For translation use subtitles by buttton ‘CC’ and Settings to change language; Voice: Father Elias Leyds c.s.j. (1958-2024) – Dit is de tweede overdenking (in het Engels) in een reeks van 6, speciaal gemaakt voor de Goede Week, ter voorbereiding op Pasen
A Triptych of Crucifixion and Redemption and an introduction to Angelology (part 1)
4 april 2020 – Father Elias Leyds C.S.J. reflects in the Holy Week on the Apocalypse
This is the second reflection (in English) in a series of 6, created especially for Holy Week, in preparation for Easter
The Sixth Seal (Apocalypse 6,12 – 7,17) the breaking of -)
The sixth seal is a triptych, illustrating Golgotha’s crucifixion, depicting anguish, redemption, and the divine presence of angels and saints.
Please reflect on some insightful remarks of late father Elias, which give ample room for thought (watch the video for the full text).
“The association of angels and men in the sight of the Lord reveals how today men can share in the Lord’s dominion over the hosts of angels.”
“The unity of the universal church shall never be broken, for its communion with Christ emanates from his spousal heart.”
“Sinners are to be gathered into the universal church to be redeemed and become witnesses of the crucified Lord.”
Do you want to have access to all 6 ‘holy week thoughts’? Click here , or use one of the other ’tags’ at the bottom of this article…
Do you want to hear of read more thoughts of late Father Elias in English? Click here.
Voor Dutch viewers/readers: wilt u meer weten over het breken van het zesde zegel en de uitleg met het drieluik van Pater Elias, zie dan de serie Apokalyps90 dag 32, dag 33 en dag 34.
Update 15/4/2025
Transcript of spoken text by late father Elias Leyds (1958-2024) (See video)
The sixth seal is in fact a triptych. A vision of three panels, that depict Golgotha, the Calvary of the Lord.
The first panel depicts a terrible anguish, universal and ultimate. This mystery refers to the robber crucified on one side of Jesus who did not repent in the end and refused to be redeemed.
The third panel depicts the multitude of those who are saved in a great trial. No man can number it, and so we should not even try. This mystery refers to the robber crucified on the other side of Jesus, who did repent and asked to be remembered and was redeemed.
The second or middle panel depicts, with precise and meaningful numbers, an array of nine angels and the redeemed 12 tribes of 12 patriarchs.
This mystery regards the crucified Lord himself, in whose last glance at the world, all things are seen in a new light of wisdom. So the middle panel depicts a two-fold vision. Nine angels and 12 patriarchies.
Now. First, let’s look at the nine angels. The nine angels represent the nine orders of angels as given in the tradition of the Church. Each of these nine is associated to one of the nine persons reported by John in his gospel, as the nine closest witnesses of the cross. These, the crucified Lord saw standing before him. This association of angels and men in the sight of the Lord reveals how today men can share in the Lord’s dominion over the hosts of angels.
The four angels standing on the four corners of the world are holding the four winds of the earth. The first three of the four represent the angels in the immediate presence of God. They form the Heavenly Court of the Almighty: the Seraphim, the Cherubim, and the Thrones.
They are associated to the three women called Mary. The Seraphim are standing on the corner of the south. They correspond to Mary, the mother of the Lord. The thrones are standing on the corner of the east. They correspond to Mary of Cleopas, mother of disciples. The Cherubim are standing on the corner in the west. They correspond to Mary Magdalene, the daughter of Mercy.
Together. These three women signify the mystery of intercession. They stress the importance of our prayers for mercy. The Lord wants us to pray for mercy, and the heavenly angels will swiftly offer our prayers to God on our behalf, and God will answer our prayers by granting us mercy and by drawing us ever nearer to himself.
The fourth angel represents the Lordships, standing between heaven and earth at the gateways of heavenly freedom, holding the decrees and judgments of God’s wisdom. The Lordships standing on the corner in the north are associated to John, the beloved disciple to whom Jesus confided secrets. John understood. Every time Jesus hinted at Judas’ treason, but he kept it all to himself, until the sun had set and passed through the night under the northern horizon.
After these four, the fifth angel rising from where the sun rises, represents the order of Forces, who form the very middle of the angelic hosts. The Forces lead all angels that are sent into our world.
The order of Forces is associated to the anonymous person, who gave Jesus to drink when he asked for it. The sour wine signifies the unanswered divine love, all sequels of man’s refusal of God’s fatherly love, the outcome of man’s rejection of divine friendship. God offered divine wine, he received only acid in return.
This association of angelic Forces to the anonymous bearer of sour wine, signifies the mystery of divine governance, exercised through the seven sacraments.
These sacraments were established when the Lord drank from the chalice of his Passion. And because the angelic Forces head all angels that are sent to accompany divine actions in the world, no doubt their ministry, first of all, concerns the sacraments. But of course, primarily responsible of the sacraments are ordained men, who administer the sacraments person to person. In doing so, they obey to the most basic will of the Heavenly Father, which often even surprises angels.
The four angels who have power to harm earth and sea, whom are told to hold back for a while,
represent the four orders, let by the Forces: Powers, Principalities, Archangels, and common custodian Angels. They’re associated to the four soldiers, one of whom opened the side of Christ, with a lance, while another won the seamless garment of Jesus. This signifies that the unity of the universal church shall never be broken, for its communion with Christ emanates from his spousal heart. The church will survive and remain intact, although its gifts may be robbed, stolen, or simply destroyed.
The church must travel through the turbulent history of a violent world, where powers dream to be almighty. As they rise and fall, all the angels will accompany and serve the church unabatedly.
Thus, sinners are to be gathered into the universal church to be redeemed and become witnesses of the crucified Lord. They will come ever nearer to him, share ever more closely in his dominion,over all things, over angels and over men.
Notes Editorial (supported by Artificial Intelligence)
See following insightful key hemes that transpire through this text of late father Elias:
The Sixth Seal – Exploration of the triptych vision and its significance.
Crucifixion and Redemption – The contrasting fates of the two robbers crucified alongside Jesus.
Angels and the Divine – The role of the nine orders of angels and their connection to the crucifixion.
Mary and Intercession – The significance of the three Mary’s as intercessors in the presence of angels.
Sacraments in Divine Governance – How sacraments relate to divine love and human rejection.
The Church’s Perseverance – The unity of the Church amidst trials and tribulations.
Sinners and Salvation – The gathering of sinners into the Church for redemption.
08:23 [XLS000] 200406 | 220222 YT 74 141| 220411 176 | 230205 453 | 230402 505 | 240325 1188 | 240326 YT 184 1370 | 250414 1881 |
