purificationand it represents the deepest universal truth. Dante’s narrative assumes
the form of a personal vision expressed as a voyage during which Dante
travels himself with the assistance of three guides: Beatrice, Virgil, and
St. Bernard. The poem is set in holy week from Maundy Thursday to
Easter Sunday, a pilgrim’s journey similar to the journey of Christ on
earth, to hell, to purgatory, to heaven, and finally back to earth.
Dante locates purgatory on the earth in the form of a mountain dia-
metrically opposite Jerusalem. Rising toward heaven, an earthly paradise
is located at its summit at the level of innocence that is situated between
the peak of purification in purgatory and the beginning of the glorifica-
tion of heaven. In Dante’s conception, purgatory comprises seven circles
arranged one above the other with circumferences that diminish as one
moves closer to the summit. Souls are purged of one of the seven deadly
sins in each of the circles: pride, envy, wrath, sloth, avarice, gluttony, and
lust. The elected are purged and become more pure as they progress to
the summit of the mountain by three basic means: punishment, medita-
tion on the sin to be purged and its correlative virtue, and prayer. It is
love that serves as the governing principle for the souls in each of the
circles until the love of God is restored in the soul.
Dante’s purgatory contains certain structural features such as a narrow
gate that stands in contrast to the wider gate of hell. Three different col-
ored steps lead to purgatory, and they represent the three acts of the sac-
rament: contrition (white), confession (causes the penitent to turn a deep
purple with shame), and satisfaction (a flaming red of love by which one
is motivated). Throughout the journey through purgatory, hope reigns
supreme, although the soul’s progress depends on help from the living.
The progress of the soul is marked by time whose maximum length of
stay is the interval between death and the Last Judgment.
Further reading: Le Goff (1984)PURIFICATION
To purify something means to transform it into something holy or sacred
from its former status as profane or possibly polluted. Purification sets an
object apart from others, making it complete, whole, unified, and distinct.
Before performing some religious action, it might be necessary to purify
an instrument to be used, a place for a rite, or oneself. Before a Muslim
enters a mosque to pray, he purifies himself, for instance, with water or
clean sand, if he is in a remote location.