THE ORGANISATION of  PARADISE (D. Sayers)
 

Heavens

Souls Encountered

Subjects, Events

Angelic Orders

Virtues

Cantos

Ascent from earth. The natural order of the universe.

FIRST

HEAVEN

(Moon)

The inconstant in vows:

Piccarda, the Empress

Constance.

Physical phenomena

the work of celestial

Intelligences; the

freedom of the will.

Angels (guardians of

persons and bearers

of tidings of God's

bounty).

Fortitude

(in which these souls were

deficient).

ii-v

SECOND

HEAVEN

(Mercury)

The ambitious of the active life:

the Emperor Justinian, Romèo.

The history of the Roman Empire; the mystery of the Redemption.

Archangels (protectors of nations and bearers of tidings of great import).

Justice

(in which these souls were deficient).

v-vii

THIRD

HEAVEN

(Venus)

The lovers: Charles Martel,

Cunizza, Foulquet of Marseilles,

Rahab.

The constitution of

society; usurpation

of rights.

Principalities

(regulators of

human government).

Temperance

(in which these souls were deficient).

viii-ix

Ascent beyond the

shadow of earth.

ix

FOURTH

HEAVEN

(Sun)

Theologians, Teachers, Historians,
etc.: Aquinas, Albertus, Gratian, Peter Lombard, Solomon, Dionysius, Orosius, Boethius, Isidore, Bede, Richard, Sigier, Bonaventure, Agostino, Illuminato, Hugh, Petrus Comestor, Peter of Spain, Nathan, Chrysostom, Anselm, Donatus, Rabanus, Joachim.

The life of St

Francis; the life of St Dominic; the wisdom of Solomon; the. glory of the resurrected body.

Powers

(image of
Divine Power and majesty, combaters

of the powers of

darkness and of

disease).

Prudence

x-xiv

FIFTH

HEAVEN

(Mars)

The Warriors: Cacciaguida,

Joshua, Judas Maccabaeus,

Charlemagne, Roland, William

of Orange, Renouard, Godfrey of

Bouillon, Guiscard.

Early Florence;

Dante's exile; his

mission and work.

Virtues (image of

Divine Strength and

Fortitude, workers

of signs, inspirers of

endurance).

Fortitude

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SIXTH

HEAVEN

(Jupiter)

The Just: David, Trojan,

Hezekiah, Constantine, William

II of Sicily, Rhipeus.

Divine and human

justice; grace and

salvation.

Dominations (image

of Divine

Dominion).

Justice

xxiii-xx

SEVENTH

HEAVEN

(Saturn)

The Contemplatives:

Peter Damian, Benedict,

Macarius, Romualdus.

Predestination; the

ascetic life; God's

coming vengeance

on corrupt

monasticism.

Thrones

 (image of Divine Steadfastness, executors of God's judgements).

Temperance

xxi-xxii

Ascent of the

Celestial Ladder.

xxii

EIGHTH

HEAVEN

(Fixed stars)

Triumph of Christ; The Virgin

Mary; St Peter; St James; St John; Adam.

Dante's examination in the three theological virtues; St. Peter's rebuke to the Church; Dante's temporary blindness.

Cherubim

 (image of Divine Wisdom).

Faith, Hope, and

Charity.

xxiii-xxvii

NINTH

HEAVEN

(Primum

Mobile)

Dante's vision of the

angelic hierarchies;

the Creation.

Seraphim (image of Divine Love).

xxvii-xxix

TENTH

HEAVEN

(Empyrean)

St Bernard; the Blessed in the

Celestial Rose.

Beatrice returns to her throne in the Empyrean;

 Prayer of St Bernard.

xxx-xxxiii

Dante beholds God.

xxxüi