Paradiso, Canto 14

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Summary

Beatrice, on Dante’s behalf, questions the souls concerning the degree of radiance which will envelop them after the Last Judgement. In reply, Solomon explains the relationship between grace, vision, love and radiance. A third circle of light appears, but, before Dante can do more than glimpse it, he finds he has been raised to the Heaven of Mars. Here, two white bands of light, pricked out with ruby splendours, form themselves into the pattern of a cross, and Dante beholds a vision of Christ. The souls sing a hymn of praise, the beauty of which surpasses all that Dante has experienced in the preceding spheres.

The Prepatory Lecture

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Questions for Reflection

• Given that most of the blessed souls Dante has encountered so far in Paradiso have been composed of light, the pilgrim wonders whether the light will remain at the resurrection of the body (14.13ff). How does Solomon answer (14.37-60)?
• What is the relationship between the blessed’s love and their luminosity (14.37-42)? What is the relationship between light and sight (14.49-57)? How are all of these related to gracer?
• Why do the blessed desire their bodies (14.61-66)? Why is it both fitting and important for the souls of the wise to look forward to the resurrection of the body? Will the resurrected body diminish the soul’s love, sight, light, and grace?
• What is the arrangement of the souls in Mars? Why? How do the souls make Christ present in Mars? Why might Dante only rhyme “Christ” with itself? Why might Dante choose to invoke the crucifixion of Christ after he has invoked the resurrection of Christ?
• In his Convivio, Dante associates the Sun with the liberal art of geometry and Mars with arithmetic. Do we see those liberal arts reflected at all in these Solar and Martian episodes?

Paradiso, Canto 14 © Jan Hearn

The Images

Solomon: In the previous canto, St Thomas made clear to Dante that Solomon did not ask God for speculative but for kingly wisdom; yet in Heaven Solomon so partakes of the wisdom of all the blessed that he is able to solve Dante’s doubt as to the splendour of the body after the resurrection. In the story, it is a master-touch that Dante should receive from such a source so precious a pearl of wisdom. In the allegory, it is as the supposed author of the Song of Songs that Solomon is chosen to pronounce upon the ultimate bliss of union between the body and the soul.

The third circle of lights: There has been much speculation as to what Dante intended to signify by the third circle of radiance, which rises into view like light on the horizon before dawn. Within its lustre he begins to pick out new lights, like stars at twilight. Though he does not stay long enough to accustom himself to their brilliance, he recognizes them as emanations from the Holy Spirit. It would seem, therefore, that they represent some further extension into the infinity of God’s truth which ever and infinitely exceeds man’s knowledge and understanding of it.

The Heaven of Mars: In the story, Mars, the fifth planet in order from the earth, is the next stage in Dante’s ascent towards the Empyrean, or abode of God. Traditionally the symbol of war, Mars is the scene of Dante’s encounter with the souls of those who have died for the faith. In the allegory, the fortitude of the warrior saints and martyrs is shown as issuing in “loftier bliss” than all the knowledge of the wise. Dante’s utter surrender of himself in a prayer of gratitude and devotion represents the Christian’s sense of indebtedness to the soldiers and martyrs of the Cross.

The Cross of Souls: Two bands of light, white against the redness of Mars and pricked out with glowing rubies, form a Cross, pulsating with the sacrificial love of the Crusader knights and martyrs of the Faith. In the allegory, the Cross is the symbol of Christ Himself, and it is in His soldiers and martyrs that He shines forth upon Dante in a momentary and incommunicable vision. A hymn of praise, gathering through the Cross, holds Dante so rapt with its melody that till this moment nothing in Paradise has so sweetly enthralled him. This vision of glory represents Dante’s faith in the ultimate victory of the Cross.

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