Mr. Wolfe, Thank you for your well thought out and interesting presentation. I enjoyed it so much that I watched it twice. Through my purgatorial tears of repentance and my inner vision I am made blind to worldly desires and in my mind's eye I ascend towards the light of the Divine Presence like a sunflower turns toward the sun. I hereby reject Envy and Schadenfreude and remand them to the Inferno where they belong.
Oh my word!! How rich that was!!! I need to listen again and take notes. What profound truths and graphic pictures! They delivered Jesus up due to envy, too. Thank you for such deep teaching and wisdom!!
Thank you so much, Mr. Wolfe, for bringing this canto to life. The connection between pride and envy is a new thought for me; I'll have to ponder that more as well as the contrasting virtue of generosity.
Thank you, Mr. Wolfe, for elucidating this Canto, which is more esoteric than some. These visions and diatribes are vital to understanding the whole point of Di Comedia! Sin is not just internal or individual. Sin of individuals and a people of a town or country is expansive and invasive. It destroys natural bonds of fellowship. This is why GRACE is the key to all of this mountain's terraces. Grace reforms and perfects nature as a soul is transformed into supernature! This is Purgatory. This is sanctification. I truly enjoyed the presentation. Also, the ikons on the wall of Christ (assumedly) were particularly meaningful when the turning of faces was discussed. Beautiful! Thank you.
Your word were evoked such images! These quotes stopped my breath: “Envy reduces our human dignity to the level of mere animality.” “Sorrow for our failings and weaknesses can become part of the healing process.” I had not thought of generosity as the opposite of envy. Thank you this fruitful presentation.
Thank you Greg for a brilliantly illuminating presentation. I feel the pangs of envy and squirm in recognition of my own failings. I struggle to give unconditional love, one that does not rely on reciprocation but is offered regardless.
I loved this tender portrayal of the huddled heads! I love the pictures that incarnate the truths he's trying to show us. The eyes sewn tightly together with wires is such a painful image, yet, their precious tears leaking out...breaks my heart. Yet, it sheilds them from being enslaved to their lusts. The turning into pigs (like in Prince Caspian!) and then downward into more brutal beasts linked with the Arno's descent into sickness is also so graphic. I hurt at their weeping at the end, so dear their sadness, and going on together. You did such a beautiful, beautiful job sharing this with me!!! I so love your clarity and ability to make it plain! Perhaps if we wrote it, we'd diatribe too, if we lived deep in the midst of horrible sex trade or wars or other things that envy caused. Thank you with all my heart!!!!
Canto 14: Dante meets two blind penitents desiring to be purged of their sin of Envy; they ask him where he is from and what is his name. Dante does not reply directly but admits knowing of the Arno River. He also maintains that knowing his name would be worthless. The blind penitents digress on the people of the Po Valley being animalistic in their behavior. Comments continue describing the lack of chivalry among the residents of the current city-states. Pride, the sin of Terrace One, is believing everything you have is the result of your own ability. Envy, the sin of Terrace Two, is believing others have what you do not, and something must be done to correct this difference. Humility counters Pride in realizing everything is a gift of God and not of man’s creation. Charity counters Envy by desiring the good for the other, because everything is, indeed, a gift of God. There is never an acceptable "reason" for either Pride or Envy, since an individual neither earns nor merits any possession. The voice of Cain is heard regarding his punishment for his envy of his brother Able. Additional auditory exhortations urge the penitents to turn from Envy to Charity or Generosity. The poet Dante speaks of these exhortations in terms of “whips” which keep penitents on track away from sin and of “bits and bridles” which lead them towards new virtues. They are usually based on the life of Mary or stories of biblical or mythical origin.
Could it be possibly that Dante doesn't give his name because he's afraid they'd envy him? And that the river, if named, would remind them of something else to envy politically? So he was protecting them?
I am one of those who said, "Oh no, not another political rant!" Afraid I still think that way, though Mr. Wolfe did a good job of trying to convince me otherwise!
Mr. Wolfe, Thank you for your well thought out and interesting presentation. I enjoyed it so much that I watched it twice. Through my purgatorial tears of repentance and my inner vision I am made blind to worldly desires and in my mind's eye I ascend towards the light of the Divine Presence like a sunflower turns toward the sun. I hereby reject Envy and Schadenfreude and remand them to the Inferno where they belong.
Kudos to Baylor for this project and getting speakers, such as Mr. Wolfe, to enlighten us. His discussion was excellent!
Oh my word!! How rich that was!!! I need to listen again and take notes. What profound truths and graphic pictures! They delivered Jesus up due to envy, too. Thank you for such deep teaching and wisdom!!
Thank you so much, Mr. Wolfe, for bringing this canto to life. The connection between pride and envy is a new thought for me; I'll have to ponder that more as well as the contrasting virtue of generosity.
I was struggling with this Canto and found this to be super helpful. Thank you!
Thank you, Mr. Wolfe, for elucidating this Canto, which is more esoteric than some. These visions and diatribes are vital to understanding the whole point of Di Comedia! Sin is not just internal or individual. Sin of individuals and a people of a town or country is expansive and invasive. It destroys natural bonds of fellowship. This is why GRACE is the key to all of this mountain's terraces. Grace reforms and perfects nature as a soul is transformed into supernature! This is Purgatory. This is sanctification.
I truly enjoyed the presentation. Also, the ikons on the wall of Christ (assumedly) were particularly meaningful when the turning of faces was discussed. Beautiful!
Thank you.
Brilliantly done, thank you.
Your word were evoked such images! These quotes stopped my breath:
“Envy reduces our human dignity to the level of mere animality.”
“Sorrow for our failings and weaknesses can become part of the healing process.” I had not thought of generosity as the opposite of envy. Thank you this fruitful presentation.
Beautifully presented and thought-provoking. Thank you Mr. Wolfe.
Thank you Greg for a brilliantly illuminating presentation. I feel the pangs of envy and squirm in recognition of my own failings. I struggle to give unconditional love, one that does not rely on reciprocation but is offered regardless.
I really loved this one. So much to learn and ponder!!!
I loved this tender portrayal of the huddled heads! I love the pictures that incarnate the truths he's trying to show us. The eyes sewn tightly together with wires is such a painful image, yet, their precious tears leaking out...breaks my heart. Yet, it sheilds them from being enslaved to their lusts. The turning into pigs (like in Prince Caspian!) and then downward into more brutal beasts linked with the Arno's descent into sickness is also so graphic. I hurt at their weeping at the end, so dear their sadness, and going on together. You did such a beautiful, beautiful job sharing this with me!!! I so love your clarity and ability to make it plain! Perhaps if we wrote it, we'd diatribe too, if we lived deep in the midst of horrible sex trade or wars or other things that envy caused. Thank you with all my heart!!!!
Oh, Mr Wolfe, how lovely that was!
This was an excellent one. Very well done!!!
Canto 14: Dante meets two blind penitents desiring to be purged of their sin of Envy; they ask him where he is from and what is his name. Dante does not reply directly but admits knowing of the Arno River. He also maintains that knowing his name would be worthless. The blind penitents digress on the people of the Po Valley being animalistic in their behavior. Comments continue describing the lack of chivalry among the residents of the current city-states. Pride, the sin of Terrace One, is believing everything you have is the result of your own ability. Envy, the sin of Terrace Two, is believing others have what you do not, and something must be done to correct this difference. Humility counters Pride in realizing everything is a gift of God and not of man’s creation. Charity counters Envy by desiring the good for the other, because everything is, indeed, a gift of God. There is never an acceptable "reason" for either Pride or Envy, since an individual neither earns nor merits any possession. The voice of Cain is heard regarding his punishment for his envy of his brother Able. Additional auditory exhortations urge the penitents to turn from Envy to Charity or Generosity. The poet Dante speaks of these exhortations in terms of “whips” which keep penitents on track away from sin and of “bits and bridles” which lead them towards new virtues. They are usually based on the life of Mary or stories of biblical or mythical origin.
Excellent explanation. Very amusing the analogy to current comedies and football games, giving it easier to understand those parts of the poem.
Thank you su much for your insights
Could it be possibly that Dante doesn't give his name because he's afraid they'd envy him? And that the river, if named, would remind them of something else to envy politically? So he was protecting them?
Appreciated the 'Wikipedia' wink!
I am one of those who said, "Oh no, not another political rant!" Afraid I still think that way, though Mr. Wolfe did a good job of trying to convince me otherwise!
Great "subtle" commentary on Wikipedia! LOL!!