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Tag Archives: paradiso
Adam in Paradiso
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
Aiming one’s Love
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
Posted in Paradiso
Tagged creation, dante, essence, examinations, glory, good, light, love, paradiso, reflection, soul, st. john, truth
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The Definition of Hope
In the second examination the Pilgrim has to define “Hope”. His answer is: “Hope is sure expectancy of future bliss to be inherited – the holy fruit of the Divine’s own grace and man’s precedent worth.” He then says it … Continue reading
The Definition of Faith
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
Morning!
Wednesday morning, and the latest reading of Dante’s Paradiso is slowing sinking in with great new discoveries from the very last pages. How Dante is making the point of what could be the deepest question and mystery to ponder, about … Continue reading
Examination by St. Peter, St. James and St. John
In the final steps before the Empyrean, the Pilgrim needs to show a deeper understanding of the theological virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love – which then brings him closer to the Divine Light in the Highest Heaven. And then … Continue reading
Posted in Misc
Tagged adam, Beatrice, dante, fixed stars, james, john, paradiso, peter
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The Constellations
In the 8th Sphere of Paradiso, Dante suddenly arrives in the Constellation of his Birth, the Gemini. From there we can look back all the way down to Earth, and on the seven spheres that Beatrice has helped “put beneath … Continue reading
The Contemplatives
In the opening of the Sphere of the Mystics, the Pilgrim is once again focusing exclusively on theology and the beauty of the divine mystery: “By now I had my eyes fixed once again upon my lady’s face, and with … Continue reading
The Sphere of Mars
Reading Song 17 again – the “heart” of Paradiso, it’s striking how this goes to the very deep of Dante as a person, with his lineage, but also his fate, and the purpose and framing of writing the Divine Comedy. … Continue reading
Paradiso, Song 11
This tercet is one of the most breath-taking in Song 11 of Paradiso, describing the Angelical forces of Love and Wisdom – represented symbolically as Princes, for the Franciscan and Dominican Orders of the time. “One of the two shone … Continue reading