The Shepherds of the Nativity
The Adoration of the Shepherds by Lorenzo Ferri According to the indications of Maria Valtorta. Source: documentary fonds of the Maria Valtorta Heritage Foundation. (colorized image)
"I scatter them, these true shepherds, throughout Palestine so that they gather the flock and so that the Master of the flock is known at least by name, so that when I say this name, they know that it is I, the Master of the flock, and they come to Me to be caressed."[2]
The quality of their evangelization and the importance of their role will be such that two great evangelizers, sons of shepherds killed during the massacre of the Innocents, will be presented for the position of apostle to replace Judas: Matthias (Tobias) and Joseph, son of Joseph. Matthias will be chosen.
Joseph, "son of his father," however, is not without Mission: at the beginning of the Public Life, Jesus entrusts him with instruction:"I retain this son (and he shows Joseph) because I delegate to him the task of carrying my words to his companions, so that a solid core is formed there that not only announces me by making known my existence but also the most essential characteristics of my Doctrine."[3]Another great figure of this group, Isaac, holds a true reference status among the Disciples. However, he will not survive the departure of Jesus, to whom he had devoted his entire life and energy. Privileged actors and witnesses of Jesus’s life, it is quite naturally that they are found at the great moments: Passion, Resurrection, Ascension where they are called to be closest to Jesus:
"Here. You near the Lord who came from Heaven, leaning over his annihilation, you near the Lord who returns to Heaven, with your spirits that rejoice in his glorification. You have earned this place because you believed despite the unfavorable circumstances and you knew how to suffer for your faith. I thank you all for your love faithful. I thank you all."[4]
- Benjamin, shepherd in Lebanon.
- Daniel, shepherd in Lebanon.
- Elijah, shepherd of Hebron, disciple.
- Isaac, ill in Juttah. Homeli by Sarah and Joachim, he will be healed by Jesus and become one of the most effective pastors. Unable to bear losing the Lord again, he dies of pain on the evening of his Ascension.[5]
- John, shepherd who became a disciple of the Baptist.
- Jonah, in the plain of Esdraelon serving the Pharisee Doras. He will die from mistreatment.
- Jonathan, servant of Chouza, the Steward of Herod and his woman Joanna.
- Joseph, killed during the massacre of the innocents. His son Joseph son of Joseph takes up the flame as a disciple. He is the one proposed to succeed Judas along with his colleague Matthias (Tobias).
- Levi, shepherd of Hebron, disciple.
- Samuel, died of old age.
- Simeon, shepherd who became a disciple of the Baptist.
- Tobias (Matthias), disciple of the Baptist. He takes the name Matthias in memory of his father killed with the innocents. He will be the apostle appointed to the vacant position of Judas.
Other shepherds joined the Disciples during Jesus' public life but they are not The Shepherds of the Nativity[6].
Learn more about these characters
Excerpts from the Dictionary of Gospel Characters, Saltón Maria Valtorta (Mgr René Laurentin, François-Michel Debroise, Jean-François Lavère, Éditions Salvator, 2012):Arculfe, a Frankish bishop of the 7th century: during his Pilgrimage to the Holy Land, mentions three shepherds' tombs in the first Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem[7]. Since the 10th century, their Relics, transported to Spain, have been preserved in Ledesma near Salamanca. A label indicates: "The glorious Joseph, Isaac, and Jacob, shepherds of Bethlehem who deserved to see and to adore first the Christ, God and Man, born in the stable"[8].