Discovery of the work
I heard about it on a pilgrimage to Medugorie in 1986. I got hold of the first volume of Poem of the Man God. After reading for a relatively short while (couple of hours), I quickly felt that this was not written by a human mind. I read on and became increasingly convinced that God was directing this writing. From then on, I could not put the book down. I knew I was listening to Jesus speaking and thirsted for more. The upshot was that I bought the full set of the Poem and, later, the Notebooks, Autobiography, Azariah, and everything published.
Impact on love for the Gospel
My faith has gone from strength to strength since 1986, and I attribute this to a great extent to these readings. I have not been able to put these writings down, as they have continued to create a spiritual thirst in me. I read this pretty much every day and have read everything at least six times and continuing, and get much more from the writings each time I read them. I know I will continue this until I can no more. I am currently 81 years old.
Concrete impact on faith life
I find I now talk to God many (very many) times a day, either to the father, Jesus or the Holy Spirit, depending on circumstances, much of this being thanks to God in what I see around me. For example I see people doing ordinary automatic things and I give silent thanks to God on their behalf as it wouldn’t occur to them to say thanks as it was automatic to them. At other time a tree or plant and often the immensity of the sea, and then creation itself. The work has given me a feeling that I know Jesusin his daily life and can talk to Him more freely as a brother. The work has given me a feeling that I know Jesus in His daily life and can talk to Him more freely as a brother. I now love Him and Mary much more.
What would you say to someone who hesitates to discover this work?
I would ask them to read a piece for an hour or two and see how they go. I often tell people that Mother Teresa always kept one of the volumes with her as she travelled, and that’s a strong endorsement of the value of the work.
Additional testimony
If I look back over my life, there have been many things and people that have contributed to where my faith is today, as a committed practicing Catholic. However, without a shadow of a doubt, I believe these works by Jesus through Maria Valtorta have been, by far, the major positive influence on how I see and respond to God.