Seven books, blinders are off, I can see!
There is a shortcut to exploring these teachings that may provide the most awe-inspiring insights, often unknown to many. Begin by reviewing the Gospels—Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John—which together comprise approximately 80 pages. Afterward, continue with the following six works: Life of Christ by Fulton J. Sheen, the complete four-volume The Mystical City of God series by nun Venerable Mary of Jesus of Ágreda, and The Way of Divine Love by nun Sister Josefa Menendez.
Fulton Sheen has masterfully distilled the insights of perhaps ten different works into one of the most beautiful and accessible books about the life of Jesus. Mary of Agreda has given us Mary's biography, 200 pages written by Mary herself, the mother of Jesus; it is more like an autobiography. "The Mystical City of God" is the most Church-approved work outside the Bible. In Josefa Menendez's book, Jesus describes his own crucifixion. You would think, "This is crazy!" Well, God created the universe and its laws, so nothing is impossible.
"Mystical City of God"
The first Pope officially to take notice of the "Mystical City of God" was Pope Innocent XI(1611-1689), who, on July 3, 1686, in response to a series of virulent attacks and machinations of some members of the Sorbonne, known to be Jansenists, issued a breve permitting the publication and reading of the "Mystical City of God". Similar decrees were afterward issued by Popes Alexander VIII(1610-1691), Clement XI(1649-1721), and Benedict XIII(1724-1730). Issuing a decree on June 5, 1705, stating the books were free from errors in faith and morals and could be retained and read by all the faithful. They gave entire and unequivocal approval, after having been minutely scrutinized periodically for decades by Rome. These decrees were followed by two decrees of the Congregation of Rites, approved by Benedict XIV(1740-1758) and Clement XIV(1769-1774), in which the authenticity of the "Mystical City of God" as extant and written by the Venerable Servant of God, Mary of Jesus, is officially established. The great pope Benedict XIII, when he was archbishop of Benevent, used these revelations as material for a series of sermons on the Blessed Virgin. On Sept. 26, 1713, the bishop of Ceneda, Italy, objecting to the publication of the "Mystical City of God", was peremptorily ordered by the Holy Office to withdraw his objections as interfering with the decree of Pope Innocent XI for the universal Church. The "Mystical City of God" has thus been approved, by decrees, by all these Popes:
- Pope #240 Innocent XI. (He extended the Holy Name of Mary as a universal feast).
- Pope #241 Alexander VIII.
- Pope #243 Clement XI. (He made the feast of the Immaculate Conception universal).
- Pope #245 Benedict XIII.
- Pope #247 Benedict XIV.
- Pope #249 Clement XIV.
Since the time of Clement XIV (1769-1774), almost every occupant of the Chair of St. Peter has approved the work. In more recent times renewed approbations were given by Popes Pius IX, Leo XIII, St. Pius X, and Pius XI.
Saint John Vianney (1786-1859) had always with him two books, the Bible and the "Mystical City of God".
In 1885, the Bishop of Ratisbon said:
We take pleasure in giving our episcopal approbation... which will surely edify all readers and be the occasion of great spiritual blessings... The recommendations of Toulouse, Slamanca, Alcala and Louvain universities, and of different prominent orders... Cardinal D'Aguirre said that he considers all the studies of 50 years of his previous life as of small consequences in comparison with the doctrines he found in the 'Mystical City of God', which in all things are in harmony with the Holy Scriptures, The Holy Fathers and the Councils of the Church... Venerable Superior-General of St. Sulpice adds: 'Only since I read the revelations of Mary of Agreda do I properly know Jesus and His Holy Mother'... I wish to recommend it to the faithful and especially to our clergy.
A more recent official approbation comes from the Bishop of Tarazona in 1911-12. In fact, in a private audience with the American publisher of The Mystical City of God in 1929, Pope Pius XI thanked and praised him for doing this "great work in honor of the Mother of God" and granted the Apostolic Blessing to all readers and promoters of The Mystical City of God. It is affirmed that no book, other than the Bible itself, has received so many imprimaturs as has The Mystical City of God. (Ibid., pp 122-123). It is a mystery how people, especially priests, can still question this work by Ven. Mary of Agreda and treat it as though there were something dangerous or contrary to the Faith in it.
Approved by the Holy See for almost 300 years! And then placed on hold by Vatican II in 1964**.
The book "Venerable Mother Agreda and the Mariology of Vatican II" by Fr. Enrique LLamas replies to the objections of Vatican II, that Mother Agreda pushes an outdated Mariology. It shows that the genuine teaching of the Second Vatican Council, far from being different from Mother Agreda and her work, is profoundly and expressly anticipated by this jewel of Spanish and Franciscan Mariology (Fr. LLamas, OCD, was the President of the Spanish Mariological Society, Professor emeritus of the Pontifical University of Salamanca, and one of the most experts in Mariology). He gives a demonstration of the compatibility of the Mariology of the "Mystical City of God" and the teaching of the Vatican II. The Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, through the Vatican Secretariat of State, said that one may claim that the "Mystical City of God" has no doctrinal errors or heresies in any sense of those terms, nonetheless, it conflicts with the figure of the Mother of God found in the Sacred Scriptures and thus is not compatible with Vatican II's Mariology. Let a theologian clarify,
Why does the figure of Mary in Sacred Scripture differ from the portrayal of Mary in The Mystical City of God? This very question is addressed within The Mystical City of God. Mary wished the Gospels to remain focused on Jesus and requested that John the Apostle omit her name from his account. She intentionally remained in the background, allowing her presence to be subtly noted but not fully revealed, so as to prevent confusion while Christianity was still being established and spread throughout the world.
The Mystical City of God provides a fuller revelation of Mary’s life, portraying her as fully engaged and actively participating in salvation history. The difference between the Scriptural Mary and the Mary presented in The Mystical City of God exists by her own design, supported by the Holy Family and the Apostles, both on earth and in heaven. As Saint Bridget (1360) relates, “…although her love has been shown and revealed in the last age…”
It may also be considered that Vatican II intentionally emphasized a Scripturally-centered portrayal of Mary for a time, to foster ecumenical dialogue with other Christian denominations and, ultimately, to guide more souls toward salvation.
What makes the writings of Mary of Ágreda truly remarkable is the holy presence of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary of Ágreda’s body has remained incorrupt since her death, and medical examinations conducted in 1909, along with observations in 1989, confirmed that her body had not deteriorated over the span of eighty years. Numerous miracles have also been reported at her tomb in Ágreda, Spain.
In October 2022, my wife and I undertook a personal pilgrimage to Ágreda, traveling by bus and train. We visited the Church of the Seven Sorrows in Lleida, the Pilar of Mary in Zaragoza, the incorrupt body of Mary of Jesus in Ágreda, Pamplona, and the Grotto of Our Lady at Lourdes. During this journey, we witnessed small but profound miracles, and it was clear that the sisters at Ágreda’s monastery are richly blessed.
Mary of Agreda's bilocation —from Spain to the Americas—is a miracle that could only be granted by God, as it involved her physical presence in two distinct locations simultaneously. Considering that demons are limited to being in only one place at a time and can only imitate holiness briefly, often to deceive a few souls already lost in self-delusion, it is inconceivable that the devil would instruct Native Americans in the sacraments of Catholic baptism, particularly when their souls were already under his influence. This extraordinary event underscores the divine origin of Mary of Ágreda’s missions and the supernatural nature of her spiritual work.
Bilocation makes Mary of Agreda a favoured servant of God, and her writings are accordingly venerable ("The Needle and The Thread" movie better explains Mary of Agreda's bilocations). Given this, one should approach opposing viewpoints with caution. In contrast, no pope has ever granted approval to the visions of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich or the locutions of Maria Valtorta concerning Jesus’ ministry, as these accounts conflict with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church (this topic is discussed further below).
**Sadly, these books, although divinely truthful, will never attain proper attention because of a sensitive point. The Catholic Church teaches that life begins at conception and that "you shall not kill" life after conception. Vatican II knew what was to come: the oral contraceptive pill in the 1960s, intrauterine devices (IUDs) in the 1970s, the legalisation of abortion in 1973, and the morning-after pill in the 1980s. A 'Mystical City of God' quote reads: "For the formation and growth of other human bodies, according to the natural order, many days are necessary in order to organise and fit them for the reception of the rational soul. Thus, for a male child, forty days are required, and for females, eighty days, more or less, according to the natural heat and disposition of the mothers." The moment of the reception of the soul is a mystery that human pride and ignorance would exploit as an excuse for abortion. The Church has the keys to heaven and knows what's best for mankind at any point in time, and our judging of the past by present values is only facilitating more souls to damnation.
"The Way of Divine Love"
Written by Sister Josefa Menendez in 1915, "The Way of Divine Love" is a profoundly moving work, endorsed by Pope Pius XII. In it, Jesus reveals the depths of His Sacred Heart, speaks of His crucifixion, the Eucharist, and His dwelling in the Church, patiently awaiting our visits. Reading this book is an intensely emotional experience, one that may inspire a renewed devotion so strong that one might even feel compelled to spend extended time in prayer within the Church,
Come all of you to Me and fear not, for I Love you all... I will wash you in My Blood and you shall be made whiter than snow. All of your offences will be submerged in the waters in which I myself shall wash you, nor shall anything whatsoever be able to tear from My Heart its Love for you.
What makes Josefa's writings unique? Let Jesus Himself explain it to a Benedict Monk on Friday, February 13, 2009:
Make the writings of My little Josefa known to the priests I will show you. They will find in them a remedy, a comfort, and a source of confidence in My merciful love. They are not for all; not all are humble enough to hear the message of My Heart, but the broken and the wounded, those devastated by sin will understand them and will rejoice in the message of My love.
Book: In Sinu Jesu: When Heart Speaks to Heart - The Journal of a Priest at Prayer by A Benedictine Monk
Most of the above books you can find them in pdf format or audio form. Their links,
Book: Ignatius Catholic Study New Testament-RSV by Ignatius Press
Book: Life of Christ by Sheen, Fulton J.
Book: The Mystical City of God: Part One - The Conception of Agreda, Mary
Book: The Mystical City of God: Part Two - The Incarnation of Agreda, Mary
Book: The Mystical City of God: Part Two - The Transfixion of Agreda, Mary
Book: The Mystical City of God: Part Three - The Coronation of Agreda, Mary
Book: The Way of Divine Love by Sister Josefa Menendez
Heaven, through the mouth of exorcised demons, would like the faithful to also read "The Imitation of Christ" (by Thomas à Kempis) and "The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ" (by Venerable Anne Catherine Emmerich). The first book was Saint Thérèse of Lisieux's favorite book. Advice from a series of compiled exorcisms from 1975 to 1978,
Exorcist(priest): Mary of Agreda has spoken of Mary?Beelzebub(demon): (turned towards the priest with an annoyed expression); You have guessed it. Mary of Jesus, in the town of Agreda. We know more about it than men. Yes, we have cursed those books, we fear them! How I was forced to say that! (he grumbles and gives an anxious cry)... So, Mary said she wanted to efface herself. It was entirely through humility that she wanted this...Thousands of sects have appeared: there are among them many who attack the Blessed Virgin savagely, and who attack Catholics solely because they give recognition to this predestined creature... reading the books of this Mary of Jesus of Agreda be recommended from the height of the pulpit. No Catholic family should be without them...Catherine was a great suffering soul... you should give prominence to "The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ"... Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin have given and allowed these great visions and revelations to these two great Saints, to this Mary of Jesus and this Catherine Emmerich, so that they would come to the knowledge of the faithful.
Book: Warnings from the Hereafter to the Contemporary Church: Confessions of Hell, literal text of revelations made by demons during exorcisms by Jean Marty at link1, link2 or link3.
Personally, I would also recommend The Life and Revelations of St. Gertrude the Great, in which Christ explains His judgments at the moment of death; the three volumes of Jesus’ catechesis to the nun Marie Lataste, collected in The Letters and Writings of Marie Lataste; The Revelations of Saint Bridget of Sweden (c. 1360); and Diary by Saint Faustina (1938). Together, these works lead the reader into a deeper understanding of spiritual warfare, the lives of the saints, the sacraments of the Mass, the Passion of Christ, miracles, and exorcism.
Summarizing such an extensive body of Christian revelation while remaining firmly rooted in the Gospels is a challenging task. Yet, following pilgrimages to Spain, Italy, and ultimately to the sacred sites of Israel, I was compelled to continue. The inspiration was unexpectedly sensory: the fragrance of incense—encountered at home (though I own none), in Capernaum after losing our way through a plantation, and again at dawn, at six o’clock in the morning, on the path to the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.