A Divine Lent #17: The man who comes here with me bears a weight


A daily reflection during Lent on Dante's The Divine Comedy.

 Canto 11 in Purgatory begins with an expanded Lord's Prayer recited by the souls guilty of pride.  They have inserted lines to emphasize humility.

Thy kingdom come to us with all its peace;
if it come not, we of ourselves cannot
attain to it, no matter how we strive.

Overcoming arrogance and a sense of self-sufficiency is an on-going issue for me; like these soul's, I need to be reminded of my dependence on God.

The souls encountered in the canto exhibit varying degrees of relinquishing their pride, carrying stones proportionate to the lesson required.  Omberto speaks proudly of his family name and for his legacy despite acknowledging that this pride is what has placed him here.  Oderisi is a bit more humble, lamenting the fleeting nature of fame, but still complementing himself as being second best.

Virgil asks directions from these proud souls.

show us how we may find the shortest way
to reach the stairs; if there are many paths,
direct us to the one least steep to climb:

this man who comes here with me bears a weight;
he is invested still with Adam's flesh,
and so, against his will, is slow to climb."

How often I too seek the shortest way or the way least steep.  Just this weekend I was given the choice of Moderate or Rugged path to the same destination at a state park, I chose the Moderate.  It is interesting that Virgil does not ask for the best path, the most effective path, or the most instructive path.  He like me was seeking the least effort for Dante.

Dante bears a weight both literally and figuratively.  Unlike the souls, he has a body that he has to carry.  Like the souls, Dante is also weighed done by pride.  He even bends down to speak with the souls mimicking their posture to learn humility.  Dante expresses to Oderisi,

...Your words of truth have humbled
my heart; they have reduced my swollen pride.

The heavy stones the proud bear, including Dante, remind me of Jesus' words in Matthew 11, "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."  Christ calls to remove the burden of pride by taking on his humility. Not my will, but thine.

May we all this Lent seek to lose the weight our pride, take on the humility of Jesus, and not be slow to climb.


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