Yes here is a test i made for Maria Valtorta’s writings, just being honest here ok.
Now this is not an accepted one, but from what i learned from theology, i made 25 criterias i look for when reading it, till now im nearing the end of the Poem of Man-God (Chapter 106). I made this in my free-time, i though abt it day and night, this was a hard one
@SincereSeeker and @Soul can help me and are free to correct me where im wrong.
- Does it fully align with Scriptures, without contradiction.
Ans- Fail, i pointed out one which i cannot explain abt Filioque. - Does it claim divine inspiration or revelation equal to scripture?
Ans- Fail, Scripture is final
Some texts of Maria Valtorta imply direct inspiration, sometimes bordering on equal authority with scripture. It sometimes challenges the bible but like i pointed out one abt Filioque. - Is the author’s life characterized by holiness and obedience.
Ans- Pass - Did the Church approve or at least not condemn the writings.
Ans- Inconclusive - Does it exalt Jesus as sole saviour and Son of God
Ans- Solid Pass - Does it encourage obedience to Scripture
Ans- Solid Pass - Does it lead to spiritual fruits consistent with the Holy Spirit
Ans- Pass, like i had one. - Does it avoid promoting fear, superstition or cultic behaviour
Ans- Pass, the tone is hopeful and prayerful - Does it harmonize with orthodox Christian doctrine
Ans- Inconclusive - Does it encourage testing the spirits and discernment
Ans- Mixed, Discernment is encouraged but followers lack caution - Does it lead believers away from the Bible or Church sacraments
Ans- Mixed, i have seen some who rely on it over the bible. - Are the supernatural claims verifiable or corroborated
Ans- Fail, there is no external conformation of her visions beyond her writings. - Does it acknowledge the sufficiency of Scripture for faith
Ans- Fail, at times it suggest extra illumination beyond Scripture. - Does it promote humility toward the mystery of God or claim exhaustive knowledge.
Ans- Fail, its risks of over-certainity. Some scenes i read in the poem of Man-God are very detailed, almost exhaustive in scenes and teachings, one example i gave was the above one. - Does it promote unity among Christians?
Ans- Mixed - Does it contain accurate historical and cultural details consistent with Scripture?
Ans-Fail, Sometimes when i read the Poem of Man-God feels imaginative. From what ik about 1st Century Judea and historical books that there are several geographical and botanical inaccuracies in her work. Personally, when i was young i took bio in which we studied about botany, i must say that descriptions of plants or terrain don’t align with 1st Century Judea descriptions. - Does it discourage idolatry of Private revelation or its author
Ans- Fail, some followers i have seen, treat the writings with near-canonical reverence, which can border idolatry of the text. - Is the writing style consistent with genuine prophetic revelation.
Ans- Fail, some are lengthy, poetic, some sentimental, rather than the prophetic style we see in Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Maria Valtorta’s writings are not near it. - Does it point always and only to Christ and His Cross.
Ans- Pass - Is there any form of doctrinal confusion or theological inaccuracy
Ans- Fail, Inexact and careless depictions of the Trinity is VERY dangerously misleading. - Does it portray Jesus in a way inconsistent with Gospels?
Ans- Fail, when i read the Poem of Man-God, i felt it was more of a poetic, emotional, and overly dramatic work that differs from the calm authority in the Gospels. - Does the work promote or imply spiritual elitism or secret insight?
Ans- Fail, i have seen that Valtorta claims these visions are for those “able to handle the full mystery” - Does it contradict apostolic tradition?
Ans- Fail, her writings on Mary’s role verge on quasi-divine status for Mary, at times i felt it was a co-mediatrix theology, going beyond Catholic dogma. - Is there any claim of infallibility?
Ans- Fail, In her writing, Jesus says that “Write what I dictate. You will not err because I am guiding your hand.”
This completely removes accountability, making criticism seem like heresy. - Does the work claim or imply new doctrine or divine insight not previously revealed in Scripture?
Ans- Fail, Valtorta’s writings provided detailed doctrines like Christ’s exact physical movements during miracles. It violates the closed canon of Scripture.
Conclusion: Debatable, i feel its not supernatural writing, but some sources say yes, some no, thats why we can discuss about this in this thread. Im sorry, but i like questioning to squeeze out the truth. Now yes, i have an incomplete knowledge, i have read only Vol 1 but this is what i feel after reading it…
Peace
Sam