Discover the experiences shared by our readers
These detailed testimonies reveal the profound impact of Maria Valtorta's work on the spiritual lives of its readers. Each account witnesses the graces received and conversions experienced.
202
testimonies collected
These detailed testimonies have been collected according to a structured methodology, allowing precise documentation of the impact of Maria Valtorta's work on readers' spiritual lives. Each testimony addresses the discovery of the work, its impact on faith, the graces received, and recommendations for other potential readers.
Anonymous
Antonio Socci had mentioned it in one of his books.
Words of a strength and sweetness never heard before
Survival of a Terrible Personal Moment
Anyone who feels like one of those persecuted, hungry, thirsty, of the beatitudes must go and read
I don't understand why these readings have not become widespread throughout the world and discussed among all people. I dream of a world where this happens, and where this is the basis of everything.
Paolo Pini
A friend of mine already owned it.
It made Jesus, Mary, the Apostles, and all the characters mentioned in the Gospel more "familiar" to me to the point of perceiving them... visually!!
The reading/meditation of the Canonical Gospels is clearer, more vivid, and current to me, I would say.
I would say that... when I bought the first book, I didn't feel the enthusiasm I imagined I would find... then as I continued, I felt enveloped and projected into such a Beautiful and lively Spiritual dimension that I couldn't do without it anymore. It has been more than 20 years that I have been reading and rereading the entire Work.
Carlos Martinez
I discovered the work when Father Fortea mentioned it on the internet.
I felt that it was what I had always wanted to read. My faith increased greatly. It feels like God is behind the work. Now, when I hear the Gospel, I remember the circumstances of the events, the character of the people, etc. It is of unimaginable beauty.
I pray more and sin much less. Since I read the work 20 years ago, I attend daily mass.
When you begin to read it, you will feel that it is a gift from God. The work is a constant miracle.
I think that, in the near future, this work will aid in a greater evangelization of the Church. The Virgin Mary, in her apparitions in Medjugorje (where the Church encourages pilgrimage), told the visionary Vicka that this work was for those who want to know more about Jesus.
Clothilde Lauvergne
I "met" her by chance, (but we all know there is never chance with God) I was in deep distress following my father's death and was devastated by grief. This death brought up events I was not proud of, and I was unconsciously seeking to find Jesus again and repent. I browsed Google looking for articles on certain saints and how they freed themselves from their sins. And chance led me to the name of Maria, whom I have never left since.
I started reading "The Gospel as Revealed to Me" from the very beginning of its visions and I was... "transformed".... I couldn't go a day without reading it, it was vital, urgent. Some visions made me cry, and above all, I felt the intense presence of Jesus "internally and physically" who invited Himself into my heart. It's as if, through the visions, He was speaking to me... I "reconverted" again... I returned to the church. For almost two years, not a day goes by without me reading one or two visions of Maria. It's my vital nourishment every day. I read everything in order, and when I finish, I start reading it all over again. I can sincerely say that Maria came to meet me to bring me back to Faith. It's undeniable.
I have returned to mass, I go every Sunday, I also go to pray some evenings at the Church, I go back to confession, I "feel" myself growing, understanding the things of life with more perspective, I have drawn closer to the poor, the most destitute, I have discovered the Charity of Jesus, what suffering is, what it can bring, what sacrifice is, penance... I still have much to atone for, but every day I learn to rid myself of myself to be, the whole soul to Jesus.
I have already introduced it to several of my friends, I tell them that Maria Valtorta transformed me, that in all her visions there is absolutely everything, and that it is the true daily life of Jesus, that you just need to read to be convinced of the truth of these writings. I never needed, for example, to look for "proof" of the veracity of her writings. I immediately "believed" her.
Maria is the open door to the heart of Jesus. In the visions, one finds life, everything is united there, I mean that in her visions one understands that Love is the foundation of everything, that everything flows from this immense and infinite Love: Intelligence, Science, Art... I don't know how to express it, but one understands that everything that exists is a gift of love from God, in the present, continuously, "unceasingly" renewed, every second, every millisecond... And for me, it is the foundation of all life on earth; without God's breath at every moment, nothing can live. It is through Maria's visions that I discovered this "evidence." And it profoundly marked me. It changed my vision of the world and beings.
Damien
A Christian friend and her family talked to me a lot about it during debates on religion before my conversion.
I only knew Christianity from a distance, and the work of Maria Valtorta allowed me to discover the entire life of Jesus as well as that of Mary before him, and made me want to learn much more. It was an opening door to the entire Christian religion on a theological level.
Not being a believer at the time of reading the work of Maria Valtorta, I think the biggest impact was that it opened my heart to meet Jesus, to experience powerful events with him. The rest, it was God who did it, and I thank him for it. My conversion is strongly linked to this open-mindedness acquired throughout the reading of the work, and then to the possibility of exchanging with other people who had read Maria Valtorta and the Gospels, and who could answer many of my questions. It also convinced me to read the Gospels and continue to get closer to God.
The work is very well written and highly complementary to the Gospels for those who might want to learn more about the active life of Jesus. It perhaps allows for a more concrete representation of all of Jesus' actions throughout his life, which can help to draw closer to him if the figures of Jesus, Mary, and the apostles sometimes seem a bit abstract.
I think the work of Maria Valtorta is primarily a means to give the most Cartesian and somewhat closed-minded individuals towards religion a way to open up to God and Christianity. The text, which traces the entire life of Jesus, is easier to read (even though it is longer) than the Gospels, which can help maintain investment in a more linear reading. Despite this, it includes all the interventions and teachings of Jesus, and gradually one ends up wanting to learn more, to know Jesus more intimately, and this can turn readers towards the Church, the practice of mass, the reading of the Gospels or other texts. I find that the work is a very good bridge to enter or re-enter faith, and that it is also (due to its length) a good way to measure each person's willingness to invest.
Jane Tinkle
I discovered The Poem of the Man-God through my mother who would read it to me.
The Poem of the Man-God brings the Gospel to life, and it's a wealth of knowledge that further demonstrates Christ's power, has deepened my understanding and practice of spiritual realities, provides peace and hope, offers wisdom and guidance, inspires action through reflection, encourages fellowship and service, and connects me to the divine.
One of the greatest concrete Graces it brought me—and which I needed the most—is the knowledge of the importance of living for Jesus in all the small details of this life: to suffer little hardships gladly, overcome little proud impulses, little selfishnesses, and little difficulties; to serve Him in the little things; to be a servant of His in the little ways.
Some analysis conclusions regarding the Work: Prof. Emilio Matricciani and Dr. Liberato De Caro: “[...] what Maria Valtorta writes down cannot, in any way, be traced back to her fantasy or to her astronomical and meteorological knowledge.” Jean Aulagnier: “[...] no explanation for the archaeological and geographical accuracy of her writings except an intervention from the beyond.” And so on...
Craig
Family member (grandfather) recommended it.
I'm a cradle Catholic but had never taken religion seriously, and I left the faith entirely for about 15 years before I began reading The Poem. His love, mercy, and justice — and perhaps just as much, His understanding and fairness — eventually broke through my fog. I began to understand that He wasn’t asking anything impossible, mysterious, or even that strenuous. He simply wanted me to try, and to keep trying. The Poem was the only spiritual book I read over the four years it took for Him to lead this hard-headed mule out of Egypt. Eventually, I could no longer say no to Him, and I returned to the Faith.
Even after coming back to practicing the Faith and making a general confession, I felt I was still carrying my past sins in a bag created by my own inability to forgive myself. One night, I was reading Volume 1, 132, “Jesus at the Clear Water – Closing,” and came across the words: “Forget the past, smile at the future.” At that moment, I knew the Holy Spirit was speaking those words directly to me. I turned off the lights, and while weeping in the dark, the Holy Spirit instantly filled and surrounded me with joy, love, forgiveness, and healing. This intense experience slowly faded over the next few minutes, and I’ve been climbing my mountain ever since. That was 25 years ago. I’ve read the entire work multiple times, and with every reading, more wisdom is revealed than before. The Poem of the Man-God is from God. No one can read it with an open heart and deny that. “By their fruits you shall know them.”
Listen to Padre Pio, Pope Pius XII, and many others — read it!
Pierre-Philippe Robet
Upon leaving a prayer group of Emmanuel students, someone told me, "I think you should be interested in this book." Then they specified that there were 10 volumes like this one! I skimmed through 5 random pages... After about ten minutes, I told them I was going to buy the entire collection.
From the very first moments, this reading brought me into a heart-to-heart with Jesus.
Better understanding of the hidden side of Divine creation, of the supernatural forces of good and those of evil.
Read and see...
Emeri Brady
I discovered The Poem of the Man-God, or The Gospel as Revealed to Me, through my sister, an avid reader and advocate of Maria Valtorta.
The Poem of the Man-God brings the Gospel to life, so much so that you LIVE THE GOSPEL, because as you read every scene shown to and described by Valtorta, you feel present for and are edified by it. We are shown the broad strokes of God's love and the lives of the characters in Scripture, which is sufficient, but in this Work we're shown the minute details; and when I see in-depth what Mary/Jesus gifted, sacrificed, and endured for others, including ME, my gratitude, love, and desire to be obedient grow. There's a scene of Jesus sobbing in intense prayer with hope to the Father for the saving of Judas, despite already KNOWING it would never come, of Judas's own free will. This scene alone demonstrates incalculable faith, hope, love, and the power of free will, and teaches us—who are not omniscient as God is—to persevere in loving every soul with all we have, no matter what. Jesus and others are no longer characters I hope to meet and know in Heaven one day in the future, but rather, I know Them more than I thought possible in the present because of having "lived" with Them in the past.
I speak not only for myself, but for my children, as well as my husband, who is currently undergoing RCIA classes, when I say that the Work, for example, helps us to understand and prepare ourselves for receiving the Holy Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, as well as recognize and resist temptation by Satan and his servants, and it has also deepened our understanding and practice of faith, prayer, sacrifice, humility, and love.
Jesus said to Maria Valtorta, "Also nowadays, as twenty centuries ago, good people—those of good will [who read the Work]—will have the good reactions of the shepherds and of humble people. The others [who read without a good will] will react in a wicked manner, like the scribes, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and priests of those days. One gives what one has."
Jeny Sofia Aviles Ardila
In a YouTube video recommended by Father Fortea.
It has allowed me to know more in detail the life of Jesus Christ on earth, His teachings, His parables and miracles, which increases my love for Him, my Faith and encourages me to move forward to achieve the Holiness to which we are all called. I also learned more details about the life of our mother Mary and her fundamental role in the Church.
It helped me become aware of my sins, confess them, and resume my life as a Catholic, this time convinced of the real presence of God in the Eucharist, the importance of confession to be in friendship with God, and now I am preparing for confirmation.
That many times we read or accept information from many sources of theologians or laypeople without any rejection, it is important to give ourselves the opportunity to discern with our reason and willingness to learn more about God; always with prayer so that God always guides us towards the truth.
I am very happy to find this wonderful work because it makes my heart burn with love and union with our Lord. When I read the Holy Scriptures, I understand them more clearly without finding differences. Thanks to Maria Valtorta for being a faithful instrument of God. I made many mistakes in my life because I was not on God's path, one of them being not marrying before giving birth to my children. I lived in free union with the father of my children in adultery because he is married. Through the work, I learned that Jesus is a teacher, and I always asked Him to be my teacher and guide. This way, I was able to recognize my sin and surrender to His will. He gave me the gift of chastity, and in a few months, I will celebrate four years of friendship with the father of my children. The path has not been easy, but I have always turned to prayer, the Sacraments, and the example of purity and obedience of our Mother Mary. Now God is the center of my life, I feel like a new person, and my relationships with my neighbors have changed. I would like that when I meet Jesus, He smiles at me and welcomes me to His Heavenly Kingdom.
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