119 part i: sunday meditations for the entire year of God, to whom it has been promised: “The just shall shine, [as stars]” (cf. Wis 3:7; cf. Dan 12:3).14 Therefore, consider that the first sign [f.3v] shall be in the sun: It will be a great anger that shall obscure the face that was seen shining most splendidly on Mount Tabor (cf. Mt 17:2).15 For this same face will hide behind the darkest clouds (cf. Jl 2:2; 3:15) in the Valley of Jehoshaphat (cf. Jl 3:2; 12),16 after the light of mercy and clemency is taken away. In the moon, the light of refuge and kindness will be extinguished, according to these words: “[A]nd the moon shall not give her light” (Mt 24:29) [DRB]. This means that the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, the former and present Mediatrix for us all before the Son, will not intercede for any man in this dreadful and just tribunal. The stars — that is the holy Patrons — will lose their brightness, meaning that their acts of compassion or intercession will cease. For on this dreadful day the apostles, as well as the other saints — speaking in a human manner — will not dare as much as open their mouths; they will stand speechless — I may even 14 RSV: “In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and will run like sparks through the stubble” (Wis 3:7). “… and those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever” (Dan 12:3). 15 This refers to the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ on Mount Tabor; cf. Mt 17:1-13; Mk 9:2-13; Lk 9:28-36. “A constant tradition, already attested by Origen, by St. Cyril of Jerusalem and by St. Jerome, identifies Tabor as the anonymous mountain of the Transfiguration of Jesus”: Enciclopedia della Bibbia, vol. VI, Elledici, Torino 1971, p. 741. 16 The Valley of Jehoshaphat (or Josaphat) is usually identified with the Kidron Valley, but this identification has no real basis. Rather, it is spoken of generally here as a place of divine judgment. The prophet Joel probably used this name in reference to the victory of King Jehoshaphat in the Valley of Blessing (cf. 2 Chron 20:20-26), and he chose to do so because of its symbolism, for the word Jehoshaphat means: “The Lord judges.” Cf. Pismo Święte Starego i Nowego Testamentu (Biblia Jakuba Wujka), Trans. Fr. Jakub Wujek, SJ, 3rd rev. ed., Wydawnictwo Apostolstwa Modlitwy, Kraków 1962, p. 1044 (see editor’s note). [Hereafter Pismo Święte Starego i Nowego Testamentu (Biblia Jakuba Wujka) will be abbreviated as BW.] The Valley of Jehoshaphat is “the valley where all nations will be assembled by God for the final judgment”: Enciclopedia della Bibbia, vol. III, Elledici, Torino 1969, p. 1105.
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