Thank you, Dr. Contino! By pointing out the rhyming of Cristo with only itself, you made me catch something really important. It is easy to rush through Cantos and miss things like that, especially due to our English readings. Dante is truly full of surprises! God's Providence is beyond us, but also revealed. Christ is the Way, Truth, Life, and he does as his Father Wills. Let us rejoice at the surprises! Thanks!
Wonderful presentation! "There is unity in diversity." When all of those who choose Heaven get together there will be unity in rejoicing. In the meantime we must keep in mind that there are as many individual perspectives as there are people and at times it seems like the Lord made many strange people who love Him, and you and I might be one of them ;=)
Canto 12: As soon as St Thomas Aquinas, the Dominican scholar, stops speaking, the garland in which he flames begins to turn. Before it can complete a revolution, another garland of twelve spirits joins it as an outer band, like a double rainbow. St Bonaventure, a Franciscan scholar, praises St Dominic, just as Aquinas had praised Francis of Assisi. The sphere of Sol does have its complimentary structure, just as Paradise, itself, requires both faith and love, understanding and action; the duality of heaven continues. Dominic Guzman, born in Spain, became the founder of the Dominicans or the Order of Preachers (OP). He was known for his defense of Christian Catholic doctrine, especially against the Albigensians (Cathars), a community in southern France exhibiting a new form of Gnosticism. The OP became infamous for its role in the later periods of the Inquisition when they were known with the nickname: Domini Canes, the hounds of the Lord. Just as Aquinas mentioned problems of his Dominican brothers, Bonaventure mentions problems among his Franciscan brothers. One significant issue was the division of the Franciscans, themselves, into two sub-groups, one desiring to follow Francis’s views on poverty and the other willing to place less emphasis on poverty and be more like other religious orders receiving external financial support. Bonaventure also comments on the twelve additional Dominican sages, among whom are Hugh of St. Victor, Peter of Spain (Pope John XXI), Chrysostom, Anselm of Canterbury and Joachim of Fiore.
This was a wonderful answer to the previous presentation and did justice to St. Dominic, who left very little in the way of written output behind for biographers and historians. Thank goodness the first and second generation of Dominicans were educated men who could produce the foundation of biographical memories on which we can base our knowledge of Dominic. Thank you, Dr. Cantone, for pointing out the unity in diversity represented by the thinkers represented in this Canto. Your obvious love of this work and the encouragement to continue reading at this point in the long journey we are taking through the Divine Comedy is welcome as some of us are probably getting weary of meeting so many historical figures we know nothing about. Thanks for taking the time to join us for a portion of the journey.
Is it weird that I really enjoyed the Inferno and purgatorio, but I’ve been struggling through the paradiso? I was so excited to get here, but I’m having a hard time understanding what’s going on... I didn’t go to university, I’m just on a self education journey and was so delighted to come across these videos that would help me read the divine comedy. Should I have read the Aeneid first? If anyone could send me any resources (video or book recommendations) that would help me get more out of this one I would appreciate it:)
Good for you, Beth. It's wonderful that you've taken on this challenge. Don't give up! I have found Paradise more challenging too. Sometimes we have to sit with what we read and revisit it later. If Dante were easy, we wouldn't be studying his work 700 years after his death.
I could have written this myself! Thank you for putting into words exactly what I was feeling and thank you for letting me know that I'm not alone. ❤️ The RUclips channel *Tom LA Books* has been a life-saver for me. He's Italian, living in the USA and his knowledge and perspective is so helpful.
Dont feel bad, Beth. I have been having the same difficulty. Seems like inferno and purgatory were easier to grasp because they dwelt more on physical, tangible ideas
It was helpful for me to learn that the language Dante uses gets more and more complex as we move through the different parts of the comedy. There's much more focus on ideas and theology in Paradiso, and it's more abstract, and as a result much harder to follow (especially when Dante is referring to people many of us don't know!). Commentaries along with these videos definitely help with understanding. All that to say, you aren't alone in your struggle!
I really like the diversity in unity concept, the ying and yang of St. Francis and St. Dominic, the one marrying lady poverty (selflessness) and the other marrying faith. It sure beats the modern day Diversity Inclusion Equity
Thank you, Dr. Contino! By pointing out the rhyming of Cristo with only itself, you made me catch something really important. It is easy to rush through Cantos and miss things like that, especially due to our English readings.
Dante is truly full of surprises! God's Providence is beyond us, but also revealed. Christ is the Way, Truth, Life, and he does as his Father Wills. Let us rejoice at the surprises!
Thanks!
Wonderful presentation! "There is unity in diversity." When all of those who choose Heaven get together there will be unity in rejoicing. In the meantime we must keep in mind that there are as many individual perspectives as there are people and at times it seems like the Lord made many strange people who love Him, and you and I might be one of them ;=)
Canto 12: As soon as St Thomas Aquinas, the Dominican scholar, stops speaking, the garland in which he flames begins to turn. Before it can complete a revolution, another garland of twelve spirits joins it as an outer band, like a double rainbow. St Bonaventure, a Franciscan scholar, praises St Dominic, just as Aquinas had praised Francis of Assisi. The sphere of Sol does have its complimentary structure, just as Paradise, itself, requires both faith and love, understanding and action; the duality of heaven continues. Dominic Guzman, born in Spain, became the founder of the Dominicans or the Order of Preachers (OP). He was known for his defense of Christian Catholic doctrine, especially against the Albigensians (Cathars), a community in southern France exhibiting a new form of Gnosticism. The OP became infamous for its role in the later periods of the Inquisition when they were known with the nickname: Domini Canes, the hounds of the Lord. Just as Aquinas mentioned problems of his Dominican brothers, Bonaventure mentions problems among his Franciscan brothers. One significant issue was the division of the Franciscans, themselves, into two sub-groups, one desiring to follow Francis’s views on poverty and the other willing to place less emphasis on poverty and be more like other religious orders receiving external financial support. Bonaventure also comments on the twelve additional Dominican sages, among whom are Hugh of St. Victor, Peter of Spain (Pope John XXI), Chrysostom, Anselm of Canterbury and Joachim of Fiore.
This was a wonderful answer to the previous presentation and did justice to St. Dominic, who left very little in the way of written output behind for biographers and historians. Thank goodness the first and second generation of Dominicans were educated men who could produce the foundation of biographical memories on which we can base our knowledge of Dominic. Thank you, Dr. Cantone, for pointing out the unity in diversity represented by the thinkers represented in this Canto. Your obvious love of this work and the encouragement to continue reading at this point in the long journey we are taking through the Divine Comedy is welcome as some of us are probably getting weary of meeting so many historical figures we know nothing about. Thanks for taking the time to join us for a portion of the journey.
A wonderfully powerful and most enjoyable presentation. Thank you, Dr Contino.
Thank you, Dr. Contino!
Is it weird that I really enjoyed the Inferno and purgatorio, but I’ve been struggling through the paradiso? I was so excited to get here, but I’m having a hard time understanding what’s going on... I didn’t go to university, I’m just on a self education journey and was so delighted to come across these videos that would help me read the divine comedy. Should I have read the Aeneid first? If anyone could send me any resources (video or book recommendations) that would help me get more out of this one I would appreciate it:)
Good for you, Beth. It's wonderful that you've taken on this challenge. Don't give up! I have found Paradise more challenging too. Sometimes we have to sit with what we read and revisit it later. If Dante were easy, we wouldn't be studying his work 700 years after his death.
I could have written this myself! Thank you for putting into words exactly what I was feeling and thank you for letting me know that I'm not alone. ❤️ The RUclips channel *Tom LA Books* has been a life-saver for me. He's Italian, living in the USA and his knowledge and perspective is so helpful.
Dont feel bad, Beth. I have been having the same difficulty. Seems like inferno and purgatory were easier to grasp because they dwelt more on physical, tangible ideas
It was helpful for me to learn that the language Dante uses gets more and more complex as we move through the different parts of the comedy. There's much more focus on ideas and theology in Paradiso, and it's more abstract, and as a result much harder to follow (especially when Dante is referring to people many of us don't know!). Commentaries along with these videos definitely help with understanding. All that to say, you aren't alone in your struggle!
@@lorenwarnemuende3555 Yes, the notes in my (Esolen) translation are often as long as the canto itself, and I would be completely lost without them!
Wonderful presentation. Thank you.
So good. Thank you.
I really like the diversity in unity concept, the ying and yang of St. Francis and St. Dominic, the one marrying lady poverty (selflessness) and the other marrying faith. It sure beats the modern day Diversity Inclusion Equity
I like your end comment even non Christians are called to heaven. I agree
How does this doctor know there are no levels in heaven?