Catholic AuthorsCatholic Authors

Dante AlighieriDante Alighieri

1265-13211265-1321

The Divine ComedyThe Divine Comedy

Dante’s major workDante’s major work He was a poetHe was a poet From a modestly wealthy familyFrom a modestly wealthy family Well educatedWell educated From Florence, ItalyFrom Florence, Italy Fought for cityFought for city

Was a soldierWas a soldier

More About DanteMore About Dante

By 1300 he was elected as prior of By 1300 he was elected as prior of Florence (very high office)Florence (very high office)

Contemporaries of St. Bonaventure & St. Contemporaries of St. Bonaventure & St. Thomas AquinasThomas Aquinas

Renaissance begins in ItalyRenaissance begins in Italy

Dante’s ComediaDante’s Comedia

Why a comedy?Why a comedy? Ends happilyEnds happily

Also called Divine ComedyAlso called Divine Comedy Journey through Purgatory & HellJourney through Purgatory & Hell What motivates Dante?What motivates Dante?

Love of GodLove of God Love of BeatriceLove of Beatrice

Comedy?Comedy?What’s So Funny?What’s So Funny?

Who is Beatrice?Who is Beatrice? Gave Dante new life (analogy to God)Gave Dante new life (analogy to God)

Relationships lead us to good or evilRelationships lead us to good or evil Virgil is first guideVirgil is first guide

Thought ancients had much TruthThought ancients had much Truth Poet of Aenid & Ancient RomePoet of Aenid & Ancient Rome

Beatrice is second guideBeatrice is second guide

ComedyComedyContinuedContinued

Virgil gives way after PurgatoryVirgil gives way after Purgatory Starts the tour of HellStarts the tour of Hell Satan is at the very bottom of Hell Satan is at the very bottom of Hell

encased in iceencased in ice That’s right, James, ICE!That’s right, James, ICE!

As we try to get away from God, we become As we try to get away from God, we become more frozen in the icemore frozen in the ice

Hell gets darkerHell gets darker

Where in the Hell are Where in the Hell are WE?WE?

At the lowest levelsAt the lowest levels PurgatoryPurgatory

We see, slowly, how penance helps to start We see, slowly, how penance helps to start freeing souls.freeing souls.

Many souls are just waitingMany souls are just waiting Atmosphere is a mountainAtmosphere is a mountain

Opposite of CalvaryOpposite of Calvary Much more light & vegetation than HellMuch more light & vegetation than Hell

Finally!Finally!

Spiritual aspects:Spiritual aspects: Starts in dark woods—lost, confusedStarts in dark woods—lost, confused Dante is exiled most of his life from FlorenceDante is exiled most of his life from Florence Was he a mystic?Was he a mystic?

Many say yesMany say yes His stories permeated with Biblical charactersHis stories permeated with Biblical characters