Abbé René Laurentin and Maria Valtorta

Abbot René Laurentin, 1996, after G.A. Pistoia

Born on October 19, 1917, and passed away on September 10, 2017, nearly a centenarian, Mgr Laurentin was a theologian, exegete, historian, and former expert at Vatican II.

Abbot Laurentin, who became a prelate of Benedict XVI in 2009, is the author of 160 works notably on Mariology but also on Marian Apparitions worldwide, a field in which he specialized. He had several occasions to give an opinion on the Valtorta case:

In The Life of Mary According to the Revelations of the Mystics

The Life of Mary According to the Revelations of the Mystics, Presses de la Renaissance, 2011

At the end of this four-year comparative study of the life of Mary as revealed to eight mystics, including four main ones (Mary of Ágreda, A. C. Emmerich, M. Valtorta, T. Neumann), Abbot Laurentin regrets the title of The Gospel as It Was Revealed to Me which seems to claim equivalence to the canonical Gospel, but he notes the uniqueness of the visions of Maria Valtorta and finds nothing contrary to the Gospel.

• Maria Valtorta stands out among revealed lives : "Maria Valtorta led a holy life, a victim gift that commands esteem. Among the "revealed lives," she is recommended for the many titles below: it contains a minimum of marginal marvels in conformity with the sobriety of the Gospel […] What she says is convergent and in constant conformity with the Gospel. This is all the more striking since she recounts so many marginal episodes otherwise unknown. […] She is the best aligned with the countless discoveries of current exegesis (pp. 42-43)."
• The support of Pius XII : "Added to this is the scope and importance of the various endorsements of this life. Pius XII, as authoritative as demanding in his faith, discernment, and pontifical prudence, had great esteem for this life which he had read and for which he suspended, until the beginning of the next pontificate (October 28, 1958), the placing on the Index by the Holy Office (December 16, 1959), one year after his death. Pius XII did not take an official position, he only entrusted his private discernment: "Publish the work as is. There is no need to give an opinion regarding its origin, whether extraordinary or not. Those who read will understand," he advised" (p. 43)."

• The Gospel is in no way contradicted, refuted, or distorted by these astonishing accounts : "From a historical point of view, one can neither prove nor exclude that these enlightening or remarkable details might be considered a revelation or a legitimate addition to evangelical history. In any case, they add nothing new to the Doctrine of Christ. On this point, the visionaries base themselves entirely and only on the Gospel. But what to think of the historicity of the numerous new episodes that M. Valtorta recounts on the margins of the Gospel [...] Nothing allows confirmation, but nothing excludes them, for the Gospel is in no way contradicted, refuted, or distorted by these astonishing accounts. (common conclusion, p. 252)."

In the Dictionary of Gospel Characters, Salton Maria Valtorta

Dictionary of Gospel Characters Salton Maria Valtorta, Salvator edition, 2012

Intrigued by the work of Maria Valtorta, Mgr Laurentin requested to undertake an examination of her "historical charism." For this, in addition to François-Michel Debroise, he added a third collaborator: Jean-François Lavère and recommended the study in the form of a dictionary. In 2012, he published a Dictionary of Gospel Characters Salton Maria Valtorta in which he describes Maria Valtorta's historical and spiritual data as "remarkable" but recalls her status as a private revelation:

"These remarkable conclusions on the historical and spiritual authenticity of Maria Valtorta, as rich and new as they are, do not grant her the theological status of biblical authors nor that of official interpreter of Revelation. But she is recommended on a private basis, without proportion to other "revealed lives" [...] The very numerous dialogues of Maria Valtorta coin the Doctrine of Christ, but add nothing to it. Likewise, the miracles she alone reports are analogous to the healings of the Gospel but do not provide any modalities reinforcing the divinity of Christ.

It is a good historical complement to the Gospel that is proposed to us, but it falls under our private judgment. [...] She therefore holds an honorable position that our work has located, confirmed, and valued but which does not elevate her beyond the serious authors who supported her. It seems difficult to raise objections against her since her assertions are all plausible and often confirmed by historical scholarship. Once again, this does not change her humble status. Pius XII himself only expressed himself on her matter in an allusive and veiled manner: "Publish the work as it is. There is no need to give an opinion regarding its origin, whether extraordinary or not. Those who read will understand."

Everyone will judge.

This book concludes one of the great debates of our time. In 1992 the Italian Episcopal Conference only requested that all publications of Maria Valtorta's work clearly mention that it is a private work and not Public Revelation. Nothing has changed in 20 years. Its publication continues with tacit agreement of the Church. (pp. 28-29)"

IN 2011, Abbot Laurentin gave an extended Jean-François Lavère interview during which he inquired about his research and, in conclusion, encouraged him to continue:

R.L.: "So continue your daily studies on the historicity of Maria Valtorta and publish them as I suggest, in commented notes on each chronological, archaeological, historical detail… that you will continue to find every day."

In The Virgin of the Last Times

The Virgin of the Last Times, Salvator ed., 2014

After studying the "historical charism" of Maria Valtorta, Mgr Laurentin asked that her "theological or prophetic charism" be studied. The field was difficult to grasp since her main work, The Gospel as It Was Revealed to Me, covered 98.5% of the canonical Gospel. The opportunity arose to focus on the prophetic theme of the Virgin of the Last Times foretold by St Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort and which Maria Valtorta updates and surprisingly explicates in her "dictations", supported by various other mystics. It is notably noted regarding the common thought of Grignion de Montfort and Maria Valtorta:

"In the dictations he entrusts to Maria Valtorta, Jesus echoes the prophecy of Grignion de Montfort whom he does not cite however: "It is in the fervor of Mary that lies the secret of the Final Redemption." The Holy Spirit, commenting on the Apocalypse, confirms to Maria Valtorta: The Virgin Mary will be the forerunner of the second coming of Christ, as John the Baptist was of the first. She will bear children for God. The Holy Spirit dates this advent: it is now the hour of Mary. The era is thus contemporary with her: not the 1950s when this was written, but the 2000s when these writings spread (p. 26)."

Notes and references

Source: Christians Magazine, no. 218 of March 15, 2009, special issue Maria Valtorta, page 7.

Person who analyzes the historical, cultural, and literary context of Biblical texts to better understand what they meant at the time they were written and how they can be interpreted today.

The branch of Christian theology that studies what concerns Mary, mother of Jesus Christ, her place in the mystery of the salvation of the world, always in connection with the mystery of Christ.

The branch of Christian theology that studies what concerns Mary, mother of Jesus Christ, her place in the mystery of the salvation of the world, always in connection with the mystery of Christ.

Analysis of the historical, cultural, and literary context of Biblical texts to better understand what they meant at the time they were written and how they can be interpreted today.

Gift conferred by divine Grace for the common good.

In-depth research on God, faith, religious Doctrine.

The whole of truths revealed by God to humanity through the Bible. It is complete and definitive in the Christian faith.