Paradiso, Canto 27

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Summary

For a brief space of time, Dante participates in the exultation of the saints who rejoice in his progress. St Peter then resumes, and turning fiery red, denounces the present occupant of the Papal see, which he declares vacant in his sight. The saints of the Church Triumphant return to the Empyrean and, after looking down once more on earth, Dante ascends with Beatrice into the Primum Mobile.

The Prepatory Lecture

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Questions for Reflection

• Canto 27 marks a turning point in the narrative. Dante has passed his examination on the theological virtues and he is now ready to step beyond the representations of heaven and begin to see things as they truly are. Given all of this, why is it significant that canto 27 opens with the “Gloria”—the hymn to the Trinity (27.1-2)? How does Dante’s “drunken” response to the beauty of their song echo the experience of the disciples at Pentecost?
• Dante sees the entire universe smile (27.4). How does this description of the universe correspond to the smiles of the blessed that we have encountered in Paradiso? How does this program of smiles differ from Inferno and Purgatorio?
• Why does St. Peter claim that his chair on earth is empty (27.22)? What does this mean for Dante’s understanding of the social situation of the Church?
• What is the great sin of the Church as Dante understands it (27.40-54)? How does this reinforce the importance of Dante’s poem? How does Peter deepen the significance of Dante’s poetic mission of writing the Comedy after returning from his journey (61-66)?
• Why does Dante look back over his journey (27.77-78)? Is this nostalgia or is it spiritually healthy remembering? How has his perspective changed from the beginning of the journey? Why invoke the figure of Ulysses here at the end of the poem (27.83)?

Paradiso, Canto 27 © Jan Hearn

The Images

The Heaven of the Fixed Stars: See Canto xxii, under Images.

St Peter’s Denunciation: While St Peter utters his tremendous denunciation of Pope Boniface VIII, the light of his soul undergoes so fiery a transformation that Dante is moved to imagine, in comparison, the silvery sheen of Jupiter transfigured by the ruddy glow of Mars. Allegorically, this would seem to indicate that St Peter’s zeal is compounded of the righteousness of the just rulers and the fiery wrath of warriors who fought and died for the Faith. Further, the unworthiness of the Pope is a betrayal both of the Christian martyrs and of man’s endeavours to establish justice and peace throughout the world. The whole of Heaven flushes red in sympathy, and Beatrice, the truth of God. likewise changes colour for very shame. St Peter bids Dante look forward in faith to the speedy deliverance which shall come, and Beatrice, at the end of the Canto, also assures him of the coming of a messiah who shall restore order to Church and Empire.

The Ascent to the Primum Mobile: After looking downwards once again, that he may know how far he has circled with the stellar heaven, Dante is raised aloft to the Primum Mobile. This is the ninth circle, bearing no stars, but directing with its movement the daily revolutions of the other eight heavens round the earth. From its invisible motion, communicated throughout the cosmos, time is measured. Beyond it, mere is no space, or rime. Allegorically, the perfect ordering of the movements of the spheres represents the operating of the divine power which, through the angelic orders, influences the lives of men. Thus, time is seen to be “infinitely more than a mere succession of corporeal movements. It is a procession of the Light and Love of Eternity into the temporal life of man” (Carroll). (See also Glossary.)

Beatrice’s outburst against covetousness: Beatrice’s outburst against covetousness and man’s ensuing degeneracy arises out of the context of the sublime concept of time as a consequence of the divinely coordinated movements of the universe. Men have become degenerate as a result of their abuse of time, so that progress is turned to regress, the innocence of childhood being quickly lost with the passing of the years. Allegorically, Beatrice’s words signify that theology, while enlightening man as to the unimportance of the world in relation to the universe, can also awaken him to a recognition of the purpose of creation.

Tom LA Books