Ronald L. Conte Jr.

Correspondence:

Comparisons of works by

Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich

and

Maria Valtorta

5/31/07

Question: The same person (name withheld upon request), inquiring about Father Mitch Pacwa’s article on Maria Valtorta, responded with two additional questions regarding negative articles found posted on the internet. The second additional article is: Claims of Private Revelation: True or False? An Evaluation of the messages of Maria Valtorta and her Poem of the Man-God, by Ronald L. Conte Jr.

http://www.catholicplanet.com/apparitions/false10.htm

In my humble and pious opinion as a faithful Roman Catholic theologian, the claim that the messages of Maria Valtorta (who also wrote The Poem of the Man-God) are private revelation is a false claim. A list of reasons and examples follows.

Response from Webmaster: I have more respect for Theologian Ronald L. Conte Jr. than some other Valtorta challengers, as he endeavored to be civil, courteous and honest. Most others are fundamentally Valtorta detractors, because they offer no cogent arguments and repeatedly cite spurious unsupported statements. Ronald is quite different, although he does repeat only some of the typical unsupported contentions, for the most part he does his own research. Moreover, he is a skilled Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich expert. There are many Emmerich readers that roar about major contradictions between Blessed Emmerich and Valtorta, but refrain from providing cogent examples. Ronald actually took the time and effort to meticulously cross reference and compare both these volumous works looking for contradiction and inconsistencies. This was truly a massive undertaking. Maria Valtorta’s writings are well over 10,000 pages, and Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich writings are also very substantial.

The poem of the Man-God

This writing is a very long, claimed private revelation about the lives of Mary and Jesus. It covers much the same material as the writings and private revelations to Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich (beatified by Pope John Paul II). However, what is said in the Poem of the Man-God does not agree with the private revelations to Blessed Anne Catherine.

Comment: Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich’s writings are very long as well. The Bible also has some variations between the four Gospels. For a few examples: The Gospels of Matthew and Luke contradict each other on the genealogy of Jesus' father. Matthew 5:1,2 holds that Jesus’ first sermon was on a mountain, while Luke 6:17,20 holds that Jesus’ first sermon was on a plain. Matthew 27:28 states that the color of the robe placed on Jesus during his trial was scarlet, while John 19:2 claims it was purple. And so on. Of coarse different witness will have slightly different accounts.

The Poem of the man-God was placed on the Index of Forbidden Books in 1959.

Comment: So were the writings of Blessed Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska, along with a litany of writings by other Saints. Another example would be how Roman Catholic Church hierarchy placed Galileo’s writings on the forbidden book list. They burned his written observations and nearly burned him at the stake in order to force him to retract his ideas regarding the earth being round and orbiting the sun.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faustyna_Kowalska

Maria Valtorta’s writings were placed on the Index by the Head of the Holy Office Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani, who was purportedly incensed that Holy Office was circumnavigated in the approval process. Consider that this is the same Cardinal who authored the secret 1962 Vatican document that mandated the excommunication of children victimized by pedophile priests in the event they sought help from the authorities, as uncovered by CBS News in 2003:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/08/06/eveningnews/main566978.shtml

http://www.advancedchristianity.com/Pages/CBS/CBS.htm

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/downloads/CrimenSollicitationes-Unprotected.pdf

http://www.medjugorjecenter.org/churchcrisis/missinglink.html

Cardinal Ottaviani was also a well known enthusiastic Challenger of Papal Authority, that is why he had no problem subverting the Papal Order to Publish. This same Cardinal also had several noted rage and temper incidents. While giving a harangue at the pulpit, the technician switched off his microphone, causing the whole congregation to give a standing ovation. In another similar tirade, the Priests listening to him turned their chairs around facing away from him. In addition, Saint Faustina’s writings were placed on the Forbidden Book List by the Holy Office under Cardinal Ottaviani, which now are read at Divine Mercy Sunday Mass.

In 1966, Pope Paul VI took the action of suppressing the Index of Forbidden Books, which liberated the Poem from ecclesiastical restriction. Yes, the same Pope who endorsed "The Virgin Mary In The Writings of Maria Valtorta". Moreover, when Pope Paul VI was Archbishop of Milan, after evaluating Maria Valtorta's writings, ordered her entire works to be sent to the Milan Seminary library. Pope Paul VI accomplished three significant actions to remove barriers and promulgate the Poem.

Cardinal Ratzinger, who is now Pope Benedict XVI, has indicated that he considers it a work of fiction.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict, was Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani’s successor in heading the Holy Office. He did not review the decision, he only reiterated the verdict of the former Head of the Holy Office. It is important to remember that in 1978, a Polish Cardinal petitioned the Vatican to cease the suppression of Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska’s Divine Mercy devotion and to remove her writings from the Index of Forbidden books. The Holy Office replied in the negative, upholding the condemnation and suppression. Which we know know was in error.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1619458/posts?page=7

The Poem of the Man-God: claims that Anne and Joachim had no other child but the Virgin Mary. Anne: "Also I have you. But I have not given you a child, I think I have distressed the Lord, because He has made my womb barren"

http://www.valtorta.org/BookText/E01_01-10.htm

On the contrary, Scripture refers to Mary's sister (John 19:25).

Comment: The Bible holds that Jesus had brothers and sisters, but the Holy Roman Catholic Church holds the Virgin Mary as the Perpetual Virgin. Maria Valtorta’s writings hold that Jesus was an only child, and in those times Jesus’ first cousins were referred to as his brothers and sisters.

Mary (wife of Cleophas), was the Virgin Mary’s cousin, not her sister. Notwithstanding that it was unprecedented in those times of having two daughters with the same name. Also considering there were no surnames in those days.

And Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich describes, at length and in a number of different passages, Mary's older sister.

Comment: The Protoevangelium Jacobi (The Gospel of James), clearly states that Anne and Joacim were childless before the birth of Mary.

The Poem implies that Anne and Joachim conceived the Virgin Mary through marital relations, at their home in Nazareth, in October.

http://www.valtorta.org/BookText/E01_01-10.htm

Comment: This is not so, Ronald must have missed it. Chapter 4 of the Poem holds that that Anne conceived Mary miraculously, immediately outside the Jerusalem Temple in late October or early November, (They left for Jerusalem in October and returned in November). "The last day while I was praying in the Temple, as close as possible for a woman to be to the House of God, and it was already evening. Remember that I was saying: "A little longer, a little more". I could not withdraw from the place without receiving the grace! Well, in the growing darkness, from inside the sacred place, where I was watching from the depth of my soul, to obtain assent from the ever-present God, I saw a light, a spark of beautiful light depart. It was as white as the moon and yet it had in itself all the brightness of all the pearls and gems that are in the world. It seemed that one of the precious stars of the Veil, the stars placed under the feet of the Cherubim had become detached and bright with a supernatural light, it seemed that beyond the sacred Veil, from the Glory itself, a fire started which came quickly towards me and while cutting through the air, it sang with a heavenly voice chanting: "May what you asked for, come to you"

On the contrary, the revelations to Blessed A. C. Emmerich explain that Mary was conceived miraculously and virginally, in a passageway at the foundation of the Temple of Jerusalem. The month of the Immaculate Conception was November. See my book: Conte, Important Dates in the Lives of Jesus and Mary.

Comment: Valtorta’s writings are in complete agreement.

The Poem implies that the birth of the Virgin Mary was that of ordinary labor and childbirth.

http://www.valtorta.org/BookText/E01_01-10.htm

Comment: Again, this is not so, Ronald must have missed it. Chapter 5 of Maria Valtorta’s writing consistently show a miraculous and completely painless childbirth. ""Are you in pain?" "No. But I can feel the great peace that I experienced in the Temple when I was granted the grace, and which I felt once again when I knew I was pregnant. It is like an ecstasy, a sweet sleep of the body while the soul rejoices and calms itself in a peace that has no bodily parallel. I have loved and still do love you, Joachim, and when I entered your house and I said to myself: "I am the wife of a just man", I had peace: and I felt the same every time your provident love took care of your Anne. But this peace is different. Understand: I think that the soul of our father Jacob was invaded by a similar peace, like the soothing given by oil that spreads and appeases, after he dreamt of the angels. And, possibly more accurately, it is like the joyful peace of the Tobiahs after Raphael appeared to them. If I absorb myself in this feeling, it grows more and more in strength while I enjoy it. It is as if I were ascending into the blue spaces of the sky. And furthermore, I don't know the reason for it, but since I have had this peaceful joy in me, I have a song in my heart: old Tobiah's song. I think it was written for this hour, for this joy, for the land of Israel that receives it, for Jerusalem-sinner and now forgiven. But do not laugh at the frenzy of a mother, but when I say: "Thank the lord for your wealth and bless the God of centuries, that He may rebuild His Tabernacle in you", I think that the destiny of my creature was prophesied and not the fate of the Holy City, when the song says: "You shall shine with a bright light: all the peoples of the world will prostrate themselves before you: the nations will come bringing gifts: they will worship the Lord in you and will hold your land as sacred, because within you they invoke the Great Name. You will be happy on account of your children, because they will all be blessed and they will gather near the Lord. Blessed are those who love you and rejoice in your peace." And I am the first to rejoice, her happy mother.""

On the contrary, the birth of the Virgin Mary, as described by Blessed Emmerich, was virginal and miraculous, like the Birth of Jesus Christ, a birth befitting a perfect virgin. See also Conte, The Virginity of Jesus and Mary.

Comment: Again, as shown above, the Poem is in complete agreement.

The Poem claims that the birth date of the Virgin Mary was August 24th. On the contrary, the date given by the Virgin Mary herself at Medjugorje was August 5th.

Comment: Ronald is making a common mistake, the date the vision was given to Maria is posted immediately after the Chapter. The dates of the visions have no correlation to the venerated dates. For example the Christmas vision was given in June. Maria Valtorta does not provide a date anywhere regarding Mary’s birthday.

Claims that Joseph was about 30 years old when he married the Virgin Mary.

http://www.valtorta.org/BookText/E01_11-20.htm

On the contrary, Blessed Emmerich states that Joseph was much older, about 30 years older than the Virgin Mary (who was about 14 years of age). Also, tradition generally understands St. Joseph to have been many years older than the Virgin Mary.

Comment: Maria Valtorta’s version is very close. Her writings do not provide Joseph’s age at the time of marriage, but careful reading provides a few clues that place him anywhere over 33 years of age. "I have a nephew, the son of my brother Alphaeus, who was a great friend of Your mother. He was her little friend, because he is was only eighteen years old, and when You were not yet born." Joseph is Alphaeus’s older brother. Maria Valtorta also does not give Mary’s age, but says she appears to be fifteen years old at most. So if Joseph was the minimal of one year older that Alphaeus, and Mary was born one year after because he states "You were not yet born", then he would have been of a minimal age of 33 years old. These descriptions leave plenty of room for him to much be older. Another clue is in the same Chapter, when Joseph first meets Mary. He says: "I am old, Mary". Finally, on the back end, when Joseph dies there are clues that can place his age at about 75 years old. Maria indicates that Jesus has not yet started his Ministry yet. If this takes place immediately before Jesus starts his Ministry, then subtract 30 from 75, which places Joseph’s age at a minimal of 45 at the time of the Betrothal. This is very close to Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich’s revelations.

The Poem states false things about the event whereby Joseph was chosen to marry Mary "a dry branch which has blossomed miraculously, whereas no other branch on earth is in bloom to-day, the last day of the Feast of Dedication"

http://www.valtorta.org/BookText/E01_11-20.htm

The Feast of the Dedication (Hanukah) ended in early December in the year before Christ's Birth. The fruit trees in Israel bloom in the winter, which is the only season with appreciable rainfall. The choosing of Mary's husband probably occurred later in December. So, it is not true that no branch on earth would be in bloom on that day, nor is it true that no branch in Israel would be in bloom on that day.

Comment: Again, this is not so, Ronald must have missed it. Not just because the month was December, but because there was a snow-storm and everything was covered in snow and ice. The snow is still there because in Chapter 12, the High Priest tells Joseph after the miracle: "The snow that fell on the mountains in Judah has not yet melted and everything is white between ion and Bethany." That is why no branch was in bloom on that day.

The ceremony choosing Joseph as Mary's husband was not one in which the Jewish priests expected a miracle. They did not give each man a dry branch (as this poem claims) and then wait for a miraculous flower to bloom. They gave each man a branch with a blossom that had not yet opened. The first to open would be Mary's husband. But then they deliberately gave Joseph a dry branch (being much older than Mary, he was considered to be 'dry,' the male equivalent of 'barren.'). A miracle occurred in that a new blossom issued from the dry branch. So events did not occur at all as this so-called poem claims.

Comment: This is not considering the surroundings were covered in snow and ice. Given the fact that Joseph was chosen, a miracle must have occurred. Furthermore, The Protoevangelium Jacobi (The Gospel of James), states that the miracle transpired.

The false claim is made that Mary was sixteen years old at the time of her betrothal to Joseph.

http://www.valtorta.org/BookText/E01_11-20.htm)

On the contrary, Blessed Emmerich states that Mary was fourteen and a half at the time of her betrothal to Joseph. See Conte, Important Dates in the Lives of Jesus and Mary. There are numerous reasons for giving Mary's age as 14.5 at her betrothal, including the dating of her Immaculate Conception and of the Incarnation.

Comment: Mary’s age is not given at the time of the betrothal. Again, Ronald must have missed it. Chapter 16 "The Annunciation", gives Mary’s age as an estimate: "fifteen years old, at most". And that is after the betrothal. So again, Maria Valtorta’s works are perfectly in line with Blessed Emmerich.

The Poem claims that the betrothal of Joseph and Mary was not a wedding, that they planned to have a wedding ceremony later on, but never did so. To the contrary, Scripture calls Joseph the husband of Mary prior to the Incarnation of Christ (Mt 1:18-19).

Comment: This is simply a misunderstanding by Ronald of ancient Jewish Wedding procedures. "The marriage consists of two parts. First, the betrothal, (Erusin or Kidushin). Then about one or two years later, the second part took place. This is the wedding ceremony called, (Nisuin or Huppah). The betrothal is a parallel to the engagement in most ways except that in the ancient Jewish custom, it was binding! It was so binding that it could not be broken without an orthodox divorce. You were considered bound together from the period you entered the betrothal contract until the wedding day. When Joseph discovered that his betrothed wife Mary was with child he had real grounds to obtain a orthodox divorce, and would have if the angel had not appeared unto him and explained what was going on. From that point on Joseph knew it was the hand of God that was upon her. He had no more reason to put her away. The whole marriage rite is laid out in a series of steps."

http://www.mayimhayim.org/JewishWedding.htm

The Poem claims that, at the Annunciation, Mary asked the Angel Gabriel if she should give up her virginity. "Perhaps the Lord God will no longer accept the offer of His maidservant and does not want Me a Virgin for His love?"

http://www.valtorta.org/BookText/E01_11-20.htm

This very offensive claim contradicts the perfect virginity of Mary, in which she never wavered or hesitated. This sentence attributed to Mary shows doubt about the faithfulness of the Lord (as if He could change His mind and no longer want her to be ever-virgin), and it shows a lack of knowledge of God's will. Both of these qualities could not possibly have been present in the sinless Virgin Mary, who always knew and did God's whole will for her.

Comment: This is not an offensive claim by any means. This can be easily observed when reading the entire dialogue: "The curtain moves fast, as if someone behind it, shook it to draw it. And a pearl white light mixed with pure silver makes the slightly yellow walls clearer and makes the colors of the cloths brighter and Mary's raised face more spiritual. And in such light, while the curtain is still drawn on the mystery to be accomplished, the Archangel prostrates himself: the curtain no longer moves: it is hanging stiff against the door-posts like a wall separating the inside from the outside.

The Angel must necessarily take a human appearance. But it is a trans-humanized appearance. Of what flesh is this beautiful and gleaming figure made? With what substance did God form it to make it perceptible to the senses of the Virgin? Only God can possess such substances and use them so perfectly. It is a face, a body, eyes, a mouth, hair and hands like ours. But they are not our dull matter. It is a light that has taken the color of flesh, of eyes, hair, lips, a light that moves and smiles, looks and speaks.

"Hail, Mary, full of Grace, Hail!" The voice is a sweet arpeggio as of pearls thrown on a precious metal plate.

Mary is startled and lowers Her head. And She is even more startled when She sees the shinning creature kneeling at about a meter, [1 meter equals 3.281 ft], from Her and looking at Her with infinite veneration, his hands crossed over his chest.

Mary jumps to Her feet and She squeezes against the wall. She turns pale and red alternately. Her face shows surprise and fear. She subconsciously presses Her hands against Her breast hiding Her body as much as possible. An attitude of gently modesty.

"No. Do not fear. The Lord is with You! You are blessed amongst all woman!"

But Mary continues to be afraid. Where has that extraordinary being come from? Is he a messenger of god or of the Deceiver?

"Do not fear, Mary!" repeats the Archangel. "I am Gabriel, the Angel of God. My lord has sent me to You. Do not be afraid, because You have found grace is the eyes of God. And You will conceive and bear a Son and You will call Him "Jesus": He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High (and such He will really be). And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His Ancestor David and He will rule over the House of Jacob forever, and His reign will have no end. Understand, oh Holy Virgin loved by God, Daughter blessed by Him, called to be the Mother of His Son, what Son You will generate!"

"How can this come about, since I do not know man? Perhaps the Lord God will no longer accept the offer of His maidservant and does not want Me a Virgin for His love?"

"Not by deed of man You will be a mother, Mary. You are the Eternal Virgin, the Holy Virgin of God. The Holy Spirit will come upon You and the power of the Most High will cover You with its shadow. So the Child born of You will be called Holy and Son of God. Our Lord God can do everything. Elizabeth, the barren one, in her old age has conceived a son who will be the Prophet of Your Son, and will prepare His ways. The Lord has removed her disgrace and her memory will remain amongst peoples together with Your name, as the name of her creature will be joined to the name of Your Holy Son, and until the end of centuries you will be called blessed, because of the grace of the Lord which has come to both and particularly to You, by means of Whom Grace has come to all peoples. Elizabeth is in her sixth month and her burden lifts her to joy, and will lift her even more when she hears of Your joy. Nothing is impossible to the Lord, Mary, full of Grace. What shall I tell my Lord? Let no thought whatsoever disturb You. He will protect Your interests if You trust in Him. The world, Heaven, the Eternal Father are awaiting Your word!"

Mary crosses Her hands over Her breast and bowing down deeply, She says: "I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let what you have said be done to Me."

The Angel shines out of joy. He kneels in adoration because he certainly sees the Spirit of God descend upon the Virgin bent down in assent, and he disappears without moving the curtain, but leaves it well drawn over the holy Mystery.

The Poem is a fictional account of Mary and Christ's life Most of what is said in the Poem of the Man-God is nice-sounding, but ultimately uninformative.

Comment: Cardinal Bea, S.J., Jesuit, rector of the Pontifical Biblical Institute and advisor to the Holy Office testified: "I read several fascicles of the Work written by the lady, Maria Valtorta, attending particularly in my reading to the exegetical, historical, archeological and topographical parts. As far as its exegesis, I did not find any prominent errors in the fascicles examined by me. Further, I had been much impressed by the fact that her archeological and topographical descriptions were propounded with notable exactness. Concerning some particulars less exactly expressed, the author, questioned by me through an intermediary, had modestly given some satisfactory explanations. Here and there some scenes appeared to me too diffusely described, even with many vivid colors. But generally speaking, the reading of the Work is not only interesting and pleasing, but truly edifying. And for people less well informed on the mysteries of the life of Jesus, instructive."

There are descriptions of conversations between various persons, wherein nothing useful is presented to the reader. There are long descriptions of very ordinary things and events; the details given typically present the reader with nothing concerning faith or morals, nothing eventful or informative. This is one of the characteristics of false private revelation: long rambling and ultimately uninformative passages.

Comment: This is entirely untrue. There are countless authorities that disagree. To keep things succinct, I’ll quote two and provide links to many more:

Renowned Mariologist Father Gabriel Roschini, OSM "A Madonna in perfect harmony with the ecclesiastical Magisterium, particularly with the Second Vatican Council, with Scripture and ecclesiastical Tradition. No other Marian writing has ever been able to give so clear, so living, so complete, so luminous and so fascinating an idea of the Madonna: [an idea] at once simple and sublime." (Pope John Paul II often referred to Father Gabriel M. Roschini as one of the greatest Marioligists who ever lived. He was a decorated professor at the "Marianum" Pontifical Faculty of Theology in Rome, and an advisor to the Holy Office. He wrote over 130 Books on the Blessed Mother, all of which are in the Vatican Library).

Blessed Gabriel Allegra, OFM (the only Scripture scholar beatified by Pope John Paul II), "The finger of God is here. As for theological justification of a book as convincing, as charismatic, as extraordinary even from a merely human point of view, as is Maria Valtorta’s "Poem of the Man-God", I find it in St. Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians 14, 6 where he writes: Take me, for instance brothers, of what use could I be to you, if I were to come to you speaking tongues, but without revelation or knowledge, prophecy or doctrine?"

Furthermore, Blessed Gabriel Allegra was Beatified by Pope John Paul II. His Eminence was well aware that Father Gabriel Allegra was most noted for being an outspoken supporter of Maria Valtorta’s writings. Quite possibly an indirect Papal endorsement of Pope John Paul II.

Please take the time to read the links below to Blessed Gabriel Allegra's Critique of Maria Valtorta's works. These authoritative endorsements by a Beatified Scripture Scholar cannot be easily disregarded.

Blessed Gabriel Allegra, OFM.A - Valtorta Advocate in Heaven

Introduction

I - A Critique of Maria Valtorta's Poem of the Man-God

II - Notes for a Valtortian Critique

III - Valtortian Notes of Father Allegra

IV - Letters of Fr. Allegra on the Poem of the Man-God

Links to additional Testimonials:

http://mariavaltortawebring.com/Pages/011_Testimonials.htm

http://mariavaltortawebring.com/Pages/012_Scientific.htm

The Poem contradicts Medjugorje and Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich. As noted above, assertions are made by the Poem of the Man-God which directly contradict statements made by Mary at Medjugorje and by Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich in her private revelations. One cannot reasonably believe in the Poem of the Man-God without also rejecting Medjugorje and Blessed Emmerich.

Comment: This is entirely untrue. Ronald L. Conte Jr. claims to be a Theologian and an expert on the writings of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich. So far, after meticulously examining and comparing both works, the best contradictions he could uncover were miniscule at most. In pointing out the differences, he seems to be trying to split atoms with a razor blade. Furthermore, Ronald L Conte Jr. may also be the only Medjugorje supporter in opposition to the Poem. Most Medjugorje supporters are well aware of the many confirmations of the Poem by the visionaries.

F. John Loughnan does not believe in the Medjugorje apparitions, and uses this as the basis and premise of his arguments against the Poem. It is important to consider that most of the previous 51 page article by F. John Loughnan condemns the Poem because of the countless detailed confirmations of the Medjugorje visionaries.

Medjugorje visionaries Maria Pavlovich and Vicka Ivankovich, who questioned Mary regarding these works and received favorable confirmations. The following is an excerpt from a supporting web site, "Maria Pavlovich and Vicka Ivankovich were specifically requested to ask the Madonna about it. So in 1985, Maria Pavlovich upon hearing someone ask about the Poem, stated that two years previously a Franciscan friar had requested her to ask the Madonna about it. The visionary then became very serious and said: "Maria Valtorta! All true. The Poem of the Man-God. The Madonna said two years ago, all true! Dictated by Jesus!" Likewise, in a recorded interview with Attorney Janice Connell of the Pittsburgh Center for Peace on January 27, 1988, Connell asked the visionary Vicka Ivankovich if there were any other books Our Lady had told her about. Vicka replied, "Yes, The Poem of the Man-God by Maria Valtorta. Our Lady says The Poem of the Man-God is the truth. Our Lady said, if a person wants to know Jesus he should read The Poem of the Man-God by Maria Valtorta. That book is the truth." Attorney Janice Connell still has the original video of this interview, which she has shown to several prayer groups. The Poem received another Medjugorje related approval during a broadcast interview on Mother Angelica's EWTN cable network, which aired an interview with Medjugorje seer Marija Pavlovich conducted by retired New Orleans Archbishop Philip Hannan. On March 4, 1992 on the Archbishop's Focus program, Bob, a call in viewer from Milwaukee asked Marija, on the air, "What exactly did our Lady say regarding the Poem of the Man-God?" Marija responded that our Lady told her, "You can read it."

In an interview with Elliot Miller and Kenneth Samples (who turned out to be critical of Medjugorje), Vicka Ivankovic confirmed Our Ladies endorsement of Maria Valtorta’s writings. The testimony can be found in their resulting book, "The Cult of the Virgin", Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI , 1992, p. 150.

http://www.mariavaltortawebring.com/Pages/014_1988.htm

http://www.bardstown.com/~brchrys/Danylak.htm

http://www.medjugorjeweible.com/other_materials.html

There are many other cases of notable exactness between Maria Valtorta’s writings and other Private Revelations. The Marian Movement of Priests is based on the Private Revelations of our Holy Mother to Father Stefano Gobbi. This Movement has a membership of sixty thousand Priests and tens of millions of lay persons, as well as an Imprimatur of an Archbishop. In Book 5 of the Poem, Chapter 603, Page 592, we learn that Mary was one with Jesus during his entire Passion, in that She experienced and felt all of Jesus’ agony, pain and suffering. Speaking to John, Mary says: "Since yesterday evening I have followed Him in His sorrow. You cannot see it, but My flesh is bruised by the same scourges as His, the same thorns are piercing My forehead, I felt the blows, everything." This is confirmed by the Private Revelation given to Father Gobbi on August 1, 1973, whereas Mary says: "We were as one during His passion and His death on the Cross, on that tragic Good Friday." Another parallel example can be found in Book 5 of the Poem, Chapter 605, Page 621, explains that the "loud cry" the moment before Jesus’ death mentioned by the Gospels is the word "Mother". This is also verified by Father Gobbi’s message on August 1, 1973, when Mary reveals: "’Mother!’ was his last agonizing cry, the loud cry with which He expired on the Cross."

I could go on further to compare the true private revelations to Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich with this poor imitation called the Poem of the Man-God. But it would be a waste of my time and yours. It is clear, even beyond the points mentioned above, that this Poem is merely a fictional account of Mary and Jesus' lives, in some parts invented by Maria Valtorta in her imagination, and in other parts given to her as false private revelation by the devil, who was jealous of the success of the writings of Blessed A. C. Emmerich.

Comment: If those are the best contradictions he can find, the remaining differences must be essentially nonexistent. As it turns out, the differences are so picayune, as to be an enigma to even mention. Ronald mentions the devil. How can he be so blind? It’s blatantly obvious that the devil hasn’t lifted a finger against Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich’s works. But he has thrown himself entirely against Maria Valtorta’s works, that’s the ongoing battle front. He has even penetrated the Church were possible, as he penetrated Jesus’ Disciple Judas. That’s why Jesus gave us the example of Judas, to show that this kind of penetration at the top hierarchy is possible. If it can happen to one of the 12 Apostles under Jesus, it could happen to a Cardinal under the Pope. Show me were I’m wrong? Just look at these three correspondence links, not one of these false claims against Maria’s writings have been shown true. The devil is the father of lies, God is truth. Open your eyes, Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich’s works are a smooth sailing ship. The struggle is here, right under our noses, with Maria Valtorta’s works.

Did Mary at Medjugorje approve of The Poem of the Man-God? One of the visionaries, Marija Pavlovic, asked Mary about the Poem of the Man-God on behalf of a particular person (a Franciscan friar named Franjo). The question was, "Is this book true?" Mary said in reply only these words: "You can read it.

http://www.childrenofmedjugorje.com/medj/pomgC.htm

Such a statement does not connotate approval. The question was a 'yes' or 'no' question, yet Mary did not answer with 'yes' or 'no.' She did not want to say whether it was true or false. Mary has a particular role to fulfill at Medjugorje. She cannot intervene in every question of the faith. She cannot usurp the role of the Holy See and of the Bishops. For this reason, she did not express approval or disapproval of the Poem. Her comment has often been interpreted to mean that anyone may read it. However, she was asked this question by one visionary on behalf of one particular person (a religious brother). The primary meaning of her words, then, is that he, the religious brother may read it. The question was his question, so the answer is primarily his answer. And he, being a religious brother, could then judge for himself its contents. One might infer a secondary meaning from her answer: that other persons who are responsible for teaching and leading the faithful may read it to decide for themselves. However, the conclusion that everyone may read it is not correct.

Comment: Again, F. John Loughnan does not believe in the Medjugorje apparitions, and uses this as the basis and premise of his arguments against the Poem. It is important to consider that most of the previous 51 page article by F. John Loughnan condemns the Poem because of the countless detailed confirmations of the Medjugorje visionaries.

http://www.bardstown.com/~brchrys/Danylak.htm

Did Padre Pio approve of Maria Valtorta's writings? The Valtorta Center in Italy publishes a book about Maria Valtorta, which repeats the claim of a Mrs. Elisa Lucchi, that in the confessional she asked Padre Pio about Maria Valtorta's writings. The alleged response was that he ordered her to read them. This claim is doubtful for a number of reasons. First, it is made in a book promoting Valtorta's writings, published by an organization dedicated to promoting her writings. Second, the book is not written by the woman making the claim, but merely reports it second or third hand. Third, the alleged response from Padre Pio was in the confessional, so no one could possibly have verified that claim by asking him; he could not have said anything at all about a claim of what he said in the confessional. Fourth, if Padre Pio had believed so strongly in her writings, he would likely have said so outside of the confessional.

Comment: The late John Haffert, who headed the Blue Army with 25 million members dedicated to the Fatima Pledge, met Padre Pio several times. He also reported that Padre Pio was very fond Maria Valtorta’s writings. Below is a link regarding Mrs. Elisa Lucchi’s testimony, Moreover on another site: Abbeystore.com, there is another book on this subject exclusively, entitled: "Padre Pio and Maria Valtorta", in which a litany of other confirmations are available. In another statement Padre Pio prophesied that one-day Maria Valtorta’s writings would be propagated throughout the world:

Reference: Conference 1, Part A of the Conferences on the Poem of the Man-God by Fr. Vernard Poslusney, O. Carm. (Carmelites of the Ancient Observance). Fr. Poslusney is a well-known Catholic figure, author, and orator, having conducted over 300 conferences, days of prayer, homilies, lectures, retreats, seminars, sermons, teachings, and workshops, some of which were done with Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen in the 1970's. Towards the end of his life he was also an advisor to the Holy Office in the area of private revelation. Fr. Poslusney discusses a prophecy of Saint Padre Pio about Maria Valtorta’s writings at 5:51 to 6:20 in the following conference:

http://www.AdvancedChristianity.com/Mp3/Father%20Vernard%20Poslusney/Private%20Revelation/001%20FVP%2001-A.mp3

There are lists of people who (allegedly) approve of her writings. It sometimes happens that even holy persons are fooled into believing one false private revelation or another. There are also clear examples of holy persons rejecting true private revelations. Individuals are not infallible in deciding which private revelations are true and which are false. Neither am I infallible. Now the proponents of almost any false private revelation are able to point to any number of supporters, even among persons who are faithful to the Church, or who are priests or Bishops. For such individuals are fallible. However, if you believe merely because they believe, then why do they believe. Ultimately, a claimed private revelation must be judged on its own merits.

Comments: A Papal Order to publish is infallible. Maria Valtorta’s writings were presented to Pope Pius XII in 1947, who examined them for one year. His Holiness agreed to a special meeting in 1948, in which He ordered the publishing before three Priests: Fr. Corrado Berti (Professor of Dogmatic and Sacramental Theology at the Pontifical "Marianum" Theological Faculty of Rome from 1939 onward, later becoming Secretary of the Faculty from 1950 to 1959, as well as consultant to the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council), Fr. Romualdo M. Migliorini (Prefect Apostle in Africa), and Fr. Andrew M. Cecchin (Prior of the International College of the Servites of Mary in Rome). All aforementioned, documented this event with signed testimony. The fact that the Pope did grant this audience was historically documented the very next day, February 27, 1948 in L’Osservatore Romano.

Since Maria Valtorta's writings encountered several obstacles when the Head of the Holy Office took offense at being circumnavigated in the Church approval process, Cardinal Edouard Cardinal Gagnon, writing to the Maria Valtorta Research Center from the Vatican on October 31, 1987, referred to Pope Pius XII's action as: "The kind of official Imprimatur granted before witnesses by the Holy Father in 1948. An "Official Imprimatur" of the Supreme Authority of the Church".

http://www.exdeo.com/brC/berti/index.php

http://www.heartofjesus.ca/MariaValtorta/M%20A%20R%20I%20A.htm

http://www.bardstown.com/~brchrys/Valepic.htm

http://www.saveourchurch.org/testpoem.html

There are Errors in the book: The End Times as Revealed to Maria Valtorta. Maria Valtorta claimed to have received private revelation from God about the future. But her messages about the End Times (as found in the book The End Times as Revealed to Maria Valtorta) are full of errors and of the merciless boasting of the devil. Examples follow.

God is merciful, but these messages are merciless. For example: "Now the Father is weary, and to make the human race perish He lets the chastisements of hell go wild, because human beings have preferred hell to Heaven, and their Ruler, Lucifer, torments them to make them blaspheme Us so as to make them completely his children." (from The End Times as Revealed to Maria Valtorta, April 23, 1943). The above message contains many errors. First, God the Father does not weary, nor does His Mercy grow weary.

Comment: Don’t forget the flood and Sodom and Gommorah.

Second, God does not cause the human race to perish, for even in the time of suffering in the Book of Revelation, the saints are victorious and the human race continues. God even makes a new heaven and a new earth, so that the human race, even on earth, continues.

Comment: The great chastisement may necessitate a new earth.

Third, the devil is not the ruler of the human race, nor of hell, nor is humanity ever completely his children. This message presents the devil as if he were ruler of all people ('their Ruler') and as if he had the ability to torment whomever he wished. The ideas presented in this message are false.

Comment: This is biblical. When Jesus was tempted by the devil in the desert, Luke 4:1-13, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to." Jesus does not rebuke this statement. Ronald’s statements compel me to question his claim of being a genuine theologian, it seems to fly in the face of Christ at least 3 times, alluding to Satan as "the Ruler of this world" [Jn 12:31; 14:30; 16:11]. He apparently doesn't know his Scriptures too well.

Fourth, God does not deliver humanity into the hands of the devil so as to make them blaspheme. Such ideas are entirely contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Comment: From the visions of Our Lady by Sister Agnes Katsuko Sasagawa in Akita, Japan, which has been met with Church approval, the great chastisement, without great prayer, repentance and fasting, would be worse than the flood. The descriptions appear to be that of a nuclear holocaust at the hands of men. Medjugorje describes a great chastisement, that Our Holy Mother is trying to prevent or minimize with prayer, repentance, fasting and praying the Rosary. The miracle of Fatima is a vision of the great chastisement. There were a 100,000 witnesses to this miracle. In a book entitled, "Fatima, Meet the Witnesses" by John Haffert, they describe the fire from the sun detaching itself and being hurled down to the earth. They were all running for their lives, running from the fire. People who were making fun of the pilgrims for listening to the children fell on their knees begging for God’s mercy. This was seen for a 30 mile radius, the radius of a nuclear strike.

John Haffert 001A Fatima.mp3

Therefore, this message and all the many other similar merciless messages of Maria Valtorta are messages from the fallen angels, such as Lucifer, not from God nor from Heaven.

Comment: As above.

To the contrary, God is merciful and forgiving. There are fallen angels in the world, but God limits what fallen angels can do; this lesson is clearly taught in the Book of Job. In addition, all of Scripture clearly teaches that God continues to be merciful throughout all of human history, even during the worst afflictions, which are sent by God's Providence and Power, not by the devil.

Comment: The people who survived the great food in the ark could be counted on one hand.

The Book of Revelation present the sufferings of the Seven Seals as very grave afflictions, but also as events that are brought about by the Lamb of God, Jesus, who is the only one who can open the Seals. This indicates that the afflictions of the tribulation are not the work of hell or of the devil, but are just and merciful chastisements sent by God. Some further examples of merciless messages, that could not possibly be from Heaven follow, from the same book by Valtorta. These messages are supposedly from Jesus.

Comment: According to the visions of Our Lady by Sister Agnes in Akita, Japan, this chastisement will be different. It will not be carried out by God, but by His Divine Will. In other words, He steps aside and allows it to happen.

(June 1, 1943) "I look at My flock... My flock? Not anymore.... I no longer have a flock."

(June 3, 1943) "You fools with your heads full of a thousand useless rumors and wicked thoughts...."

(June 5, 1943) "But My second coming will be a coming of stern, inflexible, general Judgment, and for the majority of you, it will be a judgment of punishment."

Do these messages sound like Jesus the merciful Christ, who died out of love for us? No! Jesus does not speak in this way; these are the words of the evil one.

Comment: It sounds like the wrath of God.

God, and especially Jesus Christ incarnate, is portrayed as weak and ineffective. Again, the words are supposedly those of Jesus speaking to Valtorta.

Comment: This is being taken out of context. Not weak and ineffective, but just, as in Matthew 13:53-58, "And he did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief." Do not take this as weak.

(April 23, 1943) "...I, the divine Redeemer, on Calvary, at the hour of My immolation, of all the thousands of persons present at My death, I managed to save the thief, and Longinus, and very few others."

Comment: "of all the thousands of persons present at My death". This makes sense, the people present crucified Him, His followers fled. You could count on one hand those who loved him and remained at the foot of the Cross.

On the contrary, the Passion and death of Christ on the Cross, as well as His whole life's sufferings, words, and deeds, are very effective at saving even the worst sinners.

Comment: Not all the Scribes and Pharisees insulting him at the foot of the Cross. (Mk. 15.21-41) "But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?" Maria Valtorta adds, "This hour shall not go unpunished."

The reference to Longinus is a reference to the writings of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, wherein she describes the conversion of Cassius Longinus, the soldier who plunged his spear through the side of Christ. The writings of Valtorta are a perverse imitation of the writings of Blessed Emmerich, for the devil became jealous at the success of her writings.

Comment: There is no opposition to the Revelations to Blessed Emmerich, the devil let that one slide. There’s no activity there, it’s a smooth sailing ship. It is Maria Valtorta’s writings in which he is putting up a fierce fight to suppress.

(June 7, 1943) "In truth I tell you that over two thirds of the human race belong to the category that lives under the sign of the Beast. For them I died uselessly." Again, this message has Jesus speaking as if He were weak and unable to save, except for a few. By contrast, the messages of Medjugorje say that most persons are saved, going first to Purgatory, then to Heaven. Also, this message of Valtorta again is really a message from the devil, who is boasting that two thirds of humanity is, supposedly, under his sign.

Comment: "For them I died uselessly", is not tantamount to these souls being lost forever. They will be purified in Purgatory. Valtorta also hold that one third will be lost.

(March 23, 1944) "The hour shall come when I can no longer move a finger or say a word to work a miracle. The world shall be void of My force."

Comment- Ronald is being a little sneaky here, Jesus is talking in a past tense, just before the vision of the crucifixion. He is referring to the period of time between His death and Resurection.

(April 9, 1944) "Powerless, I witness this rush of all mankind into spiritual death."

Comment: As above.

In truth, there are very many messages that show the same characteristics: presenting Christ as if he were powerless and merciless. There are very many examples in Valtorta's messages of words that are nothing more than the lying boasts of the fallen angels, vicious words threatening all of mankind and provoking fear and despair. I will spare the reader further examples, for they are very many.

Comment: Not powerless and merciless, but showing divine justice.

False claims about the future. Valtorta's messages claim that Revelation 11:17-18 refers to World War II (message of August 5, 1943). This assertion is absurd. Chapter 11 of the Book of Revelation refers to the last half of the Antichrist's reign, that is, to a time period of 3.5 years. But Paul clearly taught (2 Thess 2:8) that the Antichrist (the lawless one) will be destroyed at the end of his reign by the Return of Jesus Christ. And Daniel (9:27) also teaches that the Antichrist has a reign of seven years, with the last half being the worst. Yet the Antichrist did not reign, nor was he in the world, during the time of World War II, nor did Christ return at that time.

Comment: Maria Valtorta claimed Hitler bo me a minor precursor to the antichrist. She holds that the rein of the antichrist will not be one day more than the Reign of Christ. Jesus began His Ministry at age 30 and died at 33½, a 3½ year Reign. Valtorta’s version is much more merciful, than an antichrist with a 7 year reign.

Moreover, before verses 17 and 18, the two prophets prophesy for 1260 days, then the two prophets are killed, their bodies lie in the streets for 3.5 days, then they are raised from the dead and assumed into Heaven. All of these things happen in Revelation 11 prior to verses 17 and 18. Yet none of these events happened during World War II, nor since that time. Therefore, these messages of Valtorta are false messages.

Comment: Maria Valtorta did not claim WWII to be the reign of the antichrist.

Later on (August 21, 1943), the messages talk about the two prophets as if they are merely symbols of every holy leader of the faith. This claim is also absurd because Revelation plainly describes the two prophets as two individuals: they are killed, they are raised from the dead, they are assumed into Heaven. Such a description cannot be merely a metaphor for all the faithful leaders of the Church.

Comment: Revelations is nearly all symbolic, there are seven headed dragons running around.

There are numerous messages about the future in Valtorta's writings. These are all very vague, with no specific dates and with a very confused order (or disorder) of events. As with most false private revelations, every message about the future is long rambling confused, with grandiose wording, but ultimately uninformative.

Comment: How is Revelations different?

Sites with more information:

http://www.unitypublishing.com/Apparitions/PoemManGod.html

http://www.ewtn.com/library/SCRIPTUR/VALTORTA.TXT

http://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/poem_of_the_man.htm

In Conclusion, These messages of Maria Valtorta are full of references to the power of Satan. And they present Christ and God as merciless and full of vile talk about everything. Such is not the case with the true private revelations. There are many examples in these messages of these same kinds of errors, repeated again and again. But this should be sufficient to show that the messages of Maria Valtorta and the book called, The Poem of the Man-God, are not true private revelation from Heaven.

by Ronald L. Conte Jr.

December 9, 2005

In Conclusion, I found Ronald L. Conte Jr.’s article to be very well written, thoughtful and challenging to contend with. He made some good points, and I hope I made some good points also.

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