Dante's Paradise: A Study on Part III of The Divine Comedy

Reunited with blessed Beatrice, Dante ascends into the realm of Paradise where he rises through the realms of the Moon and Mercury.

Dante begins to comprehend the majesty and justice of God's grace, and arrives at the realm of Venus, which is filled with souls who are brighter than any earthly lamp.

Beatrice draws Dante upwards, into the realm of the Sun where he meets St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Dominic, and St. Bonaventure.

In the realm of Mars, Dante sees a vision of the Cross of Christ and meets the soul of one of his ancestors, a great statesman of Florence.

Dante meets the souls of saintly and just rulers in the sphere of Jupiter, where he also receives a vision which is like an eagle, speaking of God's goodness.

Dante reaches the sphere of the fixed stars were he meets the apostles St. Peter and St. James; they examine Dante on the virtues of faith and hope.

Blinded by the brilliant light emanating forth from St. John, Dante completes his examination on the last and greatest of the theological virtues, charity.

At the end of his journey, Dante is graced with a vision of the Trinity itself; but even he cannot describe what he seems, so infinite and sublime is the existence of God.