I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth.

The former heaven and the former earth had passed away,

   and the sea was no more.

I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem,

   coming down out of heaven from God,

   prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

   “Behold, God's dwelling is with the human race.

God will dwell with them and they will be his people

   and God himself will always be with them as their God.

God will wipe every tear from their eyes,

   and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain,

   for the old order has passed away.”

 

The One who sat on the throne said,

   “Behold, I make all things new.”

 

 

The advocacy of Mary at the Last Judgment, in itself so mysterious, points to still a further mystery concealed here concerning the participation of the Third Hypostasis, the Holy Spirit, in this final tribunal, as well as beyond its bounds. There are no direct indications about this in church teaching, while indirect ones are connected with the general teaching about the transfiguration of the world, the creation of a new heaven and a new earth, the Heavenly Jerusalem coming down to earth. Of course all of this is accomplished by the power and operation of the Holy Spirit. The justice of God condemns the sinful world to fire: “the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, on that day the heavens will pass away with a clamour, the elements set on fire will be destroyed and the earth and the deeds that are on it will perish in flames” (2 Pet 3.10). The mercy of God, however, bears witness that “we expect a new heaven and a new earth according to his promise, in which justice lives” (2 Pet 3.13). This justice and the judgment of justice are entrusted by the Father to the Son of Man, the Word of God, who is the Truth of the world which exposes its sin. Mercy and the healing of the world’s sores are entrusted to the Holy Spirit, who quickens every soul. The Mother of God at the Last Judgment shows not only the Humanity of the Son but the hypostatic revelation of the Holy Spirit through the human hypostasis of Mary as well. In Mary the Mother of God is revealed the participation of the Holy Spirit both at the judgment itself,  determining the result of the world process, and beyond its limits in creation, in the final transfiguration of the world, which is already glorified in its summit, the Queen of heaven and earth.

 

 

 

O Vineyard fair and new, ever freshly

blooming.

Young, comely, fragrant Stem, springing

out of Eden.

May God Himself adorn you who are most

honored.

For you, O brilliant Sun, ever shine with

 

 

Lord our God, through your power and goodness

the Blessed Virgin,

the fairest fruit of your redeeming love,

shines forth as the perfect image of the Church;

grant to your people on their pilgrim way on earth

that, with eyes fixed on Mary,

they may follow closely in the footsteps of her Son

until they come to that fullness of glory,

which now they contemplate in his Mother

with hearts filled with joy.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God, forever and ever. Amen (Image and Mother of the Church)