In today’s canto, we look at the second of Dante’s two great poverty-marrying patrons. We hear Bonaventure wax poetic on the life of Dominic, whose intellectually-minded approach to the question of poverty remains a lodestone for believers today. Just one question: what happened? Trans. John Ciardi

In today’s canto, still in the fourth sphere of the Sun, Aquinas waxes poetic on the state of the Franciscan order and its patron, Saint Francis. The Church is at her best when she remembers her duties: prayers, alms, and poverty. Saint Francis married poverty despite the ire of his father, but doing so he reignited a church gone lethargic. Trans. John Ciardi

In today’s canto, Dante ascends to the fourth sphere, that of the sun, where he encounters another of his intellectual heroes: Thomas Aquinas. Here repose the souls of the wise and the great intellectual defenders of the Church throughout history.

Trans. John Ciardi

In today’s canto, Dante is still in the sphere of Venus, where he encounters two souls: Cunizza Da Romano and the onetime Bishop of Marseilles, Folquet. How are the amorous saved, and what does it mean to give up a life of worldly love for divine love? Trans. John Ciardi

In today’s canto, Dante and Beatrice ascend to Venus, the third sphere of Paradise, where they encounter Charles Martel, the Medieval king of Hungary. Dante asks the king how it is, if men are made through the divine harmony of the heavenly spheres, that so much disharmony can arise. Charles Martel rehashes the timeless nature v. nurture debate. Wise words for us to hear, even 700 years later!Trans. John Ciardi

In today’s canto, Dante has some choice questions for Beatrice. How exactly does atonement work? How can the sin of humanity be wiped out? How does Christ’s suffering our punishment translate into redemption? Beatrice as ever answers Dante in good, reasonable scholastic method, and even delivers him a few nuggets of wisdom about the final resurrection of the body.

Tras. John Ciardi

Today, Emperor Justinian discourses about the history and trajectory of the Roman Eagle. From its humble origins among the brood of Romulus to the most powerful empire in Western History, the eagle flies over history, left and right. In addition to that, Justinian discusses the age-old problem of sacred church and secular powers. How much relationship between these two is too much? For Dante, it’s a thorny issue: it was owing to too much state in the Church that he was exiled from Florence. Trans. John Ciardi

In today’s canto, Beatrice finishes her discourse on the will. Take vows seriously! You’re offering up nothing less than your freedom to God; sacrifice that, and you tear the terms of the covenant. That being said, “like an arrow driven with such might it strikes its mark before the string is still” Beatrice and Dante rocket up to the second rung of Paradise, Mercury, where a blessed soul soon makes itself known…Trans. John Ciardi

In today’s canto, Dante asks how is it that Picccarda Donati, whose vow was broken through no fault of her own, could still be punished. Beatrice is on hand to explain things: a will broken through outside interference is still a will unperfected. Want to see a will in perfect alignment with God? Look to Father Lawrence, Bishop of Rome, martyred by slow roasting over an open fire. Divine justice is perfect indeed, but that makes it no less difficult a pill to swallow. Trans. John Ciardi

Dante and Beatrice ascend to the first level of the blessed. In the Ptolemaic scheme Dante employs, the moon stands at the furthest reach of God’s paradise. It’s home to those who were inconstant in their vows towards God; even those who were forced to break vows through some outside influence are nevertheless fated to rise no higher in the divine scheme. Yet there is no animosty here or talk of injustice: in the words of Piccarda Donati, forced to leave her nunnery for an arranged marriage, “In His will is our peace.”

Trans. John Ciardi