Theological Foundations new file

183 The Eschatological Direction that all the spirits of the dead will hasten in response to its call. 33 In Father Papczynski’s biblical reflection, Christ’s Second Coming will be very different from the first one which brought peace. For after all mortals have been gathered at the site of judgment, the hosts of angels will descend from heaven in procession preceding their immortal King. The most holy tree of the Cross — the instrument of our salvation will appear among the clouds. The Son of Man will also appear in great power and majesty. The Most Holy Queen of Heaven will take her place on the right, Michael, the Archangel, and his host — on the left. The sight of the Judge will be so terrifying that at first it will frighten even the righteous ones because He will come to judge what is righteous, too. When He descends into the world, he will immediately occupy His throne and the twelve Apostles will take their seats by His side to judge the twelve generations of Israel. At that moment, sinners will be over- come with great fear and despair because their consciences will testify against them and they will sentence themselves to eternal damnation. The hope of the righteous will be sustained by the virtues that they prac- ticed, the good deeds which they performed and by the Passion and mer- its of Christ the Lord. Their bodies will be transformed and embued with amazing joy at attaining immortality .34 Then the implacable Judge will assume a stern and inflexible countenance and turn to those standing on His left, to the sinners condemned to eternal damnation and will deliver His verdict for them in a thundering voice: “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire” (Mt 25, 41). At that moment the earth will immediately open up and they will be swallowed by the abyss of hell along with all evil spirits. The Divine Judge will then turn to the right- eous standing on His right and, in a sweet, friendly voice, invite them to enter eternal joy: “Come, O blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Mt 25, 34). 35 In order to move his readers’ hearts even more deeply and encourage them to live pious lives, Father Stanislaus makes them realize that at the end of the world they will stand not before some imaginary judge but before the true Son of the Most High. After the horrible death on the