Papacy – A Saint
by modestinus
If there is a Saint to turn to in light of Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to abdicate the Papal throne, St. Celestine V is it. Dante be damned.
If there is a Saint to turn to in light of Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to abdicate the Papal throne, St. Celestine V is it. Dante be damned.
Some options would be better than others: http://imgur.com/v1mucHo
In all fairness to Dante, the lines to which you most probably object say only:
Poscia ch’io v’ebbi alcun riconosciuto,
vidi e conobbi l’ombra di colui
che fece per viltade il gran rifiuto
or if you prefer
When some among them I had recognized,
I looked, and I beheld the shade of him
Who made through cowardice the great refusal.
If I understand correctly, it was Dante’s son and later critics that laid these lines to the blessed saint.
And as I recall, the religion to which you now ascribe tends to think poorly about wishing another person damned. Something about mortal sin, and all that.
And, wishing you a happy Fat Tuesday (which I am enjoying in this cold evening with a cup of mulled wine), I am
Very truly yours,
B.
It’s more of a pop expression than anything.
Most Dante scholars agree that it refers to Celestine V.