Dante and Beatrice stand in Eden as Beatrice explains that all created things naturally rise upward toward God.

Dante and Beatrice ascend into the Moon, the first sphere of Heaven, drawn upward by their desire for God.

Dante meets the soul of Piccarda Donati, who introduces him to the idea that Heaven is arranged in ranked spheres.

Emperor Justinian introduces himself in Mercury and recounts the grand history and destiny of the Roman Empire.

Charles Martel of Anjou greets Dante warmly in Venus and laments that his early death deprived many kingdoms of guidance.

Dante and Beatrice ascend to the Sun, where St. Thomas Aquinas introduces himself and a circle of radiant wise souls.

St. Thomas Aquinas recounts how St. Francis of Assisi embraced poverty and bore the mystical stigmata of Christ's wounds.

Dante and Beatrice ascend to Mars, where souls form a radiant cross shining in the planet's red glow.

Dante's great-great-grandfather Cacciaguida descends from the cross to speak with Dante, revealing their family connection and history.

Cacciaguida prophesies Dante's exile from Florence and charges him to share his divine visions with the world through poetry.

In Jupiter, souls fly in formation to spell a Latin call for justice and then assemble themselves into a giant eagle.

In Saturn, souls climb a golden ladder into the heights and St. Peter Damian denounces the corruption of the church.

Dante enters the Fixed Stars and glimpses the Virgin Mary shining in glory, surrounded by angels and heavenly music.

St. Peter denounces the corrupt popes occupying his earthly seat and charges Dante to bring this warning back to earth.

Dante reaches the Empyrean and gazes upon the Holy Trinity as three circles of light, his will merging with God's eternal love.

Dante begins his ascent through Heaven in Eden alongside Beatrice, who explains that all created things are naturally drawn upward toward God. He travels through each of the nine celestial spheres, encountering key figures such as Piccarda Donati in the Moon, Emperor Justinian in Mercury, Charles Martel in Venus, and St. Thomas Aquinas in the Sun. In Mars, Dante's ancestor Cacciaguida prophesies his coming exile and charges him to share his divine visions through poetry. In Jupiter, souls assemble into a giant eagle speaking of divine justice, while Saturn presents souls climbing a golden ladder and St. Peter Damian denouncing church corruption. The journey reaches its culmination in the Empyrean, where Dante gazes upon the Holy Trinity and his will merges with God's eternal love.

Dante's celestial journey from Eden to the Empyrean.

Beatrice warns Dante's readers that only those spiritually prepared for the journey ahead should continue following him.

Beatrice explains that the dark spots on the moon result from varying intensities of divine light reflected within matter.

Piccarda Donati tells how men forcibly removed her from her convent and compelled her to marry against her will.

Beatrice explains that human will has two forms—absolute and conditional—and that their conflict can lead people to sin unwillingly.

Justinian explains that the souls dwelling in Mercury fell short in Christian love during life but still share in Heaven's glory.

Beatrice explains why God chose the Incarnation as humanity's redemption, combining perfect divine justice and infinite love in one act.

Folco of Marseilles describes his amorous reputation and explains that souls in Heaven do not regret their earthly indiscretions.

St. Bonaventure praises St. Dominic and then laments that the Franciscan order has drifted far from its founder's original ideals.

Solomon explains that the brightness of souls in Heaven will endure eternally, growing ever stronger with each soul's spiritual love.

Cacciaguida nostalgically recalls the simple, virtuous Florence of his youth, before corruption and conflict transformed the city.

The Eagle of Jupiter rebukes Dante for questioning God's justice and warns that many Christians will fare worse than pagans at Judgment.

The Eagle reveals that the pagan emperor Trajan and the Trojan hero Ripheus were both saved in Heaven through righteous faith.

St. Benedict introduces himself, describes founding his monastery, and laments the deep moral decay of present-day monastic life.

Dante drinks from the river of light in the Empyrean and the scene transforms to reveal the full heavenly rose of souls.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux takes over from Beatrice as Dante's guide and identifies many souls in the heavenly rose, including Eve.

This pool traces the deeper teachings and secondary encounters woven throughout Dante's ascent, beginning with Beatrice's warning to unprepared readers before they even enter the Moon. Beatrice acts as a constant theological instructor, explaining the cause of the moon's dark spots, the nature of human will, and why God chose the Incarnation to redeem humanity. In Venus and the Sun, figures like Folco of Marseilles and St. Bonaventure illuminate both the temptations of earthly love and the decline of religious orders. The Eagle of Jupiter delivers a crucial debate about the salvation of virtuous pagans, while St. Benedict in Saturn laments the corruption of monastic life. The journey closes with Dante drinking from the river of light in the Empyrean and St. Bernard guiding him through the heavenly rose toward the final vision of God.

Supporting theological teachings and heavenly encounters across every sphere.

Dante gazes at the sun alongside Beatrice in Eden and finds himself suddenly ascending upward into the heavens.

Piccarda Donati reveals that souls in Heaven's lowest sphere are perfectly content because their will is fully aligned with God's.

Justinian recounts how his conversion to orthodox Christianity transformed his rule and led him to reform Roman law.

Beatrice explains that humans are immortal because, unlike animals, human life is directly breathed into being by God himself.

Charles Martel of Anjou argues that a healthy society depends on people of varied natures being free to fill different roles.

Cunizza da Romano delivers three prophecies about coming political events in northern Italy to Dante in the sphere of Venus.

St. Thomas Aquinas laments that the Dominican order has strayed from the founding principles of its founder, Dominic.

Dante sees the souls of Mars form a vision of Christ's cross in the sky, filling him with overwhelming love.

After Cacciaguida delivers his somber prophecy of exile, Beatrice gently reminds Dante of the consolation that God provides.

St. Peter the Apostle quizzes Dante on the nature of faith, and Dante's answers earn the apostle's jubilant approval.

St. James quizzes Dante on the virtue of hope, and Beatrice declares that no soul in Christendom holds more hope than Dante.

St. John appears in blinding light, quizzes Dante on divine love, and temporarily leaves Dante unable to see.

Adam reveals to Dante that his ancient sin consisted not merely in eating forbidden fruit but in crossing a divinely set boundary.

Beatrice tells Dante he must drink from the river of light in the Empyrean to prepare for his final vision of God.

St. Bernard offers a long prayer to the Virgin Mary on Dante's behalf, asking her to grant Dante sight of the divine.

This pool traces the pivotal moments of revelation and transformation that reshape Dante's understanding at every stage of his journey. From his sudden ascent out of Eden to Piccarda's disclosure that perfect contentment comes from perfect alignment with God's will, each event marks a decisive shift in Dante's spiritual awareness. Encounters with Justinian, Charles Martel, and Cacciaguida force Dante to confront the relationship between earthly ambition, family history, and divine providence, including the bitter news of his coming exile. In the Fixed Stars, the apostles Peter, James, and John subject Dante to rigorous examinations on faith, hope, and love, while Adam's confession about the true nature of original sin deepens Dante's understanding of human frailty. The journey closes with Beatrice's instruction to drink from the river of light and Bernard's majestic prayer to Mary, which together open the final door to Dante's vision of God.

The key discoveries, examinations, and spiritual transformations shaping Dante's ascent.