Readers of The Humanist Lens know that one of the main themes of Christian humanism is the idea that, as image bearers of God, human beings participate in the divine life. A quick summary of what this means is difficult to come by, but at least one of the main implications of this idea is that our very being is a gift–not something that we “possess” or “have” on our own accord.
Canto 33 of Dante’s Paradiso is one of the most marvelous depictions of what this means. Following his journey into Hell (Inferno) and Purgatory (Purgatorio), Dante tells the story of his ascent into God. In the following verses, which are the final lines of the Divine Comedy, he depicts the image of Christ in terms of “That circle—which, begotten so, appeared / in You as light reflected—when my eyes / had watched it with attention for some time.” At this point, Dante is intent upon making sense of the mystery which envelops him “as a geometer seeks to square the circle.” However, the final lines explain to us, this kind of knowledge eludes him precisely because it desires possession of the divine rather than the active participation in “the love that moves the sun and the other stars.”
33.124 Eternal Light, You only dwell within Yourself, and only You know You; Self-knowing,
Self-known, You love and smile upon Yourself! 33.127 That circle—which, begotten so, appeared in You as light reflected—when my eyes had watched it with attention for some time, 33.130 within itself and colored like itself, to me seemed painted with our effigy, so that my sight was set on it completely. 33.133 As the geometer intently seeks to square the circle, but he cannot reach, through thought on thought, the principle he needs, 33.136 so I searched that strange sight: I wished to see the way in which our human effigy suited the circle and found place in it— 33.139 and my own wings were far too weak for that. But then my mind was struck by light that flashed and, with this light, received what it had asked. 33.142 Here force failed my high fantasy; but my desire and will were moved already—like a wheel revolving uniformly—by 33.145 the Love that moves the sun and the other stars.
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