Water
Water, an element symbolizing life, is used to baptize and thus restore the life of Grace to the souls who receive this sacrament. In the Gospel and in the work of Maria Valtorta, water is mentioned in various ways to illustrate the teachings of Jesus.
In "The Gospel as It Was Revealed to Me"
Holy Water
- "Why did you throw this Water away? It was holy!" - And they crowd Against Him, who raises his wounded hand to bless, while some, warned by the Woman of the house, wash their Face and limbs with the drops left in the basin. Jesus sees them and cries: "Because of your faith, be all healed."[1]
Glass of Water
- The service of the brothers: What is done to a disciple is done to the Master, and even a single cup of water or a bread given to help someone who labors for Me will find a reward with God Himself.[2]
- Parable of the distribution of Waters: Whoever is rich is the custodian of the riches God grants him with the order to distribute it to those who suffer.[3]
- And if the Truth has taught you that even a cup of Water given to a man will have its reward, because every act of mercy done to a brother is done to God Himself, what punishment will there be for those who dispute even the stone of the path that could serve as a pillow for the Son of man’s head, …[4]
- A sip of Water has no material value, but charity makes it great and it does not remain without reward.[5]
Living Water
- If you knew the gift of God and who He is who says to you: "Give me to drink," perhaps you yourself would have asked Him for a drink and He would have given you living water.[6] – At Sychar, Jesus addressing the Samaritan woman Photina – January/February of the 2nd year of public life.[7]
In the Other Works of Maria Valtorta
The Notebooks of 1943
- Catechesis of June 21 : I will now draw a comparison for the Soul. The cistern that collects Waters for its Good and the Good of others is the Soul that knows how to Homelir the Grace flowing within it, inexhaustible, by the goodness of God. Its own life and that of others, who are in contact with it, benefit and become lush with Fruits eternal, while the most deprived, the unfortunate who do not know how to use Grace well, the prodigal who waste it, the guilty who lose it can, in contact with this Soul, feed on it, drink from it, and reflect on how sweet the Water of the Lord is; they are led to repeat the cry of the Samaritan woman: ‘Lord, give me this Water’ ([8])
Believe me truly, if anyone asked me for a drink, I would give it right away, even if he were the greatest of sinners, the living Water of Grace.
For Grace to fill your Soul, pay close attention that nothing damages your spirit. (And he continues on the importance of this regarding faithfulness to Grace, humility and charity).[9]
In the Fundamental Christian Texts
In the Bible
- Be amazed at it, inhabitants of heaven, be paralyzed with horror, declares the Lord. My people have committed a double fault: they have abandoned me, the source of living Water, to dig for themselves cisterns; and these are cracked cisterns, unable to hold Water![10]
- I will pour upon you pure Water that will purify you; Yes, I will cleanse you from all your pollutions and from all your idolatry. I will give you a new Heart birth, I will put a new spirit within you. I will remove your heart of stone and give you a receptive heart. I will put my Spirit in you so that you may be able to obey my laws, to observe and practice the rules I have prescribed.[11]
In the Catechism of the Catholic Church
- The Blood and Water that flowed from the pierced side of Jesus crucified (Jn 19:34) are types of Baptism and the Eucharist, Sacraments of new life (cf. 1 Jn 5:6-8): hence, it is possible "to be born of Water and the Spirit" to enter the Kingdom of God (Jn 3:5).[12]