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As we ascend to the final canto with Dr. Fred Sanders as our last guide, we are reminded of how Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Day. Because of him, we will one day be able to look upon God as Dante does in the culmination of our 100 day journey. He is risen!
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Dr. Thomas Hibbs explains the fittingness of Dante's encounter with the Virgin Mary. Like Plato shows in his allegory of the cave, our vision must adjust to brighter things before we gaze upon the Sun. Mary is the closest to Christ, preparing us to gaze upon Light Himself.
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Dr. Greg Roper introduces us to Bernard, who replaces Beatrice. He is the perfect guide to the Virgin Mary due to his written reflections on her and his commentary on the Song of Songs. Erotic imagery is one of the best ways to communicate the uncommunicable reality of Paradise.
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In the Empyrean, Mr. Joshua Gibbs talks us through Dante's inability to speak. Whereas the depths of hell could not be described due to their meaningless, the highest Heaven cannot be put into words because God is the source of meaning. He is beyond the limits of our language.
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In this canto, Dr. Jenny Howell guides us through the last conversation between Dante and Beatrice. Here, we rejoice that God created not out of necessity, but out of love. This purpose can only be understood through humility, wonder, and praise.
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In the ninth sphere, Dr. Courtney Barajas introduces us to Heaven's paradox: the impossibility of pinning down God and his undeniable presence in our lives. God's ways are beyond our comprehension. We don't understand the universe yet, but one day it will be joyfully revealed.
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Dr. Francesco Vossilla guides us through the final events in the fixed stars and the ascension into the Primum Mobile. St. John delivers the last and most severe critique of the papacy, but the canto ends in hope, as Dante sees how far he's come and continues further upward.
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Dr. Brendan Case guides us through Dante's conversation with Adam. Before Dante even speaks, Adam knows what he wants to ask because he saw Dante as he is known by God. This theme of knowledge continues in Adam's recount of the Fall, where Adam lost the knowledge God as oneself.
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Dr. Alina Beary guides us through Dante's conversation with St. James about hope. If we have journeyed with Dante, we too should have a newly trained hope rooted in unity with God. In Paradise, no more hope is needed, for the soul gets exactly what it wants: God himself.
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Dr. Kathryn Smith guides us through St. Peter's test of Dante. Dante adequately answers whether faith exists, what it is, and what its qualities are. If we have followed Dante through this journey and affirm the church's creeds, Dante implies that we too can pass this test.
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Moving into the 8th sphere, Dr. Alessandro Andreini discusses the contradiction of man who is capable of blessedness yet sorrowful in their broken condition. The starry firmament is the space where man and God meet, and the body of Christ bridges the gap between Heaven and earth.
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Still in Saturn, Dr. Kathy Storm reminds us that all justice comes from love. As Saint Benedict and the other contemplatives mourn the corruption of the church, Dante realizes the insignificance of worldly things in comparison to God. We are called to fix our gaze on the eternal.
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Dr. Greg Peters introduces us to Peter Damian, a monk who reformed monastic orders. The ideal contemplative monks use things of the world to think about God, ascending Jacob's ladder into Heaven. This is also how Dante should use Beatrice: as a creation pointing to the Creator.
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In the sphere of Jupiter, Dr. Josh Gibbs explains the presence of two pagans: Rhipeus and Trajan. Although their salvation stories are from Dante's imagination, he is in line with tradition. In his mercy, God goes to extreme lengths to save men, giving us hope for any soul.
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Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson explains the metaphor of the eagle. As Christ looks directly at God, so does the eagle stare into the sun. When we are perfected in Christ, we too will see the brighter version of reality that shows true justice where the limited eye perceives injustice.
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In this canto, Dr. Jane Kim explains the dual passions of the exiled person who both points out the faults in their homeland and longs for it greatly. Dante, in the realm of just souls, laments papal corruption in his homeland and longs for restoration to the just ways of God.
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Still in Mars, Dr. Susan Felch implores us, alongside Cacciaguida, to tell the truth. Dante, in his poetic vocation, is called to express the vision he has seen to the world, even if it will offend some of his contemporaries. Sometimes, a bitter medicine is required to heal us.
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Dr. Jonathan Reimer explains our continued conversation with Cacciaguida, who mourns the political division in Florence. After meeting many characters affected by this, we finally learn the origin story of hateful revenge that begot the conflict between the Guelf and Ghibellines.
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Now in the sphere of Mars, Dr. Melissa Schubert introduces us to Cacciaguida, the ancestor of Dante who died fighting in the Crusades. Schubert explains that we must die to earthly goods in order to enjoy them perfectly in Paradise.
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Dr. Isaac Blois walks us through Dante's conversation with King Solomon. We learn that there will be growth of grace, vision, love, and luminance in Heaven as we taste and see that the Lord is good. Heaven is not a place of stagnation.
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