Dante's Divine Comedy: Paradiso
Paradiso
The final phase of the journey takes Dante through the Ten Heavens—The Moon, Mercury, Venus, the Sun, {Mars}, Jupiter, Saturn, the Fixed Stars, the Primum Mobile and the Empyrean {this is only 9—see the footnotes}. With Beatrice, he meets those who broke their vows, those who courted Fame, the souls of Lovers, the Fathers of the Church, Christian Martyrs and Crusaders, the Just and the Contemplative. Reaching the Fixed Stars he witnesses the Triumph of Christ, the Virgin Mary, the Apostles, angels, saints and martyrs. He is tested on Faith by Saint Peter, on Hope by Saint James and on Charity by Saint John. In the Primum Mobile, which governs all the Heavens, Dante sees hierarchies of angels. Finally, be reaches the Empyrean where the tiered souls of the blessed form the White Rose of Paradise. Dante finally gazes upon his Maker and understands the indefinable divine mystery.[1]
Contents
| Canto | Title | Jump |
|---|---|---|
| I | The Ascent to the First Heaven. The Sphere of Fire. | jump |
| II | The First Heaven, the Moon: Spirits who, having taken Sacred Vows, were forced to violate them. The Lunar Spots. | jump |
| III | Piccarda Donati and the Empress Constance. | jump |
| IV | Questionings of the Soul and of Broken Vows. | jump |
| V | Discourse of Beatrice on Vows and Compensations. Ascent to the Second Heaven, Mercury: Spirits who for the Love of Fame achieved great Deeds. | jump |
| VI | Justinian. The Roman Eagle. The Empire. Romeo. | jump |
| VII | Beatrice's Discourse of the Crucifixion, the Incarnation, the Immortality of the Soul and the Resurrection of the Body. | jump |
| VIII | Ascent to the Third Heaven, Venus: Lovers. Charles Martel. Discourse on diverse Natures. | jump |
| IX | Cunizza da Romano, Folco of Marseilles and Rahab. Neglect of the Holy Land. | jump |
| X | The Fourth Heaven, the Sun: Theologians and Fathers of the Church. The First Circle. St Thomas of Aquinas. | jump |
| XI | St Thomas recounts the Life of St. Francis. Lament over the State of the Dominican Order. | jump |
| XII | St Buonaventura recounts the Life of St. Dominic. Lament over the State of the Franciscan Order. The Second Circle. | jump |
| XIII | Of the Wisdom of Solomon. St Thomas reproaches Dante's Judgement. | jump |
| XIV | The Third Circle. Discourse on the Resurrection of the Flesh. The Fifth Heaven, Mars: Martyrs and Crusaders who died fighting for the true Faith. The Celestial Cross. | jump |
| XV | Cacciaguida. Florence in the Olden Time. | jump |
| XVI | Dante's Noble Ancestry. Cacciaguida's Discourse of the Great Florentines. | jump |
| XVII | Cacciaguida's Prophecy of Dante's Banishment. | jump |
| XVIII | The Sixth Heaven, Jupiter: Righteous Kings and Rulers. The Celestial Eagle. Dante's Invectives against ecclesiastical Avarice. | jump |
| XIX | The Eagle discourses of Salvation, Faith and Virtue. Condemnation of the vile Kings of AD 1300. | jump |
| XX | The Eagle praises the Righteous Kings of old. Benevolence of the Divine Will. | jump |
| XXI | The Seventh Heaven, Saturn: The Contemplative. The Celestial Stairway. St Peter Damiano. His Invectives against the Luxury of the Prelates. | jump |
| XXII | St Benedict. His Lamentation over the Corruption of Monks. The Eighth Heaven, the Fixed Stars. | jump |
| XXIII | The Triumph of Christ The Virgin Mary. The Apostles. Gabriel. | jump |
| XXIV | The Radiant Wheel. St Peter examines Dante on Faith. | jump |
| XXV | The Laurel Crown. St James examines Dante on Hope. Dante's Blindness. | jump |
| XXVI | St John examines Dante on Charity. Dante's Sight. Adam. | jump |
| XXVII | St Peter's reproof of bad Popes. The Ascent to the Ninth Heaven, the Primum Mobile. | jump |
| XXVIII | God and the Angelic Hierarchies. | jump |
| XXIX | Beatrice's Discourse of the Creation of the Angels and of the Fall of Lucifer. Her Reproof of Foolish and Avaricious Preachers. | jump |
| XXX | The Tenth Heaven, or Empyrean. The River of Light. The Two Courts of Heaven. The White Rose of Paradise. The great Throne. | jump |
| XXXI | The Glory of Paradise. Departure of Beatrice. St Bernard. | jump |
| XXXII | St Bernard points out the Saints in the White Rose. | jump |
| XXXIII | Prayer to the Virgin. The Threefold Circle of the Trinity. Mystery of the Divine and Human Nature. | jump |
Footnotes
1. Ten Heavens as derived from the Second Book of Enoch:
1. Shehaqim: closest to Earth where angels control atmospheric phenomena such as rain and snow.
2. Raquia: a dark prison for rebel angels awaiting judgment.
3. Shebir: a paradise resembling the Garden of Eden, guarded by angels alongside a place of punishment.
4. Machonon: home to the movement of the sun and moon, featuring 12 gates and angelic guardians.
5. Machon: abode of angels who sing praises to God.
6. Zebul: location of the celestial Temple of God, a place of worship.
7. Main: realm of angels governing natural elements such as rain and wind.
8. Makhon: abode of angels overseeing cosmic elements and celestial bodies.
9. Mazloth: home to heavenly beings who manage the Zodiac and astrological influences.
10. Araboth: the highest heaven where God's throne resides, representing ultimate divide glory.
Ten Heavens according to Dante
1. Moon
2. Mercury
3. Venus
4. Sun
5. Mars
6. Jupiter
7. Saturn
8. Stars
9. Primum Mobile
10. Empyrean (God)
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