Title: The Empress of Heaven
Writer: David M. O’Neill
Based On: The Mystical City of God – Mary of Agreda
Format: Film
Genre: Faith-Based, Suspense - Drama - Thriller
Tone: The Passion of the Christ, Paul
Period: 33 A.D. Jerusalem Israel
Logline: In the days after the crucifixion of her son, Jesus Christ, Mary, the mother of the slain Christ is given the authority from heaven as the Protectress and Consoler of the newly formed early Christian church under the ever-watchful, vigilant eyes of both Temple Pharisees and the brutal reign of the occupying Roman authorities.
After witnessing her son’s death, Mary the mother of Jesus, the world’s most well-known female Christian heroine in antiquity, is then afforded the mysteries of heaven as she willingly takes up her son’s second troubled cup, and plays the central role in the next vital and critical phases in her son’s ongoing mission.
Post-crucifixion, little, if anything about Mary’s life is known. Dropping out of all biblical text’s from the day of Golgotha, Mary’s ongoing work and influence are as impactful in the early Christian movement as is her ongoing heavenly and earthly enigmas – until now.
The story resides with a few key questions about a woman of her time being so prominent in the early Christian narrative. Could the Mother of Jesus have had a greater role in the mission, Passion, and Resurrection of her son that the evangelists tell us? Could women have been important church leaders in early Christianity? Combining material from the apocryphal Protoevangelium of James with references to the canonical Gospels, Mary’s ongoing story reveals God’s intention that women should no longer be subordinated to men – that the curse of Eve be has been lifted, that women be independent, and that the fate of souls not be solely tied to one’s lineage.
Hardly a message that would fall on the ears of sympathetic leaders, The Empress of Heaven derives its name from the authority given by her resurrected-son during the forty-days Jesus had walked the earth prior to his ascension.
The subject matter had become of interest to me once I was introduced to the novel by 17th Century Spanish nun, Mary of Agreda, entitled, The Mystical City of God (Mistico Ciudad de Dios). Considered to be manifested through Mary of Agreda by Mary the mother of Jesus herself, I was entranced by the nine volumes and that of the story of the young Spanish nun considered to be a mystic of her time.
Mary’s tale begins, alongside Apostle John and Mary Magdalen, as she desperately works her way through a pulsing, and rabid crowd to be near her son during his road of trials and subsequent crucifixion. Coming across the demon-jackal-confederates from hell who had influenced her son’s Roman defilement and execution, Mary confronts the demon, Alastor and informs him that "Jesus was not only a prophet but the everlasting son of the Almighty". Mary commands the demon-confederates to watch first-hand the crucifixion so they themselves be tormented by what they have done – and to witness the creation of the Most-High's second covenant.
As a first-hand witness to her son’s terror, Mary buries Jesus along with the help of Mary Magdalen, Nicodemus, and Joseph of Arimathea. Sleeping for three straight days from the horror and exhaustion of the ordeal, Mary is awoken by the gentle hand of her son and her new mission is foretold. Mary, if she accepts her new role is to receive the mysteries of heaven, and be given the authority as the Protectress of the new Christian movement (the church) and that of the next phase of her son’s mission.
Mary now willingly reaches for the crown of woven thorns as her mission begins.
Inseparable for forty-days, Mary and Jesus continue to heal and minister throughout Jerusalem. The Apostles are fortified in their belief and ready themselves for their new missions. The last gathering is provided at the Cenacle, where Mary is given the authority of heaven and the walk to Mt. Olivet through the streets of Jerusalem gets underway. Flowing in from the nearby alley streets to join their ascension to heaven are those who were held in the netherworld prior to the resurrection. They flow into the procession, including that of her own parents, Anne and Joaquim.
Mary’s mission gets underway.
She begins with such quiet and intimate pronouncements that easily would be considered blasphemous in the temple court. To the young women she says that “they too are the daughters of Abraham” and, “They are thought of as the direct descendants of God Almighty”.
Heresy to the times and to its authorities.
The Apostles, although wary of the temple Pharisees are also eager to evangelize within the temple courtyards. Politically the days are charged by the ongoing strain between the Jewish and Roman authorities where budding movements become direct threats to both establishments. When a seasonal feast of the temple brings, tens of thousands from neighboring countries arrive and Mary’s bow is drawn.
The time is right, permission given, and the new word from the Apostles ignites Jerusalem’s visitors and a movement is internationally born.
As a person of considerable, growing influence, Mary finds herself now directly in the crosshairs of her temple counterparts. Targeted by the Pharisees, she is brought up before them to justify her pronouncements - that of which her own son was a descendant of David and the true, rightful King of Israel. Her lineage is attacked as the Pharisees look to discredit her. Looking to have her stoned by the laws of Leviticus, Mary escapes to the desert in a caravan of lepers where she is met both by Satan and Gabriel whom the latter announces to her, that her work has been completed, and that her crucified son now awaits her arrival.
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Mary of Agreda died on the 24th of May, 1665 A.D., on the Feast of Pentecost. Shortly afterwards, the process of the Ordinary was drawn up on the virtues and miracles in general of the fama sanctitatis. The petition for her canonization was offered November 21, 1671 A.D. Clement X introduced the cause on the 24th of August, 1672 A.D. The commission of introduction was signed January 28, 1673 A.D. The decree of non-culte was carried on June 27, 1674 A.D. The apostolic process on the sanctity, the virtues and miracles in general was begun on September 2, 1679 A.D. The process was opened, the servant of God declared Venerable, and, in fine, on the 16th of December, 1689 A.D., a committee of consulters was named by Innocent XI for the examination of the works. In fine, Clement XIV declared that the book, The Mystical City, really was written by Mary of Agreda (Rome officially verified the fact). Hopefully when the True Church overcomes the Evil Eclipse now upon it, Venerable Mary of Agreda will receive the rare and seldom seen, honor of beatification and then hopefully someday canonization (i.e. to be named a Roman Catholic Saint).
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