Excerpt Section X - footnote #112A: The Holy Family in Apocalypse.

 

112A.  The four living creatures showed St. John the events accompanying the opening of the first four seals, which may be a sign of Our Lady's as yet undefined titles of 'Mediatrix of all Graces' and 'Co-Redemptrix'.

The four Marian dogmas, the Immaculate Conception, Perpetual Virginity, Divine Maternity, and the Assumption all bespoke of Her role in salvation as Mediatrix and Co-Redemptrix, which is how Our Lord came to be on earth, and to be able to open the seals, as He is worthy, being true God and true Man.

Verse six describes "a Lamb standing as it were slain", and "in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the ancients". The Lamb is the basis of salvation for all, in that His Merits extend that far; and is the basis for all the graces for all who are in that scene. We observe the unity of the first three: The Lamb in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures; but then also, in the midst of the ancients. As the ancients are separated from the first part we wonder if they are not representative of the communion of saints, including those of the Old Law. This would show a continuity between them, especially as, after the Resurrection, He had opened the gates of Heaven at last. As the communion of the saints was still in its infancy during Apostolic times, the ancients might, in the vision, primarily if not exclusively represent the Old Testament figures; but they would represent the communion of saints to come forth during subsequent millennia, until the time came for the seals to be opened.

There can be no way to explain the unity of the first three, separated from the ancients, except as being representative exclusively of the Holy Family, which would place St. Joseph on the throne. He represents the Father; as indeed he did on earth.

 

The honour paid to him, then, is paid to him first as representative of the Father, similar to how the Pope receives due honour from the Church of which he is the head and the representative of Christ on earth; then honour is his due as head of the Holy Family and spouse of the Mother of God and as the reputed father of Jesus Christ. The thing is, and we are not entirely sure, but in order to remain separate from His Creation God as Father does not appear in the Beatific Vision, or at least in this perspective of the Beatific Vision, except through His Representative.