By Nishant Xavier –
Italian Catholic anti-modernist writer Antonio Socci tells us, “Well, if it is true that all would have desired to have been present there, to have seen Jesus of Nazareth – to have seen His Face, “The fairest of the sons of men” – to have listened to Him in some town’s market-square, along some dusty roads to have been present at His tremendous, earth-shattering miracles; then it must be made known to everyone: there exists a work – the only one of its kind in the world; the only one of its kind in history – which fulfills exactly this “impossible” desire.”
It was precisely for our very own generation that this exceptional gift was given. It is a work of ten volumes, about 5,000 pages – literally awe-inspiring – where it is re-lived, day by day, as though broadcast live, the adventure of Jesus of Nazareth, the God-Man who overturned human history. There are hundreds of topographical names and details and descriptions of places, which were unknown to almost everyone and which only the latest research and archaeological excavations have brought to light. Maria Valtorta’s work – The Gospel as Revealed to Me – is, in truth, inexplicable by merely human means. Even the literary style is very lofty and profound.
But above all, the Giant – Who runs through these pages and Who fascinates by means of Power, Goodness, and Beauty; Who inspires, by means of words and actions – is precisely that Jesus of Nazareth of Whom the Gospels speak. The world had not seen – nor will ever see – anything comparable.
Sounds interesting? Well, this is a book that historically faced a lot of scrutiny, but now has an Imprimatur.
History of the book: Words of authorization from Pope Ven. Pius XII. A Fresh controversy arises under Pope St. John XXIII. Approval again by the time of Pope St. Paul VI.
Stephen Austin’s PDF documents the history. Pope Pius XII had given a verbal authorization to publish without determining whether the work was supernatural or not: “Publish it just as it is. There is no need to give an opinion about whether it is supernatural or not. He who reads, will understand.”
Next, the first edition was not accepted and was even temporarily placed on the Index, mainly because it lacked an Imprimatur at the time. In 1961, the Holy Office approved the second edition of the Poem of the Man-God for publication with the words: “Continue to publish this second edition. We will see how the world receives it.” Fr. Gabriel Roschini, widely regarded as one of the best Mariologists of the 20th century, highly praised and recommended the work to all Mariologists while working as a consultor to the Holy Office. The Vatican under Pope St. Paul VI praised the book of his – The Virgin Mary in the writings of Maria Valtorta.
Fr. Gabriel Roschini wrote, in that book, “I have been studying, teaching, preaching, and writing Mariology for half a century already. To do this, I had to read innumerable works and articles of all kinds on Mary: a real Marian library. However, I must candidly admit that the Mariology found in all of Maria Valtorta’s writings – both published or unpublished – has been for me a real discovery. No other Marian writings, not even the sum total of everything I have read and studied, were able to give me as clear, as lively, as complete, as luminous, or as fascinating an image, both simple and sublime, of Mary, God’s Masterpiece.
“It seems to me that the conventional image of the Blessed Virgin, portrayed by myself and my fellow Mariologists, is merely a paper mache Madonna compared to the living and vibrant Virgin Mary envisioned by Maria Valtorta, a Virgin Mary perfect in every way. Whoever wants to know the Blessed Virgin (a Virgin in perfect harmony with the Holy Scriptures, the Tradition of the Church, and the Church Magisterium) should draw from Valtorta’s Mariology.
“If anyone believes my declaration is only one of those ordinary hyperbolic slogans abused by publicity, I will say this only: let them read before they judge!”
So we see that by the time of Pope St. Paul VI, the Church’s position had turned to positive on the book. It was the subject of scrutiny under Pope St. John XXIII, especially in its first edition. For a comparison, St. Faustina’s Diary was also once temporarily seriously scrutinized by the same Holy Office under Pope St. John XXIII. It was later cleared of all difficulties, by the same Holy Office under Pope St. John Paul II, and now is a devotion practiced by many millions of Catholics.
Bishop Roman Danylak granted the Episcopal Imprimatur in 2002: “The Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur, which the Roman Catholic Church affixes to religious books, was and is a testimonial to the orthodoxy of doctrine of a given book. Three Servite Fathers had presented Pope Pius XII a typed copy of the first volume of The Poem of the Man-God. The pope said to them, “Let it be published, adding nothing to it nor taking away anything… The above is a somewhat lengthy introduction to my original intent: to present a letter of commendation, a Nihil Obstat, Imprimatur and a testimonial. There is nothing objectionable in The Poem of the Man-God and all the other writings of Valtorta in so far as faith and morals are concerned”
Several Bishops have given their testimony that they are convinced the Poem of the Man-God, as the Work is called, is of supernatural origin.
Archbishop Carinci stated, in 1952: “There is nothing therein which is contrary to the Gospel. Rather, this work, a good complement to the Gospel, contributes towards a better understanding of its meaning. … it seems impossible to me that a woman of a very ordinary theological culture, and unprovided with any book useful to that end, had been able on her own to write with such exactness pages so sublime … one comes spontaneously to thank the Lord for having given us, by means of this suffering woman, confined to a bed, a work of such literary beauty, so doctrinally and spiritually lofty, accessible and profound, drawing one to read it and capable of being reproduced in cinematic productions and sacred theater.”
Archbishop George Pearce has said: “I first came in contact with the work of Maria Valtorta in 1979 […] I find it tremendously inspiring. It is impossible for me to imagine that anyone could read this tremendous work with an open mind and not be convinced that its author can be no one but the Holy Spirit of God.”
This exceptional Poem is a Gospel of the Catholic Faith explained to us by the Prince of Theologians and the best Professor of Theology there ever was, namely Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. It is highly recommended to Families, Priests and to all. It can be edifying or useful to read a Theology Manual or a Church Document. But for many lay Catholics, it may be even more edifying and useful, and applicable to their daily lives, to hear and read all the Dogmas of the Catholic Faith confirmed and explained by Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Mother Mary during Our Lord’s Words to His Apostles. It could be a source of holy joy for all families and persons who love Jesus and Mary.
The books can be purchased at Amazon or they can be downloaded at Archive.org.
Nishant Xavier lives in Chennai, India. He works in investment banking. He has a great desire that India will be blessed and enriched with the wealth and treasures of the Gospel and the Sacraments. He wishes to work for the uplift of the poor and so that India may become the most advanced, prosperous and successful nation in the world. You can reach out to him anytime with questions or thoughts on [email protected]