The Spiritual Journey in Dante’s Divine Comedy – Part 4 (Purgatory) – Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:46 — 43.6MB)

Purgatorio is the second book in Dante’s Divine Comedy – less well known than Inferno, but just as full of insights. In this podcast, we’ll journey with Dante and Virgil through Peter’s Gate, up Mount Purgatory with its seven terraces representing the Seven Deadly Sins, and we’ll encounter Beatrice at the very top. Along the way, we’ll find out what the key difference is between Hell and Purgatory, and why that’s significant for us in our ongoing spiritual journey in life.

Click here to open the podcast in a new window, or scroll down to the bottom to see the Podcast Player on this page.

Click here for Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

I’ve included below the excerpts that I read during the podcast, so that you can follow along if you wish (or reflect on them later). All excerpts are from the Hollander & Hollander translation.

–

Peter’s Gate: Canto 9

“We drew closer until we reached a place
where what at first had seemed a gap,
a breach that rends a wall,

I now saw was a gate, with three steps leading
up to it, each of a different color.
The keeper of that gate as yet said not a word.

“…The first step
was of clear white marble, so polished
that my image was reflected in true likeness.

The second was darker than the deepest purple,
of unhewn stone, looking as if it had been burned,
cracked through its length and breadth.

The third, resting its heavy mass above,
seemed to me porphyry, as flaming red
As blood that spurts out from a vein.”

The Angel at the Gate:

“…seated on the threshold,
which seemed to be of adamant,
the angel of God rested both his feet.

Up the three steps my leader drew me
and I was glad for that. Then he said:
‘Humbly petition him to slide the bolt.’

Devoutly I cast myself down at his holy feet.
I begged him for mercy and to let me enter,
but first, three times, I smote my breast.

“With the point of his sword he traced seven P’s
upon my forehead, then said: ‘Once you are inside,
see that you wash away these wounds.’

…Then he pushed one door of the sacred portal open,
saying: ‘Enter, but I warn you
he who looks back must then return outside.’”

–

Canto 11: The souls of the proud:

“’Master,’ I began, ‘those that I see
moving toward us do not look like people-
whatever they may be, I cannot make them out.’”

And he answered: ‘The grave nature
of their torment contorts their body to a crouch,
so that at first my eyes were undecided.

But look closer, disentangle
the figures bent beneath them from the stones.
Then you can see how each one beats his breast.’

To hold up roof or ceiling, as a corbel does,
we sometimes see a crouching figure,
its knees pushed up against its chest…

They were indeed hunched over more or less,
depending on the burdens on their backs,
and even he that showed the greatest patience,
weeping, seemed to say ‘I can no more.’

As they walk, they say:

“Our Father, who are in Heaven…
praised be your name and power
by every creature, as is fitting
to render thanks for your sweet breath.

May the peace of your kingdom come to us,
for we cannot attain it of ourselves
if it come not, for all our striving.

As your angels make sacrifice to you
of their free wills, singing hosanna,
so let men make an offering of theirs.”

–

Canto 30:

Beatrice says:

“When I had risen to spirit from my flesh,
as beauty and virtue in me became more rich,
to him I was less dear and less than pleasing.

He set his steps upon an untrue way,
pursuing those false images of good
that bring no promise of fulfilment”

Dante replies:

“In tears, I said: ‘Things set in front of me,
with their false delights, turned back my steps
the moment that Your countenance was hidden.’”

Be Sociable, Share!

• 

Related posts:

1. The Spiritual Journey in Dante’s Divine Comedy – Part 1 (The Dark Wood) – Podcast
2. The Spiritual Journey in Dante’s Divine Comedy – Part 2 (Inferno) – Podcast
3. The Spiritual Journey in Dante’s Divine Comedy – Part 3 (The Last Circle of Hell) – Podcast
4. Thee, Thou, and All That: Unlocking the Richness of Old-Fashioned Language in Scripture and Prayer, Part 1 (Podcast)
5. The Language of the Nicene Creed and the Anglican Liturgy: Unlocking the Riches of Old-Fashioned Language, Part 2 (Podcast)