“It is me, in the flesh,
touch my hands…”
8th May 1953
It was night and I was
praying before the Blessed Sacrament, more with my heart than with my lips, always
tormented with the doubt of being deceiving myself. Suddenly, I saw before me
my sweet Mother Mary shrouded in light, just like the other times. She
approached me and said with a smile:
“My little one, courage,
do not be afraid. Your Mother cannot deceive anyone: it is me, in the flesh .
Touch my hands: I am a human being like you, even if I come from Heaven. It is
the Lord who has given me this mission for the sake of all my children who live
on earth.
Speak to the priest whom
you wish to ask for as a confessor, as you like: I allow you! You will see, he
will understand that it is me who speaks to you.
My enemy wants to
torment you and prevent me, your mother, from giving this gift for the good and
salvation of souls. Speak without fear and believe what he will tell you”.
“Please, Mother, forgive
my doubts. I know you are so good, but, aware of my poverty and littleness, I
am always uncertain of myself”.
“I repeat, don't fear!
Be at peace. I bless you”.
What a joy and peace my
sweet Mother left in my heart this time too!
I THINK IT IS REALLY HER,
OUR LADY
20th June 1953
In June I decided to ask,
out of pity, to be allowed to confess with the priest of whom I spoke. After a
few days he came and I reported with simplicity what the angel of the Lord had said
to me both the first and the second time. The confessor thought for a moment
and then asked me:
“What did you lie
about?”
Then I took courage and
confided all that our Heavenly Mother had said to me, what she wanted of me and
the torment that I had had within me for three years for fear of being
deceived.
He thought for a while . He
asked me some questions and then said:
“I think it is really
Our Lady who is appearing to you and who wants to bring to conclusion what Jesus
asked of sister Consolata Betrone. Be at peace. I say this in the name of God”.
So I gathered my courage
and asked:
“That young man who says
he is the angel of the Lord, said that he would return again. He frightens me
so much! How should I behave?” He replied:
“Listen to what he tells
you. If you see that he insists on trying to make you admit that you lied, take
Holy Water and sprinkle him saying:” In the name of God and the blessed Virgin
Mary, leave this room. Then you will be able to tell me how he behaved,
so as to understand if it is Satan or the angel of the Lord”.
The words of the priest
gave me peace and serenity. However this serenity was soon disturbed by the one
who said he was the angel of the Lord.
THE ANGEL OF DARKNESS
August 1953
One night I had just gone
to bed and was praying. At a certain point I heard a little noise in the cell,
but did not pay much attention. After a short time I felt as if a hand had been
placed on my head. I was shocked. I stretched out my arm to turn on the light,
but could not find it.
I became frightened. Whilst
I was there uncertain of what to do, I heard the voice of the youth whom I had
seen the last two times. He said to me:
“Do not be afraid, it is
me, the angel of the Lord”.
Then I looked: it was
indeed him. He continued:
“Fear not, I have come
for your own good. Why did you not listen to me? Be good, listen to my advice,
otherwise you will repent, when it will be too late. If you continue in this
way, you will do nothing but deceive! Confess that this story was all an
illusion of yours and do not think any longer about these things”.
Whilst I was uncertain and
filled with fear, I remembered what the priest had told me. I wanted to get the
Holy Water that I had on the bedside table, but I was afraid. So I took the
crucifix that I always wore on my chest and raising it I said:
“In the name of Christ
and of the Immaculate Virgin, out of here”.
He made a grimace and with
a severe voice said:
“May you and who
suggested these things to you be cursed: you will pay for this. If it were not
for Her, I would strangle you!”
He became like a burning
coal and fled leaving a trail of fire behind him, that remained for a few
moments.
You can imagine, Father of
my soul, the terror I felt.
The fear that everything
that had passed between me and my dear Mother was really an illusion of mine
gripped me even more strongly. What a torment! I was unable to sleep out of
fear. So I decided to call that priest again and tell him everything. After he
had listened to me, he said:
“This is the rage of the
devil! Now I am even more convinced that the Blessed Virgin Mary has really
spoken to you in order to give that gift of hers to mankind, as a sign of Her
motherly love for the salvation of souls. Do not be afraid”.
“Father, I fear so
much!”
“No, be at peace. I
assure you that Our Lady will not permit Satan to harm you. Are you not in her
Heart?”
“Yes, father, but help
me, because I feel so small and poor”.
He replied: “Have
confidence and live your total abandon in Her, who loves you with maternal
heart and tenderness”.
THROWS OFF HIS MASK
At that time one of the two
dormitories was in danger of collapsing because of displaced beams and therefore
we all had to gather into the other and agreed to sleep in twos per cell, with
a small curtain to separate the beds.
It was here that the
heaviest blow fell. That night I was already in bed, so was the other sister
and it seemed to me that she was already asleep.
I do not know why, but I
was unable to sleep. After about an hour I heard my name being called by a
voice that frightened me by saying:
“Here I am. Now I will
get back at you!”
I opened my eyes and saw in
front of me that youth who said he was the angel of the Lord. Only God knows
how I got scared! Only God knows (… ) He showed that he wanted to come closer
to my bed (…).
I do not know, my dear
father, if you can imagine what I experienced!. Running away was not possible.
What an anguish I felt within me! I thought I was lost and unintentionally
began to call for help.
The sister awoked asking me
if I felt ill. She came closer to my bed immediately. Seeing me trembling with
fear she asked me: “What's the matter?”
I replied to her: “For
goodness sake, please sprinkle holy water because the devil is here. Beg the
blessed Virgin Mary to send this monster away from me, I feel like dying!”
The poor sister began to
make signs of the cross with holy water and pray the Hail Mary. I cannot
explain what took place. I know that the youth changed to a repugnant monster
and fled screaming, shaking the room.
The sister who slept in the
same room, asked whether she had seen anything, replied:
“No, but I felt that
something was taking place that I was unable to explain”.
Please forgive me, father
of my soul, if I have reported all this. I have done violence to my feelings
only in order to obey (…).