Agnus Dei, An amazing account of the Christ, from the words of Maria Valtorta, by R.W. Schoenecker

This remarkable book is a shortened version in novel form of a five-volume work (15,000 pages of hand-written notes) written by an Italian mystic in the 1940's. She recorded the visions and dictations to obedience to Jesus Christ and His Mother--scenes from the Gospels in stories and teachings of Christ. The original work, entitled The Poem of the Man-God, was painstakingly written from the notes that Maria had taken from 1946 to 1947, into a five-volume work of over 4,000 pages. She checked with the Bible and the Catholic Catechism and other sources for accuracy. The facts of Jesus' and Mary's life are presented in a fascinating form, including many conversations between them and other persons in the Gospel accounts, and also descriptions of New Testament times and places.


Maria's mammoth work has been approved by two Popes and has no need of an imprimatur, as it does not treat of doctrine or morals. The author assures the reader that it cannot replace Scripture, but it is a wonderful source for readers of today. It has had a more powerful impact on those who have read it than any other commentary on the Gospels. It gives a clearer picture of Christ, His Mother, the time and places where they lived, miracles and teachings of Christ and credible descriptions of the growth of the new Church that Jesus founded, and on every person in the biblical account. Besides a thoughtful Forward and Preface, the text is divided into 62 chapters, each of them devoted to a "happening" or teaching of Christ. As we read at the end of John's Gospel, there is more of what Jesus said and did and of His life -- more than could fill many volumes. This single volume gives the essence of Maria's writings, is masterfully written, and gives a deeper insight into the New Testament and can strengthen the faith of the reader. According to Italian publishers, over 100,000 copies of Valtorta's works have been sold. Each of the chapters can be read as a coherent unit for anyone who lacks the time to read the entire book. (But once you start, it's hard to stop!) The difficulty of some in reading the rather fine print is worth solving in some way or another.