Gazophylacium
Gazophylacium: word of Greco-Persian origin literally meaning a container of riches. It is the name given to the chest or box where the Hebrews deposited their offering for the Temple.[1] These were poured in, through thirteen mouths of animals carved on a wall, into the Gazophylacium kept in a room. This term is used in the Vulgate "Recipiens autem, vidit eos qui mittebant munera sua in Gazophylacium, divites" (Looking up, he saw the rich putting their offerings into the Treasury).
The Widow's Mite
The Gospel Account
At that time, Jesus sat down in the Temple opposite the treasury room and watched how the crowd put money in. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came forward and put in two small coins. Jesus called his Disciples and said to them: "Amen, I tell you: this poor widow has put more into the Treasury than all the others. For all of them gave out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she had, all she had to live on."[2]
The Account of Maria Valtorta
The account of Maria Valtorta is longer and more detailed.[3] It dwells on the observation of all the people who frequent the Temple and on the attitude of Jesus which ends with the teaching he gives: I tell you that above the Temple, there is love.Jesus moves from where he was, basking in the sun, to go further where the mouths of the Treasury are, near the Gazophylacium room. This side, still in the shade, is occupied by rabbis who are lecturing with grand gestures.[...] The place fills with people going and coming in all directions. There are priests and faithful, men, women, and children. Some pass by, others stop to listen to the teachers, others who lead lambs or carry Doves head toward other places, perhaps to sacrifice them.
[...] Jesus seems not to hear anything, but he must listen to everything. Indeed, when from a group a few meters away, gathered around a teacher, a nasally voice rises proclaiming: "Above all other commandments is this one: that everything for the Temple goes to the Temple. The Temple is above the father and the mother, and if anyone wants to give to the Glory of the Lord all he has, he can do so and will be blessed because there is no blood nor affection greater than the Temple," Jesus slowly turns his head in that direction and looks with a... expression I would not want directed at me.
[...] Jesus stops looking at him to observe a poor little woman, dressed in dark brown, who shyly climbs the steps and goes toward a wall where there are lion heads or other similar animals with open mouths. Many go there, but Jesus appeared not to care. Now, on the contrary, he follows the little woman’s movements. His eyes look on her with pity and become very gentle when he sees her extend a hand and drop something into the stone mouth of one of those lions. And when the poor woman, withdrawing, passes near him, he says to her first:
"Peace to you, woman." She, amazed, raises her head in astonishment. "Peace to you," Jesus repeats. "Go, for the Most High blesses you." The poor woman remains speechless, then murmurs a greeting and leaves.
"She is happy in her misfortune," says Jesus, breaking his silence. "Now she is happy because God's blessing is with her. Listen, friends, and you who are around me. Do you see this woman? She only gave two small coins, less than is needed to pay for a caged passerby’s meal, and yet she has given more than all those who, since the Temple opened at dawn, have poured their mite into the Temple Treasury.
[...] She has no wealth in reserve; she has no relatives who earn for her. She is alone. God has taken from her parents, husband, and children, has taken away the little Good they had left her, and more than God took it away from her, men took it away; men who now, with grand gestures, you see them?, continue to throw inside their surplus, much of which is extorted by usury from the poor hands of those who are weak and hungry.
They say there is no blood nor affection superior to the Temple and thus teach not to love the Neighbor. I tell you that above the Temple, there is love.
Notes and references
Note: Quotations from the work of Maria Valtorta on this page currently use machine-translated text and will gradually be replaced by the official English translation. Until then, the official translation may be consulted through the reference link provided with each quotation.