The Book of the Holy Rosary: Part III, Chapter V. Scripture Types of the Second Glorious Mystery: The High Priest Enters the Holy of Holies; Elias Taken Up into Heaven
1. The High Priest enters into the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the people.
The figure of the Ascension of Jesus into heaven, which is contained in the entrance of the high priest into the holy of Holies, is so fully explained by St Paul in the Epistle to the Hebrews, that our purpose cannot be better served than by quoting his words in full:—“Now of the things which we have spoken, this is the sum: We have such a High Priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of majesty in the heavens, a minister of the Holies, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord hath pitched, and not man. For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is necessary that He also should have something to offer. If then He were on earth, He would not be a priest: seeing that there would be others to offer gifts according to the law, who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things. As it was answered to Moses, when he was to finish the tabernacle: See (says He) that thou make all things according to the pattern which was shown thee on the mount. For the former things, indeed, had also justifications of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made the first, wherein were the candlesticks, and the table, and the setting forth of loaves, which is called the Holy. And after the second veil, the tabernacle, which is called the Holy of Holies: having a golden censer, and the ark of the testament covered about on every part with gold, in which was a golden pot that had manna, and the rod of Aaron that had blossomed, and the tables of the testament. And over it were the cherubims of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat: of which it is not needful to speak now particularly. Now these things being thus ordered, into the first tabernacle the priests indeed always entered, accomplishing the offices of the sacrifices. But into the second, the high priest alone, once a year: not without blood, which he offereth for his own, and the people’s ignorance. The Holy Ghost signifying this, that the way into the Holies was not yet made manifest, whilst the former tabernacle was yet standing, which is a parable of the time present. But Christ being present a High Priest of the good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation: neither by the blood of goats, or of calves, but by His own blood, entered once into the Holies, having obtained eternal redemption.”
St Paul then draws the consequence, and continues—“Having therefore, brethren, a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in fulness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with clean water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering (for He is faithful that hath promised). And let us consider one another, to provoke unto charity and to good works” (Heb. viii. ix.)
2. Elias, taken from earth up into heaven, leaves his mantle to his successor, who works greater miracles than his master.
“The sons of the prophets, that were at Bethel,” the Scripture relates, “came forth to Eliseus, and said to him: Dost thou know that this day the Lord will take away thy master from thee? And he answered: I also know it: hold your peace. And Elias said to him: Stay here, because the Lord hath sent me as far as the Jordan. And he said: As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee: and they two went on together. And Elias took his mantle and folded it together, and struck the waters of the Jordan, and they were divided hither and thither, and they both passed over on dry ground. And when they were gone over, Elias said to Eliseus: Ask what thou wilt have me to do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Eliseus said: I beseech thee that in me may be a double portion of thy spirit. And he answered: Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless if thou see me when I am taken from thee, thou shalt have what thou hast asked: but if thou see me not, thou shalt not have it. And as they went on, walking and talking together, behold a fiery chariot and fiery horses parted them both asunder: and Elias went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Eliseus saw him, and cried: My father, my father! the chariot of Israel, and the driver thereof! And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own garments, and rent them in two pieces. And he took up the mantle of Elias, that fell from him” (4 Kings ii. 5).
“I call to mind,” says St Bernard, “the holy Eliseus, who, when Elias spoke to him, that before he was taken away from him, he should ask what he would have him to do, answered, ‘I pray thee that in me may be a double portion of thy spirit.’ Elias answered, ‘Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, thou shalt have what thou hast asked.’ Does not Elias seem to you to prefigure the person of the Lord in His Ascension, while Eliseus is the figure of the company of the Apostles, who are anxiously looking up into heaven? For as Eliseus would on no account suffer himself to be separated from his master, so the Apostles in the same manner clung to the presence of Christ, and were with difficulty reconciled to part with Him. By the double portion of his spirit, we may certainly understand to be meant, that which Christ said to His disciples, ‘He that believeth in Me, the works that I shall do, the same shall he do, and greater works shall he do.’ Did not Peter through Christ do greater works than Christ Himself? For of Him we read that they laid the sick on couches in the streets, that the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow them, and they were delivered from their diseases. The Lord Himself was never known to have healed sicknesses by His shadow” (Sermon iii. on the Ascension).