Purgatorio, Canto 26 with Dr. Phil Donnelly
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ม.ค. 2022
- Dr. Phil Donnelly of Baylor University reflects on Canto 26 of Dante's Purgatorio.
100 Days of Dante is brought to you by Baylor University in collaboration with the Torrey Honors College at Biola University, University of Dallas, Templeton Honors College at Eastern University, the Gonzaga-in-Florence Program and Gonzaga University, and Whitworth University, with support from the M.J. Murdock Trust. To learn more about our project, and read with us, visit 100daysofdante.com
Wow! A fully packed, concise, and meaningful presentation...a narrow path between a wall of flames on one side and the edge of the abyss on the other. The means for safe passage: self revealing confession, the affection of friendship, the practice of intercessory prayer and self sacrifice for others, and growth in virtue so as to be guided by a sense of internal direction instead of external compulsion, and a reordering of desires so that God and all of God's creatures are loved in the right way and to the proper degree. All of this is so that one's soul can enjoy the greatest happiness for which it was made, that is to say, the will of God. The appetite for sexual desire and animal lust is detrimental to the natural action of the soul toward union with beauty and goodness. The sweet style of poetry in the vernacular supplanted the style of the Latin poetry of Virgil and others and the sweet "new" style of Dante that seeks communion with the One who gives life to all creation.
Added note; the rubbing noses of the ants reminded me of some lines from the poem "Departmental" by Robert Frost:
"Ants are a curious race;
One crossing with hurried tread
The body of one of their dead
Isn't given a moment's arrest-
Seems not even impressed.
But he no doubt reports to any
With whom he crosses antennae,
And they no doubt report
To the higher-up at court.
Then word goes forth in Formic:
"Death's come to Jerry McCormick,
Our selfless forager Jerry."
I agree with other commenters, this was so helpful! I love how densely packed this is. Thank you so much, Dr. Donnelly!
Excellent. So clear, insightful and inspiring.
Thank you, Dr. Donnelly! The lovely purging of the fire and the fulfilling strength of the words/songs are central here. The disordered nature of lust begs for a restoration of order. The bird simile really stood out in this Canto in the harmony and justice of restored nature. Beautiful.
Singing, confession, examples, prayer, and suffering. What a way to move to blessedness!
Thank you!
What a wonderful presentation. Thank you, Dr. Donnelly.
Packed with imagery!! The description of chastity and resulting desire and complete fulfillment in union with God made me think of theology of the body. Such richness- thank you!!
I always loved Dr. Phil, so full of wisdom
Excellent, must view again,
Bravo! And thank you
TRANSCRIPT
Thank you for the 100 Days Project!
Canto 26: The poetic triad continue along the narrow path between the burning flames and drop-off cliff of the Cornice of Lust, the deep desire to absorb physically and emotional another person or behavior for one’s own gratification. Penitents who once had an overwhelming (burning) appetite now walk within burning, non-consuming flames, symbolic of the intertwining of heaven and earth, and greet, with a chaste kiss of peace, those who are traveling in the opposite direction. One group makes an exhorting comment relating to Sodom and Gomorrah, cities destroyed for the lustful behavior of their men against Lot’s male visitors, and the other to Pasiphaë, who satisfied her lust for a bull by hiding in a hide, thereby becoming the mother of the Minotaur. The moving penitents admit that their sin was that of “Ermafrodito.” Dante speaks to two who were creators of the new style of love poetry that Dante later used so well. They request that Dante pray the Lord’s Prayer for them, even if the lines referring to being led “not into temptation” no longer apply to those in Purgatory.
Beethoven's 9th and Schiller's Ode to Joy bring into mind...