{"product_id":"2940172610387","title":"Dante's Paradise: A Study on Part III of The Divine Comedy","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYou've followed Dante through the dreaded gates of Hell, to the arduous slopes of Mount Purgatory, and now, finally, to the transcendence of the Heavenly Court.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eWith Dr. Anthony Esolen, you've travelled into the depths of the \u003cem\u003eInferno\u003c\/em\u003e. You've witnessed the terrible hopelessness of Hell and the bitter punishments for sinners there. You've accompanied Dante and Virgil through the mysteries of Mount Purgatory where sinners are purged of all attachment to sin. Finally, together with blessed Beatrice, enter into the indescribable glory of Heaven.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Beatific Vision\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eDante imagines that \u003cem\u003eParadise\u003c\/em\u003e consists of nine celestial spheres which surround the very Throne of God at the center. It is like a blossoming rose, each petal reveals further splendor and glory the nearer we come to the center. Yet, in a way, Dante's journey to God reads something like science fiction - after all, he and Beatrice travel through:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Moon, Mercury, Venus, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe \"Fixed Stars\" - a region medievals imagined to contain all stars except the Sun\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAnd finally, through the \"Primum Mobile\" - the sphere which causes the motion of all other spheres within it because it is moved directly by God\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn each astral location, Dante and Beatrice meet the blessed souls who enjoy the bliss of Heaven.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnlike \u003cem\u003ePurgatory\u003c\/em\u003e and the \u003cem\u003eInferno\u003c\/em\u003e, which are arranged by different types of sin, \u003cem\u003eParadise\u003c\/em\u003e is structured according to virtue. Each sphere is associated with one of the cardinal virtues - prudence, fortitude, justice, and temperance - or one of the theological virtues - faith, hope, and charity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePoetry of the Highest Order\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eProfessor Esolen who has served as your guide through both the \u003cem\u003eInferno\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003ePurgatory\u003c\/em\u003e will guide you through the profound and elevated poetry of \u003cem\u003eParadise.\u003c\/em\u003e An expert who has taught Dante to college students for more than twenty years, Professor Esolen is also the preeminent modern translator of the entire \u003cem\u003eDivine Comedy\u003c\/em\u003e from the original Italian.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eDante can rightly be called the greatest poet who ever lived, because he chose for the subject of his epic poem the greatest subject ever conceived - namely, the whole purpose and end of man. Dante's imaginative genius gave us both astonishing human and theological insights and perhaps the most beautiful verse describing Heaven ever written.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eDiscover the ineffable majesty of \u003cem\u003eParadise\u003c\/em\u003e with Professor Esolen and complete the journey of all men who have conquered the self through the sufferings of \u003cem\u003ePurgatory\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Catholic Courses","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47106141290736,"sku":"2940172610387","price":19.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940172610387_p0.jpg?v=1772803381","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940172610387","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}