Excellent! Loved the Narcissus reference. You guys are running with this series - at this rate you will catch my own Divine Comedy video series and finish Paradiso before me…. which is great. The more we are, encouraging people to read Dante, the better.
Your commentary is also outstanding Tom, particularly when you explain the specific meaning of the Italian words and phrases. Thank you for that. What a wonderful experience this is!
Fabulous. I agree with many of the comments posted. The image of marriage as an analogy for divine love is one that I have heard before but not in the aspects of transparency, humility and need for forgiveness. Such truth!! Thank for an outstanding presentation!
Thank you Professor Wolfe for a great presentation, one of the highlights of this series from "one who has been endowed from early youth with a marvellous mind," in language that is "theological, moral, and spiritual." I appreciate your explanation of the Christian dialectic and also the reference to Charles Williams. His book, "The Figure of Beatrice: A Study in Dante" is brilliant. You Professor Wolfe, C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, Charles Williams and of course, Dante Alighieri, are part of that chosen group of individuals who carry the thread of the particular down through the ages from the The "Scandal of the Incarnation" to the present. The “scandal” of a God who became man and died on the Cross was the focus of Pope Francis’ Homily at Mass on Saturday morning, 1 June, 2013 in the Chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae. He said, "Christ upset his listeners, but he continued to witness consistently to this truth. “The Church is not a cultural or religious organization,nor is it a social one, it is not this. The Church is the family of Jesus. The Church confesses that Jesus is the Son of God who came in flesh. This is the scandal and this is why they persecuted Jesus”.
This particular Canto had such a profound effect on me and I am thankful for this excellent commentary which helped greatly in my understanding of it. I think this is my favorite Canto yet!
Thank you, Dr. Wolfe for your solid presentation. The sheer amount of themes and ideas in this Canto make it difficult to interpret easily. Mystical marriage, old, old love, negation to mystery, ikon vs idol, truth and reconciliation, etc are swirling around. Dante's romantic theology/revelation/grace are a storm of particulars that lead to the universal. What a great idea to consider. Confession seems to similarly move up from the small to the grand infinite. Beatrice being veiled is tricky to understand, but it seems to harken back to the theme of these past few Cantos being revelation. He has much to learn, and not all is clear. Confess and he shall see. Thank you!
Canto 30: A lady clothed in the colors of Charity, Faith and Hope, descends from the triumphal chariot in a peaceful harmony proclaimed by falling blossoms and hymns of adoration and praise by all of the voices of the Earthly Paradise. Beatrice, the lady of the chariot, calls Dante by name, the first to do so in the Divine Comedy. With her appearance, the poet experiences his “respitto,” his respite, from all cares of the world he has left in preparation for this new life into which he is being called. Dante, suddenly realizing Virgil has disappeared, weeps, but Beatrice reminds him, as would a chiding mother, that he has come in search of “felice,” joy and bliss, releasing him from any shame which might still cling to him. He must set aside his tears for the past. Beatrice lectures him that when she had passed from life to death, Dante, although claiming to remember her and seek her love, actually turned aside and lost his hope. He gave up his belief in the True Way, Resurrection, and became infatuated with the lost souls of Death. Seeing his lack of hope, Beatrice sent Virgil to guide him out of the Dark Woods in the middle of which he had lost himself. Now, on the verge of recovering that lost hope and having experienced the voluntary repentance of other sinners, Dante is ready to pay the fee of penance. However, before there can be a complete healing, he must realize (hope) that he can be healed. There must also be contrition for self-imposed sin. With contrition, satisfaction is possible. A new life, at last, is possible.
Thank you for your enlightening contribution. I would like to suggest that Beatrice’s “butt-kicking” is the challenge that Dante needs to achieve contrition and the absolution. It is tough love, without which he would not have been able for heaven.
Virgil personifies Reason. At this point, reason & Faith (Beatrice) cannot both co-exist. Virgil’s character must leave. On a secondary level, Virgil, the poet, referred to Beatrice as his guide in youth. After her, he went to the way of “self greatness,” admiring Virgil as the lead of great poets, which Dante wanted to be considered among. In his earthly (real) life, Dante was seeking what peace Beatrice had given him. He kept looking for this through his poetry and greatness among men. He realized he was searching in the wrong spot.
Thank you! Gorgeous imagery. Especially helpful in helping to understand Beatrice's scolding as a call to honesty and humility.
Impressively insightful, and delightfully approachable.
Wonderful to learn from a great scholar who can still be a fun.
Excellent! Loved the Narcissus reference. You guys are running with this series - at this rate you will catch my own Divine Comedy video series and finish Paradiso before me…. which is great. The more we are, encouraging people to read Dante, the better.
Your commentary is also outstanding Tom, particularly when you explain the specific meaning of the Italian words and phrases. Thank you for that. What a wonderful experience this is!
@@rtrout4203 Thank you 🙏🏻
A wonderful presentation. Thank you, Mr. Wolfe.
Fabulous. I agree with many of the comments posted. The image of marriage as an analogy for divine love is one that I have heard before but not in the aspects of transparency, humility and need for forgiveness. Such truth!! Thank for an outstanding presentation!
Thank you Professor Wolfe for a great presentation, one of the highlights of this series from "one who has been endowed from early youth with a marvellous mind," in language that is "theological, moral, and spiritual." I appreciate your explanation of the Christian dialectic and also the reference to Charles Williams. His book, "The Figure of Beatrice: A Study in Dante" is brilliant. You Professor Wolfe, C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, Charles Williams and of course, Dante Alighieri, are part of that chosen group of individuals who carry the thread of the particular down through the ages from the The "Scandal of the Incarnation" to the present. The “scandal” of a God who became man and died on the Cross was the focus of Pope Francis’ Homily at Mass on Saturday morning, 1 June, 2013 in the Chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae. He said, "Christ upset his listeners, but he continued to witness consistently to this truth. “The Church is not a cultural or religious organization,nor is it a social one, it is not this. The Church is the family of Jesus. The Church confesses that Jesus is the Son of God who came in flesh. This is the scandal and this is why they persecuted Jesus”.
Thanks for this wonderful commentary that clarified so much for me.
The Scandal of Particularity. Love it. Thank you for a particularly passionate partaking of this magnificent poem.
The best! Thank you!
This particular Canto had such a profound effect on me and I am thankful for this excellent commentary which helped greatly in my understanding of it. I think this is my favorite Canto yet!
Verygood discussion.i appreciate the clear explanations of all the symbolism in this canto which seems to me one of the best (if one can say that)
Thank you, Dr. Wolfe for your solid presentation. The sheer amount of themes and ideas in this Canto make it difficult to interpret easily. Mystical marriage, old, old love, negation to mystery, ikon vs idol, truth and reconciliation, etc are swirling around.
Dante's romantic theology/revelation/grace are a storm of particulars that lead to the universal. What a great idea to consider. Confession seems to similarly move up from the small to the grand infinite. Beatrice being veiled is tricky to understand, but it seems to harken back to the theme of these past few Cantos being revelation. He has much to learn, and not all is clear. Confess and he shall see.
Thank you!
Canto 30: A lady clothed in the colors of Charity, Faith and Hope, descends from the triumphal chariot in a peaceful harmony proclaimed by falling blossoms and hymns of adoration and praise by all of the voices of the Earthly Paradise. Beatrice, the lady of the chariot, calls Dante by name, the first to do so in the Divine Comedy. With her appearance, the poet experiences his “respitto,” his respite, from all cares of the world he has left in preparation for this new life into which he is being called. Dante, suddenly realizing Virgil has disappeared, weeps, but Beatrice reminds him, as would a chiding mother, that he has come in search of “felice,” joy and bliss, releasing him from any shame which might still cling to him. He must set aside his tears for the past. Beatrice lectures him that when she had passed from life to death, Dante, although claiming to remember her and seek her love, actually turned aside and lost his hope. He gave up his belief in the True Way, Resurrection, and became infatuated with the lost souls of Death. Seeing his lack of hope, Beatrice sent Virgil to guide him out of the Dark Woods in the middle of which he had lost himself. Now, on the verge of recovering that lost hope and having experienced the voluntary repentance of other sinners, Dante is ready to pay the fee of penance. However, before there can be a complete healing, he must realize (hope) that he can be healed. There must also be contrition for self-imposed sin. With contrition, satisfaction is possible. A new life, at last, is possible.
Thank you for your enlightening contribution. I would like to suggest that Beatrice’s “butt-kicking” is the challenge that Dante needs to achieve contrition and the absolution. It is tough love, without which he would not have been able for heaven.
Beautiful discussion. I haven't heard about the "scandal of particularity," but that's one "scandal" that has shaped my life.
Fantastic!
What a particularly good review of the canto!
excellent!!
Virgil personifies Reason. At this point, reason & Faith (Beatrice) cannot both co-exist. Virgil’s character must leave.
On a secondary level, Virgil, the poet, referred to Beatrice as his guide in youth. After her, he went to the way of “self greatness,” admiring Virgil as the lead of great poets, which Dante wanted to be considered among. In his earthly (real) life, Dante was seeking what peace Beatrice had given him. He kept looking for this through his poetry and greatness among men. He realized he was searching in the wrong spot.
QUESTION: What was Dante’s greatest sin? I didn’t quite follow this, have an assumption, but by no means an expert. NEED HELP from others…
Lust.
I believe it is Pride.