Detailed Testimonies
Discovery of the work
After a painful period in my life, although baptized according to the Catholic rite, I opted for evangelical Protestantism, as the faithful seemed to me much more fervent, based on my experience. Then, I told myself that the Mother of God could only be exceptional and I wondered if Mary-Mother had had other children. In doing my personal research, I discovered, thanks to God, The Gospel as it was revealed to me which explains among other things the vows of Joseph and Mary to remain chaste. Thus, Joseph, according to volume 1, was a Nazirite, that is, he wanted to dedicate himself to God and remain chaste.
Impact on love for the Gospel
Deeply moved by the different personalities of all Jesus' contemporaries. We laugh, we cry, we marvel, and we almost feel pity for Judas.
Concrete impact on faith life
Reading and rereading of the work. Help to meditate on the Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, as well as that of the Precious Blood. Finally, practice of prayer.
What would you say to someone who hesitates to discover this work?
Before judging, at least read the first chapter and you won't be able to leave this fascinating work.
Discovery of the work
I discovered this work through "Jesus Today" and through the testimony of a friend who is a member of a Franciscan fraternity.
Impact on love for the Gospel
The richness of details, the subtlety of thoughts, the overall realism make me see Jesus with more depth and love.
Concrete impact on faith life
This work gives me more strength in the daily spiritual battle and brings me closer to God.
What would you say to someone who hesitates to discover this work?
This work encompasses the Gospel but does not change it. It highlights details and subtleties and also illuminates some difficult passages of the Gospel texts.
Additional testimony
Reading Maria Valtorta brings me happiness and immerses me in the life of Jesus like no other text. Truly, it is a grace from God himself to bring more souls to him.
Discovery of the work
I believe I discovered the work of Maria Valtorta through videos found on Youtube.
Impact on love for the Gospel
Reading Maria Valtorta revitalized my faith because it gives the feeling of witnessing the scenes, of being closer to the characters, which in my opinion makes the Gospel more alive, more touching.
Concrete impact on faith life
This has allowed me to regain the motivation to return to mass on a weekly basis, to reconnect with prayer on a daily basis, and to feel closer to Jesus.
What would you say to someone who hesitates to discover this work?
I find that it's the perfect reading to complement the Bible.
Discovery of the work
I discovered the work of Maria Valtorta by chance on the internet. But I believe it was not a mere coincidence, but that God in his great kindness was answering a desire that had been driving me for a long time; that of knowing the hidden life of Christ in Nazareth with the Virgin and Saint Joseph.
Impact on love for the Gospel
She allowed me to understand that Christ was more Human than I had imagined and brought me a little closer to him.
Concrete impact on faith life
I understood how much Christ loves us and that he wants to remain in friendship with Man until the end.
What would you say to someone who hesitates to discover this work?
It is a work of Mercy from Christ who wants us all to him. It would be a shame to miss such an opportunity especially for our time.
Discovery of the work
Out of curiosity on the internet.
Impact on love for the Gospel
The first text I read was the resurrection. It was clear, chronological, and luminous. Christ is Alive, it's true, it's real. Thank you Maria Valtorta.
Concrete impact on faith life
Daily reading of the Gospels and texts of the day followed by the reading of the corresponding text by Maria Valtorta, which gives it an extra life.
What would you say to someone who hesitates to discover this work?
Who reads will understand.
Discovery of the work
During a silent retreat, I confided this sadness to God: "My God, why is it that at the end of the day, I have more appetite to watch a movie than to pray to you?" At the end of the retreat, when it was time to break the silence, a young man told me about Maria Valtorta. I listened politely, and tried the first volume. I prayed over the 10 volumes and the 5 notebook-books of Maria Valtorta for 3 years, I am now on my rifle reading.
Impact on love for the Gospel
The canonical Gospel remains my reference. But to use the movie analogy, this reference is in black and white. Maria Valtorta, it's like a 4KHD Blu-Ray DVD... a concentrated dose of the Holy Spirit. We pray as a family in the evening with the Gospel of the day, but every morning, I nourish myself with the corresponding passage from Maria Valtorta.
Concrete impact on faith life
The density and vitality of the spiritual nourishment I found in the work allowed me to commit myself to young people (preparation for first communion, high school chaplaincy...) The work has enlightened me on many questions I had. Why doesn't Mary, who received the angel's announcement, immediately share this joy with Joseph? How does Matthew, a publican who devoted his life to money and pleasures, let go of everything on this call from Jesus: "follow me". What is the personality of Judas...
What would you say to someone who hesitates to discover this work?
One must try. The work does not speak to everyone, but in my case, and that of many friends, it has been of decisive contribution.
Discovery of the work
To tell the truth, I no longer remember the specific event that made me aware of Mr. Valtorta's works. I started by ordering one volume to see for myself, and then I found the 10 volumes on Le Bon Coin, and bought them, then read them with great interest.
Impact on love for the Gospel
Through my reading, I found myself in the midst of this group of apostles guided by Jesus, somewhat like the 13th member of this group, following their daily lives, their messages, their everyday life. It was for me an illustrated and living supplement to the Gospels that I already knew. I saw, I understood, I was with Jesus and his apostles, I appreciated the precision and all the details of the message placed in its historical and religious context. An unprecedented and truly instructive journey opening my mind to that of Jesus. The complete reading of these 10 volumes never took me away from what the Church had previously taught me. This reading only corroborated the existing writings, consolidating through its many details my conviction that Christ is the envoy of God and the friend of Men.
Concrete impact on faith life
I believe that Mr. Valtorta's writings are authentic and sincere, even if sometimes the formulation of ideas and the layout of the text require careful rereading. These writings have strengthened my faith in the Eucharist. They clarified for me the meaning of Jesus' Passion (Volume 10) and made me understand how far divine love could go towards the man that I am. And then everything exudes reality in the reported facts. Everything becomes clear and limpid when reading these works. No confusion or insinuations, ever.
What would you say to someone who hesitates to discover this work?
One must familiarize oneself with the style and its formatting. We are not in a novel or in the usual readings recounting the usual biographies. I was reading only one chapter at a time, and this spread over about a year for my complete reading. But each time, I was happy in advance because I knew that I was going to discover who Jesus is among his apostles.
Discovery of the work
A few years ago, I asked the priest who was preparing us for marriage in a famous Abbey in the South of France about reading the work of Maria Valtorta. Skeptical, he gave me his permission; then I asked the opinion of the Exorcist Priest from my city at the time, he told me "If Padre Pio recommended it..go for it! I myself have read 1/3 of the work, I see nothing that contradicts the dogma!". I discovered Maria Valtorta while watching a video of Sister Emmanuelle Maillard from the Community of Beatitudes!
Impact on love for the Gospel
These books have opened a bridge to the Bible that I had set aside...the more I read, the more I returned to the passages of the Old or New Testament; everything became coherent, clear; it's as if the Holy Spirit gave meaning to the fragments of the Bible that I did not understand...and the more I reread the Volumes, the more I realize that the Bible is a past-present-future book and that the words of Christ still speak to me even if I have read the same words 5 times!!! It's inexhaustible...
Concrete impact on faith life
The rediscovery and deepening of the Word of God have anchored God in my daily life and prayer and the sacraments have taken a central importance that I try to honor despite my miseries... Aspects of my past life have been illuminated by the words and visions described by Maria Valtorta, I have meditated on them with the Bible and I can say that it is the reading book of my life... The Bible, it's God... This book is God's work for the little ones! You must still have a child's heart, I believe, to accept and understand it. You must be able to believe that Nothing is Impossible for God! That all the books of the Earth will not be enough to tell what Jesus did on Earth as St John says!!!
What would you say to someone who hesitates to discover this work?
Try...God speaks to everyone in a different way; maybe it's this way, maybe it's another...listen closely and seek God incessantly.
Discovery of the work
Internet. Jesus having told us: "Seek and you will find", I searched and found his writings, by what I call divine providence. Seeing that Pope Pius XII authorized the layout, even ending his point of view with "... those who read will understand... ", I undertook the reading to finish it about 18 months later.
Impact on love for the Gospel
Several questions and more detailed information, often during a discussion and explanations given to the apostles, or during a one-on-one discussion with an apostle; how many discussions did He have with Judas! This reading allowed me to better understand a number of points that remained obscure in the reading of the Gospels.
Concrete impact on faith life
A new awakening to my faith; a greater desire to share it, to arouse the curiosity of research in my brothers and sisters; to the follow-up of celebrations... but I still have a long way to go.
What would you say to someone who hesitates to discover this work?
Truth presents itself to you, but... God respects all freedom, and forces no one; He knocks at your door, waits, but will never call the locksmith...
Discovery of the work
I discovered the work of Marie Valtorta while talking to a person who was part of a team studying these texts. I was delighted to discover these writings that I BELIEVE to be the fruit of the grace that this person received throughout her difficult life. These texts are not "invented": they are true and sincere. It is impossible to have invented these writings! The places, the historical facts recounted are too real! I really enjoy reading the texts of Maria Valtorta, particularly the Gospel as it was revealed to me because I feel like I'm spending a little time with Jesus during my reading.
Impact on love for the Gospel
By spending small moments with Jesus, the description of the environment, the characters, the feelings of one and all, it allowed me to get closer to Jesus and our Holy Apostles whom I now think of more often. I really realize the great Mercy of God and I am touched to the depths of my being. I thus learned that I have a soul and that I have value for Jesus.
Concrete impact on faith life
Maria Valtorta did not particularly convert me. But I can say that she brought me closer to the Lord and allowed me to understand him better (if this is even possible!...)
What would you say to someone who hesitates to discover this work?
Do not hesitate!