Maria Valtorta THE BOOK OF AZARIAH Translated from the Italian by David G. Murray CENTRO EDITORIALE VALTORTIANO All rights reserved in all Countries. Original title: Libro di Azaria. @ 1972 by Tipografia Editrice M. Pisani. @ 1982 by Emilio Pisani. @ 1988 by Centro Editoriale Valtortiano srl. Translation by David G. Murray. @) 1993 by Centro Editoriale Valtortiano srl., Viale Piscicelli 89-91, 03036 Isola del Liri - Italy. ISBN 88-7987-013-0 Film setting by Centro Editoriale Valtortiano srl. Printing and Binding by Tipografia Editrice M. Pisani sas., Isola del Liri. Cover design by Piero Luigi Albery. Printed in Italy, 1993. CONTENTS 10 Translator's Note to the English Edition 12 Alphabetical Listing of Abbreviations for Citing the Books of the Bible 15 Sexagesima Sunday 19 Quinquagesima Sunday 23 The First Sunday of Lent 28 The Second Sunday of Lent 33 The Third Sunday of Lent 42 The Fourth Sunday of Lent 50 Passion Sunday 59 Palm Sunday 68 Resurrection Sunday 74 In Albis Sunday 83 Second Sunday after Easter 90 Third Sunday after Easter 98 Fourth Sunday after Easter 107 Fifth Sunday after Easter 116 Sunday within the Octave of the Ascension 6 124 Pentecost Sunday 133 Holy Mass of the First Sunday after Pentecost and Feast of the Holy Trinity 140 Corpus Christi 148 Holy Mass in the Octave of Corpus Christi 156 Sunday in the Octave of the Sacred Heart and commemoration of St. Paul 163 Fourth Sunday after Pentecost 172 Fifth Sunday after Pentecost 179 Sixth Sunday after Pentecost 182 Seventh Sunday after Pentecost 186 Eighth Sunday after Pentecost 192 Ninth Sunday after Pentecost 198 Tenth Sunday after Pentecost 207 Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost 212 Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost 215 Nativity of Mary Most Holy and Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost 220 Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost 226 Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost 7 232 Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost 235 Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost 239 Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost 243 Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost 249 Last Sunday in October, Feast of Christ the King and Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost 256 Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost 261 Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost 266 Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost 273 Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost 276 First Sunday of Advent 279 Immaculate Conception and Second Sunday of Advent 290 Third Sunday of Advent 296 Fourth Sunday of Advent 300 Sunday within the Christmas Octave 306 The Most Holy Name of Jesus and Vigil of the Epiphany 314 Sunday of the Holy Family and Sunday within the Octave of the Epiphany 320 Second Sunday after Epiphany 326 Third Sunday after Epiphany 328 Septuagesima Sunday 8 TRANSLATOR'S NOTE TO THE ENGLISH EDITION The Book of Azariah represents a series of "dictations" which Maria Valtorta ascribed directly to her guardian angel. These inspired "lessons" (1946-1947) take as their starting point fifty-eight Masses found in the Roman Missal of the Catholic Church which reflect the liturgy prior to the reforms introduced in the wake of the Second Vatican Council. In view of the genesis of the commentaries, Maria Valtorta initially termed this work Angelical Masses, adding the subtitle Directions. The first Italian edition (1972), however, adopted the name of her guardian angel, "Azariah," with its biblical precedent,' as the title for these meditations. For the present English-language version of the complete original the publisher has chosen to indicate after the title of each Mass the scriptural passages corresponding to that day's liturgy and include the text of the various prayers contained therein.2 Scriptural references identifying the sources of biblical quotations or clarifying allusions in the commentaries have been placed in the margins. The Gospel passages forming part of these Masses, as Azariah himself explains, have not been commented upon since the Gospel has been broadly dealt with in the monumental life of Christ which Maria Valtorta was inspired to write.3 The Book of Azariah translates the ecstatic flame of heavenly love into human language with an intensity and fervor fully confirming its angelic origin. It resounds with limitless adoration of the Holy Trinity. Particularly addressed to those who, like Maria Valtorta, have been singularly called to be God's "spokesmen" in spite of the world's incomprehension, indifference, or outright opposition, the work is basically a prolonged exhortation to live out the Christian virtues-especially faith, hope, and charity-in the face of every tri- 1 See Dn 3, especially Azariah's "song" glorifying and praising the Lord in the midst of the fiery furnace (24-25), a most vivid symbol of divine love as a sanctifying "flame." 2 The liturgical texts have been taken from Dom Gaspar Lefebvre, O.S.B. and the Monks of St. Andrew's Abbey (eds.), Saint Andrew Daily Missal (Bruges, Belgium: Biblica, 1962). 3 Published in English under the title The Poem of the Man-God, this multi-volume work is based on extensive contemplations embracing virtually the entirety of Christ's earthly existence. 10 al and challenge, in the certainty that by so doing those called will receive bountiful divine aid in the present and eternal glory in paradise. The book is pervasively "Catholic," or universal, inasmuch as it unceasingly affirms and illuminates the mystical reality of the one Church founded by Christ-in its institutional, sacramental, and doctrinal concreteness-as the authentic embodiment of the Gospel legacy on earth and unfailing channel of supernatural grace for the whole of humanity. It offers abundant inspiration to those praying and laboring for the visible return of all Christians to their primordial unity in the Holy Spirit-with one Shepherd and one flock. As with all of Maria Valtorta's writings, the themes of continuous prayer and the generous offering of suffering, as well as the spiritual importance of intimate identification with the Person of Christ and his Sacrifice, are paramount in this book. Ample instruction is devoted to humility, unreserved forgiveness of one's "enemies," and loving intercession on behalf of others as so many keys to reaching and possessing union with God. Other typically "Valtortian" notes are profound, creative awareness of God's Fatherhood and the unboundedly joyous, vigorous, and liberating discovery of what it means to be his "children." Above all, The Book of Azariah is mystical speech-that is, the inspired articulation of God's Being-in-Love with man and man's being-in-Love with God-as mediated, in this instance, by an angel, and a guardian angel at that: the privileged witness to and participant in the enamored exchanges between Spirit and spirit, Divine Persons and human person. In this burning language of mystical dialogue, words are brands which both wound and heal, revealing God to be at once supremely powerful and supremely tender, the consummate Romantic of eternal poetry. The Book of Azariah has thus been written for true "lovers," present and future, and it is to be hoped that it will find its way into their hands-and into their hearts. Rome, Easter 1993 David G. Murray 11 ALPHABETICAL LISTING OF ABBREVIATIONS FOR CITING THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE Ac Acts Lk Luke Am Amos Lm Lamentations Ba Baruch Lv Leviticus 1 Ch I Chronicles 1 M 1 Maccabees 2 Ch 2 Chronicles 2 M 2 Maccabees Cl Colossians Mi Micah 1 Co 1 Corinthians Mk Mark 2 Co 2 Corinthians Ml Malachi Dn Daniel Mt Matthew Dt Deuteronomy Na Nahum Ek Ezekiel Nb Numbers Ep Ephesians Ne Nehemiah Er Ezra Ob Obadiah Es Esther 1 P 1 Peter Ex Exodus 2 P 2 Peter Ga Galatians Ph Philippians Gn Genesis Pin Philemon Ha Habakkuk Pr Proverbs He Hebrews Ps Psalms Hg Haggai Qo Ecclesiastes/Qoheleth Ho Hosea Rm Romans Is Isaiah Rt Ruth Jb Job Rv Revelation Jg Judges is I Samuel il Joel 2S 2 Samuel Jm James Sg Song of Songs in John Si Ecclesiasticus/Ben Sira I in 1 John Th Tobit 2 in 2 John I Th 1 Thessalonians 3 Jn- 3 John 2 Th 2 Thessalonians Jo Jonah I Tm 1 Timothy ir Jeremiah 2 Tin 2 Timothy Js Joshua Tt Titus it Judith WS Wisdom Ju Jude Zc Zechariah I K 1 Kings Zp Zephaniah 2 K 2 Kings THE BOOK OF AZARIAH SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY Introit: Ps 44(43):24-26, 2 Collect: You see, Lord, that we do not trust in anything that we do; grant in Your goodness that by the protection of the Doctor of the Gentiles we may be defended against all adversity. Through our Lord. Epistle: 2 Co 11:19-33; 12:1-9 Gradual: Ps 83(82):19, 14 Tract: Ps 60(59):4, 6 Gospel: Lk 8:4-15 Offertory: Ps 17(16):5, 6-7 Secret: May the sacrifice offered to You, 0 Lord, give us life and protect us always. Through our Lord. Communion: Ps 43(42):4 Postcommunion: We humbly entreat You, almighty God, that those whom You refresh with Your sacraments, may serve You worthily by a life which pleases You. Through our Lord. February 24, 1946, 11 a.m. St. Azariah says to me: "Come, let us hear Holy Mass together. Today's liturgy, though addressed to all, is particularly addressed precisely to you, extraordinary instruments of God. "While men sing on Earth and angels sing in Heaven, let us contemplate the teachings of today's Holy Mass, applying them to you in particular. "Do you hear? '0 God, who see that we do not trust in any of our actions, propitiously grant that we may be defended in all adversities by the Doctor of the Gentiles.' "That's it. Humility-one of the essential virtues in the extraordinary instruments, given to falling into the sin of pride over what they are more than anything else, confusing the Source with the outlet.
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