The Gospel as revealed to me - Volume 1

The major work by Maria Valtorta, published in ten volumes, is The Gospel as revealed to me. Remaining seated in bed, Maria Valtorta wrote in ordinary notebooks in her own hand, uninterruptedly, without preparing outlines or making corrections.

10 volumes divided into 7 parts:

– The birth and Hidden Life of Mariy and Jesus (chapters 1-43 - volume 1)
– The first year of the Public Life of Jesus (chapters 44-140 - volumes 1 and 2)
– The second year of the Public Life of Jesus (chapters 141-312 - volumes 2, 3, 4 and 5)
– The third year of the Public Life of Jesus (chapters 313-540 - volumes 5, 6, 7 and 8)
– Preparation for the Passion of Jesus (chapters 541-600 - volumes 8 and 9)
– Passion and Death of Jesus (chapters 601-615 - volume 10)
– Glorification of Jesus and Mary (chapters 616-652 - volume 10)

It narrates the birth and childhood of the Virgin Mary and her Son Jesus; the three years of Jesus’ public life (forming the largest section); his passion, death, resurrection, and ascension; the beginnings of the Church; and the assumption of Mary. In lofty literary style, the work describes landscapes, environments, people, and events with the vividness of graphic depiction. It presents characters and situations with introspective insight and sets forth moments of joy or drama with the feeling of someone really taking part in them. It provides information on the characteristics of settings, customs, rites, and cultures with convincing detail. By way of a gripping account of the Redeemer’s earthly life, especially through discourse and dialogue, the work sheds light upon the whole doctrine of Christianity in keeping with Catholic orthodoxy.

The greatly-revered Gabriele M. Allegra, who highly esteemed Valtorta’s work, wrote, «Gifts of nature and mystical gifts harmoniously joined together account for this masterpiece of Italian religious literature and – perhaps I should say – of Christian literature on a world level.»