waiting for You to kiss Your feet and wash them with His tears, and offer You the bread of love. Come, Jesus: I will speak to the townsfolk about You. » «I will come. Go in peace and be happy. » 5The third old man comes forward, He seems to be the most ragged. But Jesus has only the big pile of money left. He calls in a loud voice: «Woman, come here with your little ones. » The young emaciated woman comes forward with her head lowered down. She seems a sad hen with her sad brood of chick­ ens. «How long have you been a widow, woman? » «Three years at the moon of Tishry. » «How old are you? » «Twenty-seven. » 394

«Are they all your children? » «Yes, Master... and I have nothing else. I finished every­ thing... How can I work if no one wants me with all these little ones? » «God does not abandon even the worm He created. He will not abandon you, woman. Where do you live? » «On the lake. Three stadia outside Bethsaida. He told me to come here... My husband died on the lake; he was a fisherman. » She points to Andrew, who blushes and would like to disappear. «You did well, Andrew, telling the woman to come to Me. » Andrew takes heart and whispers: «The man was a friend of mine, he was good, he died in a storm and lost his boat too. » «Take this, woman. It will help you for a long time, then an­ other sun will rise on your days. Be good, bring your children up in the Law and you will not be without God's help. I bless you: you and your little ones. » And He pats them, one by one, with great pitiful love. The woman goes away pressing her treasure to her heart. 6«And what about me? » asks the old man who is left last. Jesus looks at him, but is silent. «Nothing for me? You are not fair! You gave her six times as much as the others, and nothing to me. Of course... she was a wo­ man! » Jesus looks at him, but is silent. «Look everybody; and tell me if there is justice! I have come from far away, because I was told that money was given here, and now I see that some get too much and I get nothing. A poor, old, sick man! And He wants us to believe in Him!... » «My old man, are you not ashamed of telling such lies? Death is behind your back and you lie and endeavour to rob also who is hungry. Why do you want to rob your brothers of the offering that I received to give it with justice? » «But I... » «Be quiet! You should have understood by My silence and My action that I had recognised you and you should have followed My example and been silent. Why do you want Me to shame you? » «I am poor. » «No, you are a miser and a thief. You live for money and usu­ ry. » 39561. 6

61. 7«I have never lent on usury. God is my witness. » «And is this not the most fierce usury, to rob those who are in dire need? Go. Repent. That God may forgive you. » «I swear... » «Be quiet! I tell you! It is said: “You shall not swear false­ hood”. If I did not respect your old age, I would search you and in your breast I would find a purse full of gold: your real heart. Go away! » The impudent old man, seeing that his secret has been discov­ ered, goes away without any need for Jesus' thundering voice. The crowd threaten and scorn him, and they insult him as a thief. «Be quiet! If he did wrong, do not do the same. He lacks sin­ cerity: he is dishonest. If you insult him, you lack charity. A brother who makes a mistake is not to be insulted. Everybody has his sins. No one is perfect but God. I was compelled to shame him, because nobody must ever be a thief, and much less steal from poor people. But only the Father knows how much I suf­ fered having to do it. You must also be sorry, seeing that a man in Israel infringes the Law endeavouring to defraud the poor and a widow. Do not be greedy. May your souls, not money, be your treasure. Do not be perjurers. Let your language be as sincere and honest as your actions. Life is not eternal and the hour of death will come. Live in such a way that at the hour of your death peace may be in your souls. The peace of those who lived an hon­ est life. Go home... » 7«Ha Ve mercy, Lord! This son of mine is deaf because a demon vexes him. » «And this brother of mine is like an unclean animal, he wal­ lows in the mud and eats excrement. A malignant spirit forc­ es him to do that, and although against his will, he does foul things. » Jesus goes towards the imploring group. He lifts His arms and orders: «Come out of them. Leave to God His creatures. » Amidst shouts and uproars the two unhappy men are healed. The women leading them kneel down, blessing. «Go home and be thankful to God. Peace to you all. Go. » The crowd leave, commenting on the events. The four disciples gather around the Master. 396

«My friends, I solemnly tell you that all sins can be found in Israel and the demons have taken up their abode there. Neither are the possessed the only ones whose lips are mute, or are driven to live like animals and eat filth. But the most real and numerous possessions are those that make hearts mute to honesty and love, and turn hearts into a sink of filthy vices. Oh! Father! » Jesus sits down depressed. «Are You tired, Master? » «Not tired, My dear John, but afflicted because of the state of hearts and the lack of will to grow better. I have come... but man... man... Oh! Father!... » «Master, I love You. We all love You... » «I know. But you are so few... and My eagerness to save is so great! » Jesus has embraced John, and is resting His head on His disci­ ple's. He is sad. Peter, Andrew and James are near Him, and they look at Him with love and sadness. And the vision ends in this way. 62. The disciples looking for Jesus while He prays during the night. 5th November 1944. 1I see Jesus coming out of Peter's house at Capernaum, mak­ 62. 1 ing as little noise as possible. He obviously spent the night there to make Peter happy. It is the dead of night. The sky is a starry canopy. The lake faintly reflects the glitter of the sky and, rather than see it, one guesses the peaceful lake is there sleeping under the stars, be­ cause of the gentle lapping of the water on the gravel shore. Jesus sets the door ajar, looks at the sky, the lake and the road. He is thinking. Then He starts walking, not along the lake, but towards the village. He passes through part of it towards the country. He goes into the country, along a little path that leads to the first undulations of an olive-grove. He enters the green, silent peace and prostrates Himself in prayer. A fervent prayer! He prays kneeling down, and then, as if He were fortified, He stands straight up, His face raised to Heaven, 397

62. 2 62. 3a face made more spiritual by the rising light of a clear, sum­ mer dawn. He prays smiling now, whereas before He was sighing, probably because of some moral grief. His arms are fully out­ stretched. He seems a living, tall, angelical cross, so gentle is His attitude. He seems to be blessing the whole country, the rising day, the fading stars and the lake, now becoming visible. 2«Master! We have been looking for You all over! We saw the door ajar, when we came back with the fish, and we thought You had gone out. But we could not find You. And at last, a peasant, who was loading his baskets to take them to town, told us. We were calling: “Jesus, Jesus!”, and he said: “Are you looking for the Rabbi Who speaks to the crowds? He went up that path, up towards the mountain. He must be in Micah's olive-grove, be­ cause He often goes there. I have seen Him there before”. He was right. Why did You come out so early, Master? Why did You not rest? Was the bed not comfortable?... » «No, Peter. The bed was comfortable and the room was lovely. But I often do that. To raise My spirit and be united to the Father. Prayer is a strength for oneself and for others. We achieve every­ thing by praying. If we do not receive a grace, which the Father does not always grant — and we must not think it is due to lack of love, instead we must believe that it is the will of an Order which governs the destiny of every man for a good purpose —, prayer certainly gives us peace and contentment, to enable us to bear so many vexing things, without going off the holy path. It is easy, you know, Peter, to have a clouded mind and an agitated heart because of what is around us! And how can a clouded mind or an agitated heart perceive God? » «It's true. But we do not know how to pray! We are not capable of saying the lovely words You say. » «Say the words you know, as best you can. It is not the words, but the sentiments with which they are uttered that make your prayers pleasant to the Father. » «We would like to pray as You do. » «I will teach you also to pray. I will teach you the most holy prayer. But to prevent it from being only a void formula on your lips, I want your hearts to have at least a minimum of holiness, light and wisdom... That is why I instruct you. Later, I will teach you the holy prayer. 3Why were you looking for Me, is there any­ 398

thing you want of Me? » «No, Master. But there are many who want so much from You. There were already people coming from Capernaum, and they were poor, sick, depressed people, people of goodwill and anx­ ious to be taught. When they inquired about You, we said: “The Master is tired and is sleeping. Go away and come back next Sab­ bath”. » «No, Simon. You must not say that. There is not one day only for mercy. I am Love, Light and Health every day of the week. » «But... so far You have spoken only on Sabbaths. » «Because I was still unknown. But as I become known, every day there will be effusions of Grace and graces. I tell you solemn­ ly that the time will come when even the moment of time which is granted to a sparrow to rest on a branch and eat some little grains will not be granted to the Son of man for His rest and meals. » «But You will be taken ill! We will not allow that. Your kind­ ness must not make You unhappy. » «And do you think that could make Me unhappy? Oh! If all the world came to Me to listen to Me, to bewail its sins and sor­ row on My heart, to be healed in its bodies and souls, and I were worn out speaking and forgiving and pouring forth My power, I would be so happy, Peter, that I would not even regret Heaven, where I was in the Father!... 4Where were they from, those who were coming to Me? » «From Korazim, Bethsaida, Capernaum, and there were some even from Tiberias and Gherghesa, as well as from the hundreds of villages around those towns. » «Go and tell them that I will be at Korazim, Bethsaida and nearby villages. » «Why not at Capernaum? » «Because I came for everybody and everybody must have Me, and then... there is old Isaac waiting for Me. We must not disap­ point his hopes. » «Will You wait for us here, then? » «No, I am going and you will stay at Capernaum to send the crowds to Me; I will come back later. » «We will be here alone... » Peter is sad. «Do not be sad. Obedience should make you happy as well as62. 4 399

63. 1the conviction that you are a useful disciple. And the same ap­ plies to the others. » Peter, Andrew, James and John cheer up. Jesus blesses them, and they part. The vision ends in this way. 63. The leper healed near Korazim. 6th November 1944. 1Since before dawn, as in the detail of a perfect photograph, I see in my spirit a poor leper. He is really a mess of a man. He is so ravaged by his disease, that I could not tell his age. Reduced to a skeleton, half naked, his body is in the state of a corroded mummy, with contorted hands and feet, parts of which are missing, so that the miser­ able limbs no longer seem to belong to a human being. His hands, twisted and clawed, resemble the talons of a winged monster, his feet are so fragmented and disfigured, that they are almost like the hooves of an ox. And his head!... I think that the head of anyone left unbur­ ied, which becomes mummified by sun and wind, must be like the head of this man. A few surviving forelocks, spread here and there, sticking to the yellowish, crusty skin, like dust dried on a skull, very deep set eyes half open, lips and nose half eaten by the disease and showing cartilage and gums, two embryonic wrecks of outer ears, all his visible body covered by a wrinkled skin, as yellow as some types of kaolin, with bones showing here and there: his skin seems to have the task of keeping all the poor bones together, in its filthy sack all covered with ugly scars and putrid sores. A real wreck! I cannot help thinking of the personification of Death wan­ dering on the earth, covered by a wrinkled skin on its skeleton, wrapped in a filthy mantle falling to bits and pieces, holding in its hand not a scythe, but a knotty stick torn from a tree. He is at the entrance of a remote cave, a real cave, in such a state of ruin that I cannot say whether it was originally a sepul­ chre, or a hut for wood cutters or the remains of a demolished house. He is looking at the road, over one hundred metres away 400

from his cave, a main road, dusty and still sunny. There is no­ body on the road. As far as the eye can see, on the road there is sunshine, dust and solitude. Much higher up, to the northwest, there must be a village or a town. I can see the first houses. It must be at least a kilometre away. The leper looks and sighs. He takes a chipped bowl and fills it at a brook. He drinks. He goes into a tangle of bushes, behind his cave, bends down and pulls some wild roots out of the ground. He goes back to the brook, he washes them, removing the coarser dirt with the little water of the rivulet and he eats them slowly, taking them painfully to his mouth with his ruined hands. They must be as hard as sticks. He finds difficulty in chewing them and he has to spit many out as he is unable to swallow them, not­ withstanding the water he drinks to help himself. 2«Where are you, Abel? » shouts someone. The leper rouses, he has something on his lips that might be a smile. But his lips are in such a bad state that even that outward sign of a smile is vague and shapeless. He replies with a strange, squeaky voice: it reminds me of the cry of certain birds, the ex­ act name of which I do not know: «I am here! I did not believe you were coming anymore. I thought something had happened to you. I was sad... If I lose you too, what will happen to poor Abel? » While speaking, he walks towards the road, as far as he can according to the Law, apparently, because at half the way, he stops. A man comes foreward on the road, he is moving so fast that he seems to be running. «Is that really you, Samuel? Oh! If it is not you I am waiting for, whoever you may be, don't hurt me! » «It's me, Abel, it's me! And I am healed. Look how I can run. I am late, I know. And I was worried about you. But when you hear... oh! you will be happy. And I have with me not only the usual crusts of bread, but a whole loaf of good, fresh bread, and it is all for you, and I have some good fish, and some cheese, and it is all for you. I want you to rejoice, my poor friend, and thus get ready for a greater joy. » «But how have you become so rich? I do not understand... » «I will tell you. » «And healed. You do not seem the same man! » 40163. 2

63. 3 3«Listen, then. I heard that there was at Capernaum that Rab­ bi who is a holy man, and I went... » «Stop, stop! I am infected. » «Oh! It does not matter! I am no longer afraid of anything. » The man, who is indeed the cripple healed and helped by Jesus, with his fast step has almost reached the leper and is only a few steps from him. He spoke while walking and smiling happily. But the leper says once again: «In the name of God, stop. If anyone should see you... » «I will stop. Look: I am putting the provisions here. Eat, while I speak to you. » He puts a bundle on a large stone, and opens it up. He then withdraws a few steps, while the leper moves for­ ward and throws himself on the rare food. «Oh! How long it is since I had food like this! How good it is! And I was just thinking that I was going to rest with an empty stomach. Not one merciful soul today... and not even you... I had chewed some roots... » «Poor Abel! I was afraid of that. But I said: “Well, he may be sad now, but he will be happy after!”» «Happy, yes, because of this good food. But after... » «No! You will be happy forever. » The leper shakes his head. «Listen, Abel. If you can have faith, you will be happy. » «But faith in whom? » «In the Rabbi. In the Rabbi Who healed me. » «But I am a leper. And at the last stage! How can He heal me? » «Oh! He can. He is holy. » «Yes, also Elisha healed* Naaman the leper... I know... But I... I cannot go to the Jordan. » «You will be healed without the need of any water. Listen: this Rabbi is the Messiah, do you understand? The Messiah! He is the Son of God. And He heals everyone who has faith. He says: “I want” and the demons flee, limbs are straightened, and blind eyes see. » «Oh! I would have faith, I would indeed! But how can I see the Messiah? » «Exactly... I have come just for that. He is often over there, in * healed, in 2Kings 5: 1-14. 402

that village. I know where He will be this evening. If you want... I said: “I will tell Abel, and if Abel feels he can have faith, I will take him to the Master”. » «Are you mad, Samuel? If I go near houses, I will be stoned. » «Not near the houses. It will be soon getting dark. I will take you to that thicket, and then I will go and call the Master. I will bring Him to you... » «Go, go at once! I will go by myself to that place. I will walk in the ditch, behind the hedge, but go, go... Oh! go, my good friend! If you only knew what it is to suffer from this disease. And what it means to hope to be healed!... » The leper no longer is interest­ ed in the food. He cries and gesticulates imploring his friend. «I am going, and you will come. » The healed cripple runs away. 4Abel with difficulty climbs down into the ditch coasting the road, as it is full of bushes which have grown on the dry earth. Only in the centre there is a fine stream of water. It is getting dark, and the poor man slides among the bushes, always on the look-out in case he should hear any steps. Twice he has to hide on the bottom: the first time when a man on horseback passes along the road, the second time when three men, laden with hay, pass by going to the village. And he goes on. But Jesus and Samuel reach the thicket before him. «He will be here before long. He moves very slowly because of his wounds Please be patient. » «I am not in a hurry. » «Will You heal him? » «Has he faith? » «Oh!... he was dying of starvation. He saw that food after years of abstinence, and yet, after a few mouthfuls, he left it all to come here. » «How did you meet him? » «You know... I lived on charity after my misfortune and I went along the roads from one place to another. I used to pass here eve­ ry seven days and I met the poor man... one day, when driven by hunger, he had come on the main road looking for something, un­ der a most violent storm. He was searching amongst the garbage, like a dog. I had a chunk of dry bread in my knapsack, the gift of some good people, and I shared it with him. We have been friends63. 4 403