Tag Archives: dante

Before the 10th Heaven

Posted on July 23, 2021 by Richard Emerson

We’ve just finished the Primo Mobile and the 9th Sphere, and we’re trying to digest what is really happening there; in a sense how the first two books, which are all on Earth, and then eight more spheres in the … Continue reading →

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The Rings of Angelic Beings

Posted on July 19, 2021 by Richard Emerson

Here’s the moment when the Pilgrim looks at the source of the Divine in the Deep of Motion, and sees the nine rings of Angelic Beings: there came showers of light from all the fiery rings, like molten iron in … Continue reading →

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Good morning!

Posted on July 19, 2021 by ancientworld

New week – and a great cup of coffee! ☀️😊☕️

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The First Mover, and Time

Posted on July 18, 2021 by Richard Emerson

From the moment we leave the Fixed Stars and enter into the First Mover, the poetry changes from deep theology to pure philosophy about motion, the universe, and Time. And the whole sphere is pure motion: “The parts of this, … Continue reading →

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Reflections on Paradiso

Posted on July 17, 2021 by Richard Emerson

Reading the Paradiso for the third, and now fourth time, has been a fully different experience from the first journey through the spheres up to the Empyrean. The narrative seems even less structured than in the other two books, which … Continue reading →

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Dante’s thoughts of the New Papacy around 1300

Posted on July 16, 2021 by Richard Emerson

Towards the boundary of the material cosmos, and right before entering the Eternal Mind of the Divine, Dante sums up his thoughts about Pope Boniface VIII through the voice of St. Peter – the first Pope: He who on earth … Continue reading →

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Beauty in Arts, Nature, and the Mystery

Posted on July 16, 2021 by Richard Emerson

Here is the passage where Dante compares beauty in arts or in nature, with the spiritual beauty within oneself, of the Divine Mysteries: And all that art and nature can contrive to lure the eye and thus possess the mind, … Continue reading →

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Adam in Paradiso

Posted on July 16, 2021 by Richard Emerson

Here are the words from Adam to the Pilgrim in Paradiso – as to why they were metaphorically expelled from the Garden of Eden: Know now, my son, the tasting of the tree was not itself the cause of such … Continue reading →

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Aiming one’s Love

Posted on July 12, 2021 by ancientworld

In the third and final examination, conducted by St. John, the Pilgrim is asked “what is it that your Soul is set upon.” The answer is firstly; the Good. “The Good, that full contentment of this Court, is Alpha and … Continue reading →

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The Definition of Faith

Posted on July 10, 2021 by Richard Emerson

In the first of the three examinations for the Pilgrim in Paradiso he has to define “Faith.” His answer is: “Faith is the substance of those hoped-for things, and argument for things we have not seen.” And the reason that … Continue reading →

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