God’s providence is understood in Paradiso as God’s purpose and will working in various ways throughout his diverse creation, always with the ultimate goal of drawing his creatures back into union with himself. The sheer variety and differentiation of natural creation is evidence of God’s providence. One example within humanity is the differing personalities and talents of St. Francis and St. Dominic—God sanctioned both men to correct and lead the Church through perilous times using their own unique abilities.
Providence Quotes in Paradiso
The Paradiso quotes below are all either spoken by Providence or refer to Providence. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Canto 33
Quotes
Grace, in all plenitude, you dared me set
my seeing eyes on that eternal light
so that all seeing there achieved its end.
Within in its depths, this light, I saw, contained,
bound up and gathered in a single book,
the leaves that scatter through the universe –
beings and accidents and modes of life,
as though blown all together in a way
that what I say is just a simple light.
Related Characters:
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Explanation and Analysis:
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Providence Term Timeline in Paradiso
The timeline below shows where the term Providence appears in Paradiso. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Canto 8
Charles Martel replies, explaining that God’s providence works through creation in various ways. If this were not true, then the cosmos would...
(full context)
Canto 9
...though, souls no longer lament over their past sins but instead rejoice in God’s governing providence, which beautifully transforms their earthly inclinations. He then points out the soul of Rahab, who...
(full context)
Canto 11
Aquinas explains that God, in his providence, provided two “princes” who would help guide the Bride of Christ (the Church) to her...
(full context)
Canto 27
...Church’s faithful beginning has deteriorated in this way. But he has hope that, in God’s providence, a rescuer, whom he likens to Scipio, will soon emerge. Peter urges Dante not to...
(full context)
