Raging at Reality: The Sins of Violence in Dante’s Inferno Artwork

Mystagogy

In a tradition that dates back to the first centuries of Christianity, many newly initiated Christians were prepared for lives of faith through a formation with spiritual, liturgical, and communitarian dimensions. This period of formation was called mystagogy, a word which, in Greek, means "leading through the mysteries." Our program of mystagogy will have four primary goals: 1) To break open Magisterial teaching on the lay state (selections from Vatican II as well as letters/encyclicals from recent popes) as well as classic spiritual texts to build a thoughtful, practical devotional life; 2) To introduce the various spiritual charisms in the Church (i.e. Dominican, Carmelite, Franciscan, Salesian, etc.) so that they may develop a personal program of spirituality rooted in the uniquely Catholic legacy; 3) To deepen the prayer life through study, communal prayer, the practice of meditation, Mass, and the Liturgy of the Hours; and 4) To establish a fully Catholic life and mission, including a formation in the art of the Church, the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, and the commitment to a specific personal work of service.

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Mystagogy

Raging at Reality: The Sins of Violence in Dante’s Inferno

March 26, 2023 • Barbara Nicolosi Harrington • Season 3 • Episode 3

We continue our tour through Dante’s Inferno by examining the levels of hell reserved to sins of violence. Specifically, we discuss Cantos IX-XV.

To supplement your reading, there are a myriad of dramatic versions of the Inferno online. If you would like to hear the actual text of Canto X in the original Italian with some great Medieval graphics, click here. There is also a very helpful presentation on Canto X with English subheadings here.

The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.

This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

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Intro:

Hello and welcome to the Mystagogy podcast, hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, VA.

In Greek, the word mystagogy means "leading through the mysteries." In the earliest centuries of Christianity, mystagogy referred to the practice of helping Christians to appreciate more deeply the Christian mysteries into which they had been initiated by baptism, confirmation and reception of the Eucharist.

This present program of mystagogy is being developed and taught by Barbara Nicolosi Harrington, a university professor of screenwriting, cinema, Great Books and theology.

In today's presentation, Barbara discusses the sins of violence in cantos 9 through 15 of Dante's Inferno.

Outro:

Thanks for joining us for this episode of the Mystagogy podcast.

The music for the podcast is provided by George Sarah. Learn more about his music in the show notes.

Until next time, be well and God bless.

People on this episode

Barbara Nicolosi Harrington

Host