Thank you. Well spoken. I like the black backdrop, no distractions. Still have problems with the severe judgement, remembering, "judge not least ye be so judged."
Thank you, Dr. Jessica Wilson! Canto XIX is incredible, as are all of them, but this one especially forces us to see justice in its true place. The Eagle's ruby eye looks through me. The Eagle being a sign to the pious and just is the proper starting point. Sight is almost everything to Dante, and this is particularly important to Paradiso, where sight is fulfilled with what it ought to fixate upon. Light is all throughout, and "minds thick with mist" are what are most rebuked here. Ironically, it seems that the Eagle is referring to Dante with this pointed comment. I sense echoes of Virgil and Beatrice... Dante must reckon with justice. He must reckon with the Providence of God who works all things for the Good, which cannot move from Itself, Himself. Dante needs the Eagle's perspective. This is something he could not get on earth. Will he attain it now in this blessed journey into the heights of Heaven? What will he SEE in the end? Knowing the end of this poem makes it easier to SEE what will be SEEN in what he sees now and all through his path from the dark wood to the Vision. Who are we? Thank you, Dr. Wilson!
Canto 19: Justice is getting what one deserves, earns, or merits because of one’s actions. Mercy is obtaining what one has not merited, earned or deserved because of one’s actions. Dante beholds an eagle composed of individual jewels, rubies, each of which represent a righteous soul as well as, taken together, the justice of God, just as a fractal, in modern science, holds the entirety within each individual image. Dante not only sees, but hears, and tastes and inhales the splendor before him that begins to satisfy his hunger. He seeks more and is informed he is like one walking on the shore who can see only so far into the depth at his feet but not into the ocean before him. Dante continues to ponder the location, within Paradise, held by those who, through no fault of their own, did not know about Christ; he questions God’s justice in this matter. The reply given to him is that a mere human should not question the justice of God! Mankind has been given the Scriptures which are available to all. Lack of knowledge of them is insufficient to put the "blame" on God for a person being unable to attain heaven. Furthermore, God's mercy, his free grace given through Christ, is sufficient for "salvation." On the other hand, those who have professed their faith orally, but not in their hearts, may be farther away from God in Paradise than those who did not profess him, at all! The eagle presents Dante with an outline of historical leaders who were less just than they might have been. In the book of life, some will be recorded with only a few merits and many more demerits!
I was so excited to see Dr. Hooten Wilson's name pop up in my email this morning. Thank you for your reflections! This was so helpful.
Thank you. Well spoken. I like the black backdrop, no distractions. Still have problems with the severe judgement, remembering, "judge not least ye be so judged."
Thank you, Dr. Jessica Wilson! Canto XIX is incredible, as are all of them, but this one especially forces us to see justice in its true place. The Eagle's ruby eye looks through me.
The Eagle being a sign to the pious and just is the proper starting point. Sight is almost everything to Dante, and this is particularly important to Paradiso, where sight is fulfilled with what it ought to fixate upon. Light is all throughout, and "minds thick with mist" are what are most rebuked here. Ironically, it seems that the Eagle is referring to Dante with this pointed comment. I sense echoes of Virgil and Beatrice...
Dante must reckon with justice. He must reckon with the Providence of God who works all things for the Good, which cannot move from Itself, Himself. Dante needs the Eagle's perspective. This is something he could not get on earth. Will he attain it now in this blessed journey into the heights of Heaven? What will he SEE in the end? Knowing the end of this poem makes it easier to SEE what will be SEEN in what he sees now and all through his path from the dark wood to the Vision.
Who are we?
Thank you, Dr. Wilson!
Excellent analogies by Dante and excellent explanation by Dr Jessica. I got more out of this canto than out of the other Paradiso cantos so far
Beautiful and enlightening
Dr Hooten has two new books coming out soon. She is a special teacher.
Canto 19: Justice is getting what one deserves, earns, or merits because of one’s actions. Mercy is obtaining what one has not merited, earned or deserved because of one’s actions. Dante beholds an eagle composed of individual jewels, rubies, each of which represent a righteous soul as well as, taken together, the justice of God, just as a fractal, in modern science, holds the entirety within each individual image. Dante not only sees, but hears, and tastes and inhales the splendor before him that begins to satisfy his hunger. He seeks more and is informed he is like one walking on the shore who can see only so far into the depth at his feet but not into the ocean before him. Dante continues to ponder the location, within Paradise, held by those who, through no fault of their own, did not know about Christ; he questions God’s justice in this matter. The reply given to him is that a mere human should not question the justice of God! Mankind has been given the Scriptures which are available to all. Lack of knowledge of them is insufficient to put the "blame" on God for a person being unable to attain heaven. Furthermore, God's mercy, his free grace given through Christ, is sufficient for "salvation." On the other hand, those who have professed their faith orally, but not in their hearts, may be farther away from God in Paradise than those who did not profess him, at all! The eagle presents Dante with an outline of historical leaders who were less just than they might have been. In the book of life, some will be recorded with only a few merits and many more demerits!