Divine Comedy Spirituality

Dante's Divine Comedy is considered to be not only the most important epic poem in Italian literature, but also one of the greatest poems ever written. It consists of 100 cantos, and (after an introductory canto) they are divided into three sections. Each section is 33 cantos in length, and they describe how Dante and a guide travel through Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso.

Dante Alighieri's poetic masterpiece is a moving human drama, an unforgettable visionary journey through the infinite torment of Hell, up the arduous slopes of Purgatory, and on to the glorious realm of Paradise-the sphere of universal harmony and eternal salvation. One of the greatest works in literature, Dantes story-poem is an allegory that represents mankind as it exposes itself, by its merits or demerits, to the rewards or the punishments of justice.

"Je suis passionnée par les mythes, car ce sont à mes yeux des histoires canons, dont les symboles continuent d'agir sur nous. Et dans nos traditions mythologiques, un motif en particulier me fascine, c'est la descente volontaire d'un héros ou d'une héroïne dans un monde souterrain invisible aux mortels, par exemple le monde des Enfers dans les épopées grecques, ou l'Enfer chrétien. C'est toujours une initiation afin d'acquérir un savoir, un pouvoir, une guérison, une quête à la recherche d'une âme, ou encore pour une transformation personnelle."

Dante Alighieri is indisputably one of the world's greatest poets. His epic masterpiece, the Divine Comedy, has been frequently referred to as the supreme work of Italian literature and a staple in the Western Christian tradition. Now, you can explore Dante's life and masterwork with a truly gifted Catholic professor as your guide. In this 12-lecture series, Dante's Divine Comedy, Sr. Mary Clemente Davlin will take you through this timeless narrative that has so profoundly influenced Western history, literature, and the Christian faith.