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The Narrative Spirituality of Dante’s Divine Comedy: a hundred-day guided journal
The Narrative Spirituality of Dante’s Divine Comedy: a hundred-day guided journal
by Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, OP
The Divine Comedy of Dante Alighieri has captivated the imagination of its readers for over seven centuries as Dante, a pilgrim on a journey to God, is called by Our Blessed Mother through the supernatural realms of the afterlife to witness the state of the souls of the departed. Accompanied first by Virgil, who represents human reason, and later by Beatrice, who represents divine revelation, Dante engages in conversation with souls in Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. Through each engagement, he experiences spiritual growth until he is made ready for the Beatific Vision, which is no less than an experience of the mind of God. Our journey, dear reader, is one that will lead to our own spiritual growth as we, through the grace God freely provides, are prepared to be pure, perfect, and ready for the stars.
585 pages! Includes a prose translation of the entire Divine Comedy by Arthur John Butler, every illustration by Gustav Dore, and lectures and questions for reflection by Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, OP.
Paperback: $29.99 | Kindle: $9.99
“Dr. Sebastian Mahfood has an exceptional grasp of spirituality and the human condition. With this outstanding book, he has made the ‘journey to God’ more relatable and attainable. The coupling of his clarifying, insightful reflections with Dante’s original text provides an excellent stage for the great wisdom, deep spirituality and essential elements for which many of us vigorously search, in this case, to be with God forever. It is an important, fulfilling read.” —Robert Hanley, actor, author of Do You See What I See? Discovering the Obvious and host of The Fireside Fellowship
REVIEWS
Review by Dr Pravin Thevathasan. Christendom Awake! (15 November, 2020). For access to the review, click here.
TESTIMONIALS
“Its journey has some stars. The book is dedicated for Our Blessed Mother without whom that voyage would not be possible. Along it, “the Red Sea’s waters stood aside”. There are especially stars in the sky over us. They are four cardinal virtues, which guide us: prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude. Here this is a great catalyst recalls a lifesaver and beacon, whom is: Mary, the Star of the Sea!” – (Rev.) Vincent A. Salamoni, Missionaries of the Holy Apostles (M.S.A.), author of The Mercy Ocean
“Sad that you never read some of the great classics of Catholic literature? Here’s your chance to try Dante with the help of the sparkling commentary of Sebastian Mahfood, linking the insights of the past to the issues of today.” — Ronda Chervin, Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Philosophy, Holy Apostles College and Seminary
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, OP, is a retired Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies at Holy Apostles College & Seminary in Cromwell, CT. He first studied the Divine Comedy under Dr. Simone Turbeville in the spring of 1991 at the University of Texas in Arlington and began teaching it as literature half a decade later at Texas Christian University in Ft. Worth. It wasn’t until he began studying philosophy and theology at Holy Apostles College & Seminary in Cromwell, CT, that Dr. Mahfood began to see within the Comedy the care Dante took in a very Marian framework to map himself onto the works of Aristotle and St. Thomas among the other philosophers and poets he meets in Limbo and the theologians and Church doctors he meets in Paradise. Dr. Mahfood was prepared by Dante, who was himself a Lay Franciscan, to become a lay member of the Dominican order, which considers study to be an act of prayer.
Ronda Chervin has a Ph.D. in philosophy from Fordham University and an M.A. in Religious Studies from Notre Dame Apostolic Institute. She is a convert to the Catholic faith from a Jewish but atheistic background. She has been a professor at Loyola Marymount University, St. John’s Seminary of the Los Angeles Archdiocese, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Our Lady of Corpus Christi, and presently teaches at Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Connecticut.
Donald DeMarco, author of 28 books, including most recently How to Flourish in a Fallen World and Ten Major Moral Mistakes and How they are Destroying Society, is a Senior Fellow of Human Life International. He is professor emeritus at St. Jerome’s University in Waterloo, Ontario, and an adjunct professor at Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut. He is a regular columnist for St. Austin Review and has written over a hundred articles for the website Truth and Charity. He is a board member of the NY Social Justice Review for Our Lady of Wisdom College in Ontario, Canada, and Corresponding Member of the Pontifical Academy for Life. In June, 2015, he was awarded the prestigious Bishop Exner Award for “Catholic Excellence in Public Life.”
