The Virgin Mary was there at Stephen's burial (II)

The following excerpts from Maria Valtorta's The Gospel as Revealed to Me (1) on the burial of Stephen show the great prudence and wisdom of the Virgin Mary in the year 32, when the persecution of the fledgling Church began. As the apostles were ready to offer their lives as martyrs in imitation of Stephen, Mary gave her opinion: 

“But the more judicious ones among the people present, that is Lazarus and Nicodemus, point out to Peter and to James of Alphaeus that the Church has only few priests of the Christ, and that if the more important ones of them were killed, that is Peter the Pontiff and James the Bishop of Jerusalem, the Church would survive with difficulty.

And they conlude saying: “You ought to scatter as well through Judaea and Samaria. Get proselytes there, many more shepherds, and from there scatter through the Faith, so that, as He ordered you to do, all the peoples may become acquainted with the Gospel.

646.4 would survive with difficulty. They remind also Peter that their Founder and Master had left Judaea for Samaria, in order not to be killed before Fie had formed them properly, and how Fie had advised His servants to follow His example until the shepherds are so many that one will not have to fear the dispersion of the believers because of the death of the shepherds. And they con elude saying: «You ought to scatter as well through Judaea and Samaria. Get proselytes there, many more shepherds, and from there scatter through the Faith, so that, as He ordered you to do, all the peoples may become acquainted with the Gospel. »

4 The apostles are perplexed. They look at Mary, as if they 646 - 4 wanted to know Her opinion on the matter.

And Mary, Who understands their looks, says: ‘It is a good piece of advice. Take it. It is not cowardice, but prudence. He taught you: ‘Be as simple as doves and as prudent as snakes. I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Beware of men...”.

James interrupts Her: “Yes, Mother. But He also said: “But when they hand you over and you will be dragged before governors, do not worry about what you have to answer. It is not you who will be speaking, but the Spirit of the Father will be speaking for you and in you”. And I am staying here. A disciple is to be like his Master. He died to give life to the Church. Every death of ours will be a stone added to the great new Temple, an increase in life for the great immortal body of the universal Church. Let them kill me, if they wish so. Living in Heaven I shall be happier, because I shall be beside my Brother, and even more powerful. I am not afraid of death. But of sin. By abandoning my place I seem to be imitating the gesture of Judas, the perfect betrayer. James of Alphaeus will never commit that sin. If I have to fall, I will fall like a hero, at my place of action, where He wanted me to be.”

Mary replies to him: “I will not pierce into your secrets with the Man-God. If that is what He inspires you with, do so. He alone, Who is God, is entitled to give orders. We are all only entitled to obey Him always, in everything, to do His Will.”

Maria Valtorta

Source: https://archive.org/details/

(1) Maria Valtorta (1897-1961) was an Italian mystic and member of the Catholic Third Order of the Servites of Mary. She wrote the ten volumes of The Gospel as Revealed to Me, a true "celestial autobiography", so to speak.