Detailed Testimonies
Discovery of the work
In 1990, upon my return to God, through the graces of Medjugorje, a friend told me about Maria Valtorta. I wanted to know everything about this Jesus rediscovered after 25 years of spiritual wanderings away from the Church. She first made me read the reason for her being put on the Index before lending me a first volume. The encounter with the living Jesus was immediate and dazzling. I continued this pilgrimage through time and space following Jesus with the permission of my spiritual director. This pilgrimage has not stopped since.
Impact on love for the Gospel
1. I have concretely discovered that the main purpose of all existence was the life of Faith. This feeling has grown over the past 35 years. My humanity is nourished by the example of that of Jesus to perceive the possible and concrete path of daily sanctity, in all situations. His divinity, made of Mercy, makes me understand his real help in my inevitable imperfection. 2. I had the desire to live my call as a "disciple" by committing myself to a cosmopolitan parish in popular neighborhoods where I was quickly asked to be responsible for the leading team. I carried out, by mission letter, 6 terms of 3 years. At the time, I testified in the newspaper "LA CROIX" about my wonder. 3. In parallel with the almost daily reading of the writings of Maria Valtorta, the "readings of the day" proposed by the Church, have taken on a depth, a relevance and an increased significance. Not only the "eternal" (canonical) Gospel says Jesus, but also the Old Testament and the New Testament writings.
Concrete impact on faith life
I had the irrepressible desire to announce this living journey following Jesus. I created in 2006 a dedicated website (www.maria-valtorta.org) allowing to freely discover this work in a context of conformity to the Church: more than 100,000 links or footnotes refer to the texts of the Magisterium or the verses of the Scripture. This site receives 30,000 visits/month on average (+ over 5 million in total). I was trained in discernment by Bishop René Laurentin for 10 years (2007-2017). During our weekly work sessions, we published 3 works, the last two on the historical charisma of Maria Valtorta (with Jean-François Lavère) and on her prophetic charisma. I continued with various publications and conferences as discoveries were made about Maria Valtorta, her life and spirituality as well as the different aspects of the work. I favor the collective approach.
What would you say to someone who hesitates to discover this work?
Adherence to private revelations is a personal act whose value the Church recognizes: "Guided by the Magisterium of the Church, the sense of the faithful knows how to discern and welcome what in these revelations constitutes an authentic call from Christ or his saints to the Church." The Magisterium guides us but it is up to the faithful to discern. Cardinal Ratzinger gave the criterion: orientation to Christ.
Discovery of the work
A minute with Mary, then Jesus Today from the association Mary of Nazareth introduced me to Maria Valtorta.
Impact on love for the Gospel
I truly got to know Jesus by visualizing the Gospels in their context. Jesus became alive for me, he entered my life.
Concrete impact on faith life
My faith is more alive. Daily rosary, weekday mass, monthly confession. Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Reading the Word every day and of Jesus Today.
What would you say to someone who hesitates to discover this work?
It is a treasure that opens the heart by letting us enter into the intimacy of Jesus, Mary, the apostles. I understand the Gospels better in depth.
Discovery of the work
Someone told me about it
Impact on love for the Gospel
At 53 years old, I hadn't been to church since I was 18 because I didn't like priests and I had never really understood the Eucharist. This work made me love Jesus, understand his Passion and the sacraments. I adore the details of life and especially the descriptions of the characters' reactions, their physical and psychological states. It's sometimes very funny. It seems like it's happening right before our eyes. It's a time machine that connects us live to what happened 2000 years ago. They seem very close to us. It's like a movie. The life of Maria Valtorta, her honesty, the absence of errors in dictation, the beauty of the writing and the intelligence of the texts and reflection made me want to read the gospels and return to mass. I also like the notebooks of dialogue between Jesus and Maria. Maria Valtorta made Jesus God alive and close and concerned about us and our salvation. In short, she made me understand the love of Christ who is not a distant and abstract God. I was confirmed this year thanks to Mara Valrorta and Vassula Ryden.
Concrete impact on faith life
It is a guide in faith and life. It made me return to mass, confession, and begin adoration.
What would you say to someone who hesitates to discover this work?
Those who read will understand. Said the pope of the time.
Discovery of the work
I discovered the work by listening to the reading of certain passages on the site "The Word that gives Eternal Life". While I was on the wrong path, for so many years with spiritual and metaphysical readings of all kinds, I was struck by the deeply embodied nature of these readings.
Impact on love for the Gospel
The Gospels, like Taoism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sufi texts, were all more or less equal to me, and the Gospels no more than the others. I am now convinced, through reading Maria Valtorta and rereading the Gospels, that Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life.
Concrete impact on faith life
My life of faith was empty despite intense searching. I owe to this reading my first confession (and all the following ones for the first Saturdays of the month), the understanding of what happens at the mass in which I participate as often as possible and in any case every Sunday. I owe it the joy of Holy Communion, overwhelmed as I am by the love that the Lord offers us. I owe it the rosary that I recite every day, the devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary that I would have considered perfectly ridiculous two years ago. The first Fridays, the pilgrimages, the daily prayers for the souls in purgatory and for the conversion of sinners. I owe it the urge that I have several times a week to stop in a church, a cathedral, a chapel to go and pay homage, on my knees, before the tabernacle or the Holy Sacrament, before my Lord who is there, for me, for us, in Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.
What would you say to someone who hesitates to discover this work?
Begin and you will not stop: it is the Lord who speaks.
Discovery of the work
It was my father who read the 10 volumes...
Impact on love for the Gospel
I discovered a very human Christ in many details and very divine in his sermons and actions. Great compassion even for Judas, for people living in error, his absence of judgment and his hope in the conversion of people in lives of human dead ends helped me to correct my conception of a severe God.
Concrete impact on faith life
I have read the Word of God much more and discovered the importance of communion. A closeness with Mary and a better understanding of the conception of Jesus. And his great compassion for sinful women.
What would you say to someone who hesitates to discover this work?
Do not be put off by the numerous details, which are there to prove the veracity of the inspired work. Discover a Christ perhaps different from what he had imagined.
Discovery of the work
I heard a radio program about Maria Valtorta.
Impact on love for the Gospel
I had a hard time reading the gospels, many things were incomprehensible to me, since I read Maria Valtorta, everything became clear. I go to mass 4 to 5 times a week, when I hear certain insipid homilies, I thank Jesus for giving us this gift! I think that history repeats itself, that some current Pharisees do not recognize the word of Christ! How could an author, even with a lot of talent, invent this? I have never heard any prelate explain the gospels as well, and especially understand in our current life that the word of Jesus is always relevant!
Concrete impact on faith life
A huge impact, I understood who Jesus really was, his humility, his patience, his unconditional love for us! The gospels became so clear that I even did charity work for 3 years with 6th and 5th graders, I would never have embarked on this without the writings of Maria Valtorta.
What would you say to someone who hesitates to discover this work?
For years I have been talking about Maria Valtorta. I lent my books, I explained moments of Jesus' life to people who did not know him, I would have been incapable of doing so before! And now I can talk about the love of Christ, before this it was abstract! And Mary, what a great humility, through her simple life we understand that we can try to live like her.
Discovery of the work
The book was given to me.
Impact on love for the Gospel
Reading Maria Valtorta greatly strengthened my love for the Gospel (which I now read almost daily!) and for Jesus Christ - I "finally" understood that I could entrust everything to him, it's a very great strength! I wish to follow his path!
Concrete impact on faith life
I would say that my life has been turned upside down and "completely changed" since reading Maria Valtorta. Faith is now at the center of my life, in the "big" or smallest things, trying to do "my best" to follow the path of Jesus. To give a few examples, since reading Maria Valtorta, I confess 1 or 2 times a year (which I did not do), I pray several times every day and I read the Gospels almost daily.
What would you say to someone who hesitates to discover this work?
I could say that for my part, I was quite reluctant to read this book at first. A certain amount of time passed between when I was given this book and when I started to read it. I started in a moment of trial / questioning, first slowly, then without being able to stop.
Discovery of the work
Thanks to the Marie de Nazareth Association, (Jesus today).
Impact on love for the Gospel
The accuracy of the events, the details, the description of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and the apostles. The answers that I was sometimes able to get to the questions I had about the Gospel of Jesus and the precision of these answers by Maria Valtorta.
Concrete impact on faith life
This helped me make my confirmation, to return to the house of the Holy Father (the Church) every Sunday. And of course, the rosary every day as well.
What would you say to someone who hesitates to discover this work?
To read it and discover it with the word of the day Jesus today.
Discovery of the work
During a homily that spoke of "the Eucharist according to Maria Valtorta".
Impact on love for the Gospel
It is a great pleasure for me to read what Jesus says to Maria. He seems very close to me.
Concrete impact on faith life
Pray to Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the guardian angel... better know them.
What would you say to someone who hesitates to discover this work?
Read and Meditate on these words.
Discovery of the work
Through the internet, I became interested in the lives of the saints as I was searching after many years without religious practice and I stumbled upon it, I would not say by chance, the Lord uses everything to bring us back to faith.
Impact on love for the Gospel
It's hard to explain. Reading put me in front of such a strong truth that I returned to faith, and some time after, to religious practice through prayer, weekday mass as well as Sunday.
Concrete impact on faith life
- Daily prayer and weekday mass; - On Sunday: rosary, divine mercy and recently the seven sorrows; - Volunteer chaplain two mornings a week; - A better understanding of the disease and recently life in general.
What would you say to someone who hesitates to discover this work?
Read and you will see.