The Agony in the Garden: The Passion begins.
Valltorta’s account of the Agony in the Garden occupies 24 pages. Her account of the conversations on the way to the garden highlights the sheer desperation of the Apostles that Thursday evening.
It is important that this is a summary and is not a substitute for reading Valtorta’s Poem of the Man-God. This summary is merely to offer a taste of what is in the original. The dating is the work of Professor Jean Aulagnier and is taken from his study of Valtorta’s work The Diary of Jesus published by Kolbe’s Publications Inc, Canada..
Thursday, April 4, 30 AD. Valtorta 5.599
En route to the garden
As Jesus leads the way to Gethsemane. The apostles struggle with the realisation that that hour is upon them. Some discuss abducting Jesus into hiding. Peter dismisses this as a wicked idea. There is talk of taking Mary to a safe place.
The Zealot talks of wanting to avenge himself, even spilling blood to change the possible outcome of impending events. He says he is irritated by Lazarus’ rejection of his suggestions and by Lazarus’ decisive answer that he would obey Jesus and remain in Bethany.
Thomas wants to get Jesus to a safe place and then return to wipe out Judas. Philip finds it hard to believe Judas is the traitor but the others have no doubt.
Another suggests hiding Jesus in Annas’ house where John has friends among his servants.
They join Jesus and John says to him, save yourself. Jesus replies, I am saving myself by obeying my Father, I am going to my death, you to Faith.
Peter in a low voice asks how many hours before you’re arrested? Jesus says when the moon is at the summit of its arc.
Simon Zealot asks Jesus when he became aware of Juda’s treachery. He replies since before he became a disciple, I tried to send him away.
Those who want my death are my executioners but my Traitor is my first executioner, he already killed me through my effort of being at the table with him and having to protect him from you.
Jesus tells them that all his enemies are in Jerusalem but Gamaliel is in Bethphage and he tasks Simon to go there and tell him the promised sign is imminent and nothing else.
Jesus then says this is the hour of my passion. The Father is withdrawing from me and the darkness of the sins of the world, of all the sins of man, this spiritual torture is the most atrocious. We are about to greet the perfection of Evil.
They talk of all the people who could help but Jesus says they only rely on themselves. Gamaliel, Joseph and Nicodemus are being kept out of discussions in the Temple. Jesus says Gamaliel believes Caiaphus believes a goodman will die as prophesised as have so many more prophets.
Jesus specifically tasks Simon Zealot, you are calm and loyal you can influence even Peter, I am reminding you for the first time you have a great obligation to me, promise me that. I am the leper now.
And to Peter, he says, you will feel like a criminal and have no peace. Your love is so strong that it will guide you as a mother. He pleads with Peter to promise him that.
The Agony
Jesus is distressed. They stop at a clearing, and he tells them to stay there and not to sleep, he will be nearby praying.
He finds a spot behind a rock and stretches his arms. He occasionally mutters a word which is neither a psalm nor the Our Father.
Valtorta snatches occasional phrases …make the Man satisfy you as the Redeemer…save them….this is what I want…be reinstated…tomorrow will be hell.
He looks down on Jerusalem, white in the moonlight seen through the trees and says it is all sin.. how many I cured…how much I spoke…they seemed loyal to me.
He goes back to the three apostles who have lit a small fire. They are dozing.
He says, be alert, keep awake, and Jesus returns to his spot. He rests his head on a rock and feels a little flower that reminds him of his mother telling him she used to collect these flowers in her childhood.
Thinking of his mother he bursts into tears.
He goes back to the sleeping three. He says I need your comfort and your prayers so much. I feel an anguish that is killing me. I’m sad to death.
The three apostles can hardly stay awake, they look drunk. Jesus goes away shaking his head.
He prays standing up, then he kneels, he cries this is too bitter, I cannot, cannot, it’s above my power, moaning and sobbing, Father, take it away and then don’t listen to me, your will be done. With a stifled cry, he collapses to the ground
He is convulsed in grief. He mutters no life, no mission, nothing. But one will, the Father’s I am giving my life back, I have nothing except my Father’s will, robbed of my divinity.
Take this cup… Be off Satan, I belong to God.
He is sweating blood, he wipes himself with his mantle. A bright light appears above him for a time after which he is more composed. He wipes himself with leaves from some weeds.
He staggers back to the three who are in a deep sleep. He has to shake them awake. James asks, have they arrested the Master? Jesus says, not yet.
They rejoin the others who are also asleep. Jesus shouts at them to get up.
As they put on their mantles a group appears lighting up the grove with many torches.
Friday, April 5, 30 AD
The arrest
Valtorta 5.599 cotinued. The apostles step back, Jesus to the fore. Judas comes to him, kissing him on the right cheek; Jesus says, my friend, are you betraying me with a kiss? The guards come forward as if to capture the whole group. But when Jesus asks who are you looking for and responds to their naming him. They fall as if hit by a thunderbolt. Only Jesus, Judas, and the apostles are left standing.
Simon Zealot steps forward splicing the air with a stroke of his sword but Judas dodges and escapes into the night. Angry apostles throw sticks and stones.
Jesus agrees to go with the arresting party, but as he is about to be tied, Peter lunges with his sword and cuts off a bit of the ear of one carrying ropes. Jesus orders them all to put away their clubs and swords. There is much shouting.
Valtorta recounts Jesus’ comments on this vision over five pages: I wanted to be a complete man. I am who am, the Son of God, but I was a true man.
You have contemplated my spiritual agonies, you saw me overwhelmed in phases culminating in unbalancing my circulation brought by the effort of controlling the burden that fell on me.
I teach your spirits my doctrine, bear witness to my humanity which has been distorted. My double nature is a forerunner of universal misfortune.
I have made you aware of my moral, spiritual, and physical suffering. Love it, go back to it, remembering it is interlaced and blended with my mother’s- our suffering cannot be parted.
He asked that we realise that from his conception, every beat of his heart and tear affected each of them. My every groan was felt in her heart.
She was aware of and had to desire that dreadful hour out of kindness for man. No one suffered longer nor had greater grief than my mother.
Jesus said that crowds and crowds of devils were on earth that night.
Each member of the Sanhedrin had his own as did the power brokers, Pilate and Herod, as did every single Judean who cried for his blood.
Even the apostles had tempters to make them drowsy. But Jesus and Judas had Lucifer himself.
John, the pure one, was the first to shake off the demoniac influencers and brought Mary close to me.
Lucifer showed me my torments of the flesh in vivid realism, then showed the uselessness of my death and the prospect of living so my mother did not suffer, and a long fruitful apostolate.
Satan said the angels would help him seduce men and to tempt God with imprudence
In each of these, I defeated him by praying.
Valtorta 5.600 Editor: On February 16, 1944, Jesus: complained that we contemplate too little on the sufferings of the passion, the price he paid for us, and what it cost him.
He said he was tortured by Things he created that were without guilt: The hand, feet, mouth, mind, individual parts of the body, stones, branches, sun, thirst, temperature, leather, wool, clubs ropes, thorns,, scourges, canes, minerals of the scourge, dust, wind,
The Father loves you as he did not love me in that hour.
The agonising experiences
- My mother’s sufferings;
- Separation from God;
- Spiritual agony;
- Alone
- Rejected
- Betrayed;
- Abandoned
- Parting from Mother;
- Proximity to an unfaithful friend;
- Uselessness of the Passion;
- Seeing Lucifer’s offer of long, blessed life, untroubled mother, and angelic seduction of man to my doctrine.
- Abandonment by God, hated by men and God disgusted by the sins of the worlds;
- Despair
Valtorta 5.599 continued. Jesus’ wrists were tied tight, his arms tied to his waist and tethered by two ropes that were pulled to make him stagger. Jesus was brought down the narrow track with the rope pullers shouting giddy-up and striking him with knotted ropes, treating him like a pack animal.
As they cross the Kidron bridge the procession is pelted with stones from the river bed, Jesus is pulled violently and falls against the parapet, damaging his mouth which bleeds.
As they enter the city, the noise attracts onlookers and more join the procession shouting abuse and throwing objects at Jesus. Women try to restrain their men and some wives are kicked and beaten by their men intent on abusing Jesus. Some of the mob had been cured of diseases by Jesus.
Peter and John followed the mob.
Roman soldiers make comments ranging from ridicule to admiration for Jesus. But they don’t intervene.
Before Annas
Valtorta 5.600. The mob bursts into Annas’ house and led to a great hall where Jesus stands before Annas who accuses him of leading crowds away with strange doctrines. Annas says it is his duty to protect souls of Abraham’s children
Jesus retorts what have you suffered for any soul. Whereupon Annas asks what has Jesus done allowing Jesus to tell him exactly what he has done mentioning healings and miracles of all sorts and above all conversions of sinners.
Jesus left Annas in no doubt that he was not phased by him. There is a heated exchange with neither giving quarter. Annas asks for the names of Jesus’ secret disciples.
When Annas says he is powerful, Jesus says you are filth and is struck a blow to the head by one of the attendants. And another one, this time a slap in the face for saying he had spoken openly.
Annas says not to let Jesus speak to anyone until he comes back from visiting Caiaphus.
Jesus is subjected to violence and blows with ropes, kicks, hair-pulling, and abuse until the order comes to take him to Caiaphus.
On the way, Jesus passes through the hall where Peter and John are near the fire with the servants.
The illegal trial
Jesus is led into an auditorium and stands before the platform in front of the High Priest who is angered by the refusal of two Sanhedrim members who refused to attend.
Jesus is immediately accused of infringing the Sabbath, living with prostitutes and heathen women, and deriding and ridiculing the Temple authorities. Caiaphus complains the common people no longer love us through his fault.
Gamaliel calls the assembly illegal and walks out with Simeon. Joseph and Nicodemus followed them.
The sworn witnesses were called. They claim Jesus profaned the Sabbath, evoked the dead, and said he would destroy the Temple and rebuild it with the aid of demons.
Jesus’ silence is too much for the High Priest. He adjures Jesus who replies, as in the Gospels, and is struck in the mouth by an attendant.
Jesus leaves the assembly in no doubt: I am the Christ, the Son of God…the Temple, not this one, Mine, will rise again
The Sanhedrin is adamant he must die.
The Sanhedrin is dismissed and the members fall on Jesus, knocking him, pulling his hair, and making him fall.
Some hours pass. Jesus is in a closet and then taken back to the hall where Peter is waiting.
The Legal Trial
At dawn the Sanhedrin reassembles. As Jesus is led back to it, he hears Peter’s third denial in a moment of silence. His denial rings out loud as the cock crows. Peter immediately realises what he has done, and turns into Jesus on his way to his capital trial.
This one is quicker, they know the questions and the answers. Jesus is quickly sentenced to death and ordered to Pilate.
Through the streets
While the chief priests went to the Temple directly from their building Jesus was dragged through the streets and deliberately brought past the populated squares, markets, and hostels. Waste vegetables and dung become favoured projectiles.
The following crowd gets bigger. Jesus is bruised and bleeding and covered with straw and dirt. Anger, hatred, and ferocity are visible on the faces following Jesus.
Elias the shepherd barges through the crowd but is beaten back by the crowd. Shortly afterward, Herod’s half-brother Manean uses his mount as a charger and forces the procession to stop by sheer force using his mount’s hooves and the flat of his sword to do so.
But Jesus asks him to go.
Before Pilate
Valtorta 5.599 continued. He is stood in the court where Pilate will hear the case against him, a place the accusers cannot enter for fear of being unclean.
Pilate treats the accusers with utmost disdain, and total rudeness, calling the accusers masters of falsehood.
When they press forward, Pilate orders his lancers to force them back. He listens with a show of contempt to the charges before stating, you are in need of Rome to get rid of this man.
Pilate tells Jesus that he knows Jesus does not seek power but you don’t deny you are a king.
When Jesus mentions truth Pilate seems impressed but comments that truth does not serve when facing death. Are you a philosopher? Socrates died just the same! He adds that Socrates died well without betraying civic virtues.
Pilate goes to the accusers who at this stage fear they are facing a humiliating acquittal. The mob is on the verge of rioting and is baying for blood.
Pilate passes the issue to Herod.
To Herod
Though escorted by a hundred lancers Jesus is pelted with stones, some of which hit the soldiers and clang off the armour and helmets.
Herod descends from his throne and walks around Jesus who is now guarded by four soldiers and the centurion.
When Jesus remains silent to both Herod and the charges, Herod asks are you mad? Have you lost your power.?
He then scoffs, gives an order and men come in with Herodias’ pet greyhound which has a broken leg. He asks Jesus to order it mended. Jesus remains silent.
Herod then asks Jesus to heal an imbecile, and give him intelligence as you say you are the intelligence of God.
Jesus is still silent. Herod orders Jesus untied and orders wine and dancers. Jesus refuses the wine and the almost naked African dancers begin a provocative dance. Herod invited Jesus to take the woman of his choice. Some dancers touch him lightly.
Jesus’s disdain causes laughter.
Herod abruptly changes, I TREATED YOU AS God, you did not act like a god, I treated you as a man but you did not act like one, You are mad.
He orders Jesus dressed in a white garment to show Pilate that he is mad.
Before Pilate for the second time
Jesus is brought back to Pilate. The soldiers have difficulty getting through the crowd waiting for them at the Praetorium.
Jesus sees the shepherds, Chuza, Manean, John, and Johanna among the crowd. But they are his only supporters in that hate-filled crowd.
When Pilate indicates that he is about to release him the crowd goes mad. A second line of lancers is needed to force it back.
Pilate orders Jesus to be scourged when the centurion asks how many lashes he is told as many as you like. Anyway, the matter is over, I am bored, he says.
The scourging
Jesus is suspended by the hands to a bar protruding from a pillar some three meters high. Only his toes touch the ground.
Valtorta says the scourges are tied to a handle. They are made from seven leather strips tipped with small lead hammers.
The torture begins with one torturer in front and the other behind. They begin as if practicing to lash him in rhythm. The whirl of lashes hiss and land like a drum beat on the helpless suspended man.
Soldiers play dice in the corner.
The ivory skin becomes pink, welts become blue and red and bruises burst. Blood pours from the wounds. The scourges move down his thorax, abdomen, legs, arms, and, head. He faints and dangles from the overhead bar.
The torture ends when a soldier says he must be alive when he is killed.
Jesus is untied and falls like a dead man. The torturers are paid off.
Soldiers prod Jesus to see if he is alive but without response. They pour a tub of water over his head.
Jesu begins to respond, but when tries to move he can’t.
He is struck with a shaft on the right cheek. His eyes open.
He stands up, is told to dress but as he stoops his wounds bleed fresh blood, and his garments are kicked away and scattered. They are kicked away again repeatedly as he tries to reach them. He is derided.
He dresses and tries to tidy his hair and beard, and his excoriated wrists are tied again. Someone says the Jews want a king and so begins the crowning with thorns.
Coronation
At first, the crown is too big and pierces his neck, then his cheek and it penetrates the nape of the neck. It is torn off taking hair with it. The second attempt is too small and is again torn off and on the third attempt, they are satisfied that it fits. But it penetrates the nape of his neck.
He is now shivering with fever. A cane is got for his sceptre and a purple cloth for his insignia. He is then enthroned on an inverted tub and the mockery is continued. It stops when the order is given to bring the guilty prisoner to Pilate.
Back to Pilate
The crowds are more determined to have their kill. Pilate is told Jesus must die for claiming to be the Son of God.
That makes Pilate hesitate, he calls Jesus forward and is interrupted by his wife’s, Claudia’s, message.
Jesus remains silent until provoked by the word power.
Pilate returns to the accusers and shouts he is not guilty which incites the mob to the extent that Pilate eventually says, So, you want him dead, let it be so.
He returns to his throne, raises his down-turned hand, contradicts his own judgment and convictions, and sentences Jesus to death by crucifixion.
After washing his hands, he sends for a board and writes the
Proclamation Jesus King of the Jews.
Editor: Though this vision was given Maria Valtorta on February 16, 1944, Jesus commented on it the following month, March 10, 1944.
Jesus said John’s account is the most accurate of this period as he was present or nearby for all of it.
Jesus contrasts the scruples of the Jewish leaders in not being contaminated by going on the gentile ground and also on their determination to fix Jesus’ death on the Gentiles in case Jesus turned out to be the Messiah.
They had no such scruples about subservience to Rome when it came to killing Stephen, the former disciple of Gamaliel.
Referring to Pilate, Jesus says Pilate knew from long experience that he was not a threat to Rome. Pilate had seen the triumphal King on a donkey the previous Sunday. We pitied each other, Jesus said.
Jesus said that the world is full of people like Pilate who are simply disinterested in Truth and don’t inquire about it. Truth asks to be found to teach what it is. Question me, do not let it drop.
He says Pilate was a weak man and like all weak people puts off the decision he does not like taking.
He asks where are the decisive people in our time who say no to evil without ifs and buts.
Pilate was forced into compromises that did not let him off the hook. Pilate was a false goodman. He put his career before my life.
Jesus contrasts Pilate and the Centurion Longinus who in the middle of a hostile multitude protected Jesus, allowed him to rest, allowed him to be comforted by women, and allowed his mother to be at the foot of the cross. Longinus was a hero, my hero.
Judas
Valtorta 5.601. This vision shows Judas Iscariot in the horrors. Everywhere he sees terror. He races from place to place responding to every sound and noise in increasing fears. He is savaged by a dog and runs into streets at random. Running into Jesus twice as he is escorted to and from Herod, he runs into the Supper room, meets and rejects Mary’s pleas, runs into John, forces his way into Caiaphus’ presence accusing him and himself of deicide before running into a terrace of olive trees from where he saw the procession on Golgotha and the crosses erected. He hung himself.
Jesus commented on that vision saying it was important as it showed the importance of decisions. Judas did not want to be saved. If hell did not exist it would have had to be made for Judas, His will was determined not to be saved. Salvation was always open to him but he did not want it.
John fetches Mary. Valtorta 5.603. It is 10.30 am when John enters the Cenacle. He goes to the Upper Room and touches the chalice of the new rite. Mary takes him into her room and closes the door. John asks for forgiveness. It is a while before she realises he wants her forgiveness for abandoning Jesus in the garden. She reassures him that Jesus has forgiven him.
When she asks for Jesus, he tries to soften the blow and is told not to lie, I know everything. I am bruised by the scourges, the thorns pierce my head. You cannot see it. He is condemned to the cross and now I do not know where he is.
She says I must see him. I must not feel sorrow while he has his. When everything is over then let me die.
Mary tells John to get the women. She trembles while waiting, panting with her mouth open. Mary goes to meet her son.
. The Way of the Cross
Valtorta 5.604. Longinus offers Jesus a cup from a military canteen saying you must be thirsty, it is hot outside and the way is long. Take it to show you don’t hate heathens. Jesus thanks him and drinks the golden liquid, water and honey. Longinus sympathises with him saying, I do not hate you, I will try to make you suffer less and only what is necessary.
But Jesus only drinks enough to be courteous. Editor: Valtorta says he wants to suffer.
Jesus thanks the Centurion through really sore lips which are swollen from a blow with a club after the flagelation.
The two thieves are brought guarded by ten soldiers. The crosses are brought already made up. Those of the robbers are shorter than Jesus’ which is at least four meters long and are solid, mortised, and reinforced with bolts at the crossing of the beams.
Before being given the cross Pilate’s inscription board is tied around Jesus’ neck but its string pulled on the thorns opening the scalp wounds.
Longinus organises the procession, Jesus in front of the robbers each flanked by a decury, that is ten soldiers. The remaining seven decuria flank the convicted men. Soldiers are reminded they will be held responsible if they allow the convicts to be mortally wounded.
Jesus staggers down the steps onto the street causing much laughter as the trailing cross bounces and the swaying inscription board unbalances him. Jesus is ordered to walk in the middle of the road.
Longinus finds the shortest route is blocked and he is forced to take a longer route. The Jews shout the law requires the condemned to be seen in the town and force the procession through the streets.
Longinus sends an order to each decury. Jesus stumbles over potholes. The sun is burning hot and reflected light from the white walls and dust roads burns his eyes. He is still struck with stones and sometimes receives a blow when the streets narrow.
He suffers going up steps and then down them, he is exhausted.
Without warning the procession turns and the lancers force a way to the walls to take a shorter route to the execution ground.
Jesus is prevented from falling by a soldier as they approach the city’s Judicial Gate. They cross a bridge over a stream and Jesus is struck by a stream of stones from the river bed.
The climb begins, stumbling and falling on one knee holding himself up by his hand on the ground the crowd howls with delight. He is bending and panting and falls on both knees, the cross falls from his hands striking him on the back, forcing him to pick it up and replace it on his shoulder.
Longinus tries to hurry the procession, soldiers try to hurry Jesus by walloping him on the back with the flat of their swords
Jesus is swaying like a drunkard and is mocked by scribes and priests. Longinus orders a stop and orders the lancers to disperse the jeering crowd.
Jesus sees the shepherds, ten of them. Jesus falls headlong face-first into a rock-strewn track. They think he is dead. Eventually, they get him upright
There is now concern that Jesus might die before being crucified. Longinus orders a longer and easier route to the summit.
Mary, John, and the women come into view. Mary only is allowed to approach Jesus. Their mutual greetings Son, and Mother stirs compassion in the military but not from the crowd.
Longinus sees a vegetable cart and driver and orders him to come. He came only after the threat of losing his donkey and getting 20 lashes as well.
Simon takes the cross carefully off Jesus’s shoulder and follows Jesus to the summit which is cleared of people by some fifty lancers none too gently.
Mary and the women arrive. Near them gather the shepherds and some Galileans who are joined by Simon of Cyrene who had been dismissed.
The Crucifixion
The permanent holes for the crosses are cleared of stones, only three are needed. Four executioners come forward and with delight taunt the condemned with their instruments.
The robbers strip off and turn obscene gestures in the direction of a group of priests.
Rags are proffered to cover the loins and as Jesus reaches for one, Mary removes her long white veil and hands it to John who gives it to Longinus. Jesus turns to the only direction without people, the precipice, and wraps it around his loins many times. In doing so his bare back is exposed to the witnesses a lacerated and bleeding back covered in sores, blisters, and bruises. Drops of blood fall on the white veil. Blood flows freely when he bends to remove his sandals.
When he turns the marks of the scourges can be seen to end in cuts and bruises that cover his chest, abdomen, and legs, and the knees are scoured with blood and bruises. There is a massive bruise at his diaphragm on the gap at the bottom of his rib cage.
The crowd chorus a parody of the canticle My beloved is fresh and ruddy…. in the tone of a psalm which goes on for its full duration.
When the robbers are secured with great difficulty to their crosses they are carried to their appointed places.
Jesus takes his position on the cross as instructed. Two men sit on him while a third takes his right arm, and stretches it to align with a previously made hole. Then a fourth man drives a long square-shaped nail through his wrist. Jesus contracts, and moans, a moan which is echoed by his mother who doubles up as the sound of iron on iron ring out.
Jesus’ left arm does not reach the prepared spot so a rope is tied to his wrist which is pulled till it nearly reaches the required hole. They nail him the best they can.
The two who sat on his chest moved to sit on his legs which contracted on sight of the extra-long nail. Again, the designated place can only be reached by pulling Jesus to the point of dislocation before the feet can be nailed to the appropriate location.
They let the cross fall on the way to placing it, and then let it slip and sway before it is fixed in its hole. Gravity threw the body downwards and sidewards tearing the nail-holes wide but the old coin-sized caps on the nails held Jesus in place.
Blood trickled from wrists to the armpits and onto the cross beams and down the main beam.
Longinus gets a soldier to bring Mary and John through the cordon to the cross.
A procession of priests and leaders of the people do rounds of the summit scoffing and mocking Jesus, mimicking him, using his phrases and even that of God who glorified him a few days earlier. They show no restraint neither to the crucified nor to his mother. She has only eyes and ears for her son suspended above her.
The sky has changed, it gets increasingly mistier, then darker as if the sun which had been harsh is now obstructed
The robber to Jesus’ left continues his tirade while his companion in death is transfixed by Mary. Thinking of his mother, he admits that his behaviour was the cause of her death. He asks forgiveness, asks Mary to intercede with her son, and turns to Jesus, confessing his faith in him and in his divinity. He is told by Jesus he will be with him in Paradise that very day.
Jesus’ body is contorting riven by cramps and organs rebelling violently against their pain. The heart pulsating is visible below his rib cage. His body is black, blue, and purple. His head begins to drop, his strength no longer there and failing rapidly. Any movement exhausts him
It is twilight when Jesus entrusts his mother to John. Mary weeps when Jesus entrusts John to her.
Joseph and Nicodemus arrive and are let pass. They stand with the shepherds. It is now dark and Jesus’ body is attacked by tetanus, arching his back, his face goes from red to blue to purple. His back bends outwards.
He collapses outwards and is thought to be dead. The word spreads. That it is not possible, shouts a priest, who tells a soldier to prick him and is ignored. But a volley of stones do the trick. Jesus groans, breathing restarts, his head moves from side to side.
He makes a huge effort and, as it were, stands upright, calls loudly Elo, Eloi… The soldiers press him with vinegar, the final torture. It is now dark. Jesus says I thirst while the wind gets stronger blowing dust on the dying men.
A sponge is immersed in a jar of gall and vinegar and applied to his lips. He sucks it like a baby, makes a bitter grimace. His body falls like a sack, the death rattle begins, coughing. He says Mother, where are you, I cannot see you…he murmurs have you abandoned me as well.
She hears it, no, no, Son, I will not abandon you, listen to me.
Time elapses. Longinus stands to attention. He is visibly affected.
The only sounds now are weeping women and harsh breathing of the Victim, and the final prayer into your hands, Lord…
There is a dreadful convulsion almost tearing his body from the cross. The abdomen drops as though hollow, the thorax contracts violently, the skin on his chest stretches, reopening the wounds of the scourging, his head falls back one, two, three times banging against the wood and distorting his face. His eyeballs role, he lifts himself three times in an abnormal way, heaves, swells, and contracts.
He lets out a loud cry that sounds like the first syllable of Mother.
He is dead.
The Aftermath
The earth shakes and rumbles with a mighty roar-like sound. Lightning
strikes the crowd and flashes across the terrain. The crosses pitch and roll. John holds the cross and Mary. They stay upright, others fall and screams drown the cries of the robbers. The quake recurs three times coinciding with a cyclone that sweeps over them. Then there is silence.
Mary looks up, and sees Jesus during a sheet of lightning with his limp head hanging motionless to the right resting on his shoulder and chest.
She understands and cries My son, my son. She staggers and is saved from falling by John. Mary of Lazarus and the woman attend to Mary while Joseph and Nicodemus ask for the body and are told that only Pilate can grant it. Longinus urges them to hurry as the Jews want to break his legs.
Then Longinus asks John to shield his mother from the act of opening the heart of the very dead Jesus[J1] . The incision is made carefully and a lot of water drips from the wound and a trickle of blood,
The two Sanhedrin members run into Gamaliel who rushing up the Golgotha distressed and dishevelled. Gamaliel is distraught he says the veil of the Temple is torn, and the Holy of Holies is open.
They ignore him saying he is too late. Gamaliel prostrates before the cross and appeals to Jesus for forgiveness. He appeals to the blood of Jesus.
When Joseph and Nicodemus return to claim Jesus’ body, Longinus orders a soldier to go to Pilate to confirm it.
The Sanhedrin members do not allow Jesus’ legs to be broken. On the return of confirmation from Pilate they set to work.
John and Joseph climb the ladders and free Jesus’ left hand. John holds the body hanging by one hand to the cross. The right hand is freed and the men ease the body down and go to lie it on a sheet but Mary sits and insists on his being laid on her lap.
She caresses the limbs, washing them with tears using her veil which is still wrapped around her son’s loins.
She talks to her cold dead son and runs her hand along his body until it slips into flap opened by the spear. She lets a cry when she realises she has touched His heart. , The horror of the desecration makes her double over. Instinctively she tries to tidy his hair but insists on gently removing the crown, refusing the proffered help to do so.
The men have huge difficulty in persuading her to allow them take him away from Golgotha, which is now deserted except for two dying men hanging on their crosses.
She remembers she has nowhere to lay him. Joseph offers his new tomb where Nicodemus has already stacked ointments and resins.
Three men carry Jesus and are followed by six women, the Mother, Mary Magdala, Martha, her sister-in-law Mary Clopas, Zebedee’s wife Mary, and Susanna from Cana.
At the sepulchre, Jesus is laid on a slab and is uncovered by the men. Mary and John are left to prepare him. Mary moans and talks to Jesus as if she were talking to a baby, she recalls his babyhood.
She continues to wash and tidy her son. This time she sees into the 7-centimeter (almost three-inch) incision allowing her to see his heart. She cries out again. She recalls his conception and birth moaning and talking. She again starts washing the body, caressing it.
She flatly refuses to leave, accusing her friends of not believing in the resurrection. Eventually, after Mary Magdalen intervenes, the men cover the body with thick layers of ointment and cover him with the shroud, covering the head with special linen cloths.
Mary after prayerful deliberation but with great difficulty concedes and is half carried out and they roll the stone in place.
She then throws herself against the stone with a ferocity that draws blood from her hands and lips. She turns and faces her friends and orders them to go but she is determined to stay.
She cries like a lioness, nothing of the meek virgin now. She is imperious. Again, Magdalen intervenes and after another impassioned speel, Mary agrees to go to look for the apostles and for Judas.
In a comment, Jesus said to Valtorta that the world thinks Redemption ended with my death. It did not end then but was completed by Mary for three days. Mary was the only one who believed in my resurrection.
They enter the city by the Judicial Gate which is about to close. The town is deserted except for Jesus’ arch-enemy Helkai and following a nasty exchange they arrive at the Cenacle where Mary collapses and is brought into a room.
Friday night , April 5, 30 AD. Valtorta 5.608. Attempts to distract Mary with talk of the resurrection fail when Mary sees some of the instruments of the passion that had been taken from Golgotha. She orders everyone out of the room accusing everyone of not helping her son, cowards, only a man from Cyrene helped him.
Word comes to the house that many died in the earthquake, more were injured, and also of rumours of threats and arrests and that Pilate had ordered a round-up of Jesus’ followers.
But John says Longinus had told him that Pilate is benign towards them.
They check on Mary who is praying, walking up and down and gesticulating.
Valtorta recounts Mary’s lamenting over seven pages in which Mary remembers the infancy and then the scourging and the blows, She talks about these and how his sufferings are over and hers continue.
But she ends by thanking God that Jesus did not feel her pain, the pain of seeing his heart opened. She ends up asking for a sign if he wants her to be alive when he comes back.
Nike (Veronika, Jesus always called her Nike) knocks on the door causing panic, the women urge John to flee. Magdalen opens the door to Nike who says she has something that will give Mary but quickly as the patrol is around. her Comfort but. Nike kneels before Mary opens the box, and unfolds the cloth.
She talks of the cloth with which she wiped Jesus’ face and how she found his image on it. She insisted on Mary getting it as it would give linen cloth. They all gasp at the image of Jesus.
The women withdraw leaving Mary alone with the image.
The women discuss how they can get ointments for the burial. The Magdalen says she has a stack of suitable items stashed away in the palace, items she used use preparing for her orgies that would serve well. She goes to her nearby Palace and brings them back.
The pounding of the ingredients upsets Mary as it reminds her of the hammering of nails into Jesus and the cross.
They move to the yard. Valarea comes with ingredients for the burial donated by the Roman ladies, including Pilate’s wife Claudia, the burial gifts from the first daughters of the Heathens.
Good Friday is over.
The Satanic Sabbath or Holy Saturday
On February 20, 1941, Jesus told Maria Valtorta what is involved in being a saviour. He asked her to place this piece immediately after Good Friday
Valtorta 609. Jesus spoke of those who would want to be saviours. They will not have the same torturers but they will be equally painful and consuming. Total sorrow must be consumed.
This is an austere mission, the most austere of them all. It is a Divine monastic life of which I am the founder and of which Mary and I are the model. It is not a human order, I consecrate those who are elected and impose my habit on them.
No part of the human person, body, ego, or moral ego is free from sin. No part of my body was excluded from suffering because nothing in man was without sin.
He itemised his sufferings:
Hands were imprisoned after carrying the cross to make amends for
Feet pierced after the way of the cross to make amends for sins in which hands played a part, I marked the streets and squares, houses of the earth to purify them.
Flesh was punished to make amends for the idolatry of the body which you love more than God.
Head suffered countless tortures to make amends for the sins of the mind, pride, impatience, and thoughts. Hair blows, shouting, sun, eyes, nose the crown’s thorns
Organs: Lungs suffered suffocation and coughs arising from the scourging., anaemia from loss of blood, and heart injured and out of place by the scourging, kidneys were almost crushed by the scourging, uremic poisons, spleen and liver damaged
Body: suffered from thirst due to loss of blood, the sun, the dust, and fever without refreshment. Victims must drink the chalice without mititgations.
Mother’s sorrow: was required, to see her die at each of my shudders which was my most cruel torture, worse than betrayal, and the uselessness of my sufferings for so many. This is what made my sweat blood in the garden.
Saturday, April 6, 30 AD
Valtorta 610. John leaves the Cencle as soon as he is aware the city’s gates are open. Manean comes, as it were in plain clothes, and without his sword. But he is not as pompous as usual! He goes to Mary and places himself at her service. Mary asks him to see that Lazarus, the two James, and Judas are safe.
Manean starts at the name of Judas but Mary says she meant her sister-in-law’s son.
Mary notices Manean has a wounded arm. He says yes to her query ‘because of us.’ Manean passes over the injury to claim the last of his Pharisaism and Hebrewism left him as a newborn living in his own blood.
Manean says he would like to see Jesus. Mary tells him to turn round, he does so and sees Jesus’ image on the cloth and he falls before it, worshiping and weeping.. He bows and goes out.
Later that day Mary wants to go to the Supper Room which, on Jesus’ instruction, has remained locked since Thursday. Mary can hardly walk unsupported. As if guided Mary goes to Jesus’ place at the table, collapsing across it. She then touches just about everything.
Isaac calls and reports that six of the apostles are safe and at Lazarus’ place as well as disciples wandering around,
Mary Clopas asks for her two other sons, Susanah for her husband, and the other apostles, Peter, Judas Iscariot, Thomas, and Philip.
Isaac says that those at Bethany had heard that those in Jerusalem had been killed.
Mary asks him to go to Bethany to reassure them. But above all she wanted Peter and the Iscariot brought to her urgently.
Longinus is the next visitor. Dressed in civies he brings the tip of his lance and offers it to Mary. Mary loses all colour as she looks at it. The centurion says Jesus was the only just man he ever met in the vast empire of Rome. He says he only knew of Jesus through others and regrets it is too late to know him now.
Mary corrects this saying he remains in his church. He asks where is his church? Mary says today it is scattered but tomorrow it will gather…even if I am the only one, his gospel is written in my heart so I can repeat it to you. As he goes, he says I will come… that religion must be Divine.
Around midday, John comes back. He has found Judas Iscariot hanging from a tree. Vultures and crows were wheeling high above his body swinging from an olive tree.
Chuza’s wife Johanna is the next to visit with the former shepherd Jonathan. Mary consoles her and talks of the role women will play in the future church. It is women who generate, she said, adding we will generate for the earth for the welfare of the world.
But Johanna says he is dead to which Mary responds he will come back, go pray, and wait. Only me and Satan know how many attacks have been made on my faith in the resurrection.
Joseph and Nicodemus arrive with a huge amount of mummifying material. The sight of the Veronika silences them. They leave after a short time.
In the evening Mary Clopas’s two sons come one with one with Simon Zealot( and the other with Isaac.
Mary consoles Joseph ,who had always refused to believe in Jesus, is distraught. Mary tells him to go to Nazareth and believe.
She says that her faith is hanging on a thread that is being attacked by those who do not believe that God can say to death, ENOUGH, and to life, COME BACK.
The vision ends with Mary praying for faith, I must believe, I must believe.
Saturday night
Valtorta 5.611. Mary Clopas looks in at Mary who is kneeling on the floor. She thinks Mary is asleep but Mary is not and says so. Mary reveals that during the night she got a little relief, a drop of angelical sweetness but only for a moment.
She adds it was like an incorporeal whisper it is all over, a nuance of peace. my prayer was desolation, now it is peaceful.
Mary surprises her sister-in-law by asking for a description of her love for Clopas while she was still a virgin. The joy of anticipation was beautifully told to which Mary said hers was that multiplied by hundreds and thousands of powers.
She talks of these three days doing the work of women, praying incessantly, of her three wounds, the death of her son, the abandonment by God, and the terror of lack of faith.
If I had admitted the doubt that it is not possible to rise from the dead, the work of redemption would have been in vain.
Mary says that they could only have stayed on Golgotha by the direct power of God, otherwise, they would have run away too. This power was not given to the apostles because they had to know how easy it is to fall. They will be continuously tempted by the world, the flesh, and Satan.
Mary talks of Jesus in a way that prompts her sister-in-law to sayyou talk of him as if he had come back. Mary says you do not believe either, so how can you reproach your sons as you have promised?
Mary asks for water but when given milk, she asks for water saying she has no water in her.
John arrives back with Peter who is shamelessly hysterical over his denial. John tells how he retraced Jesus’ steps of Thursday evening, which led him back to the garden where he found Peter and Jesus’ blood-stained mantle. He says it had holes in it, which John thought had been desecrated by Judas who had also revisited the garden.
Mary calls Peter to come to her. He is utterly distraught. Mary explains how even Jesus’ cousins deserted him too, only a few women, the shepherds, Menaen, and some others stayed with him to the end.
When Peter says he will never be able to see him again, he is told to look at Veronika’s image.
Night came and the exhausted household falls into somnolence.
Thus ends the first Holy Saturday.
Life of Christ 