Changes

In the Empyrean, Beatrice takes her place among the Saints and [[St Bernard]] takes over as Dante's guide for the last stage of his journey. In the Empyrean, Beatrice joins the other saints and [[St Bernard]] takes over as Dante's guide for the final stage of his journey. Dante sees God first as an all-encompassing light; then as three circles representing the [[Trinity]]; and then as the likeness of a man.  

In the Empyrean, Beatrice takes her place among the Saints and [[St Bernard]] takes over as Dante's guide for the last stage of his journey. In the Empyrean, Beatrice joins the other saints and [[St Bernard]] takes over as Dante's guide for the final stage of his journey. Dante sees God first as an all-encompassing light; then as three circles representing the [[Trinity]]; and then as the likeness of a man.  

The ending of the Paradiso (and thus the whole Divine Comedy) is rather abrupt. Attempting to reconcile the different views of God, Dante's mind and poetic gifts fail him; the vision of God is likened to squaring the circle, a mathematical problem with no solution. In the last lines of the poem, the poet finally gives in to the ineffable as he says that his will has become one with God's.

The ending of the Paradiso (and thus the whole Divine Comedy) is rather abrupt. Attempting to reconcile the different views of God, Dante's mind and poetic gifts fail him; the vision of God is likened to squaring the circle, a [[mathematics|mathematical]] problem with no solution. In the last lines of the poem, the poet finally gives in to the ineffable as he says that his will has become one with God's.

The reader can only assume that the poet was somehow returned to Earth, where he began the task of writing down what he had seen for the benefit of those still living. Dante equates this purpose to that of the man the [[Apostle Paul]] wrote about who ascended to the 3rd Heaven in a vision, or that [[John the Divine]] wrote in the [[Book of Revelation]].  <ref>  [[The Divine Comedy]], By Dante Alighieri, Translated by Charles Singleton, Bollingen Series 80, Vol. 3: Paradiso. Copyright 1975 by Princeton University Press.  </ref>

The reader can only assume that the poet was somehow returned to Earth, where he began the task of writing down what he had seen for the benefit of those still living. Dante equates this purpose to that of the man the [[Apostle Paul]] wrote about who ascended to the 3rd Heaven in a vision, or that [[John the Divine]] wrote in the [[Book of Revelation]].  <ref>  [[The Divine Comedy]], By Dante Alighieri, Translated by Charles Singleton, Bollingen Series 80, Vol. 3: Paradiso. Copyright 1975 by Princeton University Press.  </ref>