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And This Blog Found Itself in a Dark Wood…

Posted on March 14, 2020 by Gabriel

I bought this domain at least a year ago and sadly have not yet used it well.   Part of this was economic trouble, I had lost my job and had to focus on finding new work.  There was also some spiritual upheaval in this time.  Which brings us to Dante:

“Midway along the journey of our life

I woke to find myself in a dark wood,

for I had wondered off from the strait path . . .

a bitter place!  Death could scare be bitterer

But if I would show the good that came of it

I must talk about things other than the good.” (The Portable Dante Canto I Inferno)

Things other than the good.  No kidding.  The first part of this “Comedy” is a journey into hell.  But in scripture we find something similar:

“And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” At once the Spirit drove him out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him. (NABRE Mk 1:11-13)”

Even Jesus begins his mission by first facing Satan, the ‘prince’ of Hell.

And in my life?  The past few months of spiritual darkness have done me good.  I have learned to rediscover my faith, I have re-established old friendships, I have forced myself to ask myself hard spiritual questions I had been avoiding.

In the physical life “no pain no gain” is the mantra of coaches.  The same is true in the spiritual life.  So this Lent ask yourself, whatever darkness you are facing, is there a way to turn it into a journey towards God?

One of my goals for this Lent is to blog my way through Dante’s Inferno.  This book is one part summa theologica in verse, one part spiritual autobiography and one part The Odyssey with a Catholic tint.  From the themes in the Inferno I will blog on various topics in Catholic Theology and philosophy.    I will also be bringing in Aquinas, who inspired the name of this blog. The goal will be one post a week.  In meantime, here is a tongue-and-cheek intro to Dante:

Overly Sarcastic Productions is my second favorite YouTube Channel, next to Bishop Barron.

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