Cydni’s Reviews > Purgatorio > Status Update

“The celestial spheres, forming our tendencies, do incline us to various sensuous and sensual activities, but we are not forced to follow our appetites, since we have our will to direct our appetites. In Platonic (and Aristotelian) terms, our sensitive soul, which responds to such stimuli, is (or should be) governed by our rational soul.”

“the simple infant soul that has no knowledge but, moved by a joyous maker, gladly turns to what delights it.

'At first it tastes the savor of a trifling good It is beguiled by that and follows in pursuit if guide or rein do not deflect its love.

"Therefore, there was need that laws be set to act as curbs, need for a ruler to discern at least the tower above the one true city.”

“you have free will. Should it bear the strain in its first struggles with the heavens, then, rightly nurtured, it will conquer all.”

“And he to me: 'Because you still have your mind fixed on earthly things, you harvest darkness from the light itself.

'That infinite and ineffable Good, which dwells on high, speeds toward love as a ray of sunlight to a shining body.”

“Because your appetites are fixed on things that, divided, lessen each one's share, envy's bellows pushes breath into your sighs.

'But if love for the highest sphere could turn your longings toward heavenly things, then fear of sharing would pass from your hearts.

'For there above, when more souls speak of ours, the more of goodness each one owns, the more of love is burning in that cloister?'”

“'My blood was so consumed by envy that, had I seen a man take joy in life, you would have seen my skin turn livid.”

Envy
“for iron wire pierces all their eyelids, stitching them together, as is done
to the untrained falcon because it won't be calmed.”

“'Please, so may justice and mercy soon unburden you and give you wings to lift you up as high as you desire,

show us the shortest crossing to the stairs, and if there is more than one ascent, let us know where the drop is not so steep,

'for he that comes along with me, burdened with the weight of Adam's flesh, though eager to ascend, is slow at climbing?”

“If good is always said of us up there, what can be said and done for them on earth by those whose wills have roots in good?
Surely we should help them wash away the stains they carried with them, so that pure and light they may approach the star-hung spheres.”

“One may go up to San Leo or descend to Noli or mount to the summits of Bismantova or Cacume on foot, but here one had to fly—

I mean with the swift wings and plumage of great desire, following that guidance which gave me hope and showed me light.”