"rosa sempiterna" (eternal rose),
In Dante's Paradiso, ot appears in the Empyrean, the highest realm of Paradise that exists beyond time and space, where God resides. The rose is formed from a ray of light reflected off the outer surface of the Primum Mobile, which then expands into a vast, radiant white rose with more than a thousand tiers. The rose is not merely a visual image but a theological representation of the unity of all the redeemed, including saints, martyrs, apostles, and even children, all united in the vision of God. The Virgin Mary is positioned at the center of the rose, symbolizing her role as queen of Heaven and the embodiment of divine grace. The petals of the rose are the thrones of the blessed, and the souls within them are depicted as glowing with divine light, in communion with God. Angels, described as sparks leaping into and out of the river of light that flows through the rose, serve as messengers of divine grace, reinforcing the rose’s role as a living symbol of divine love and spiritual hierarchy. Dante’s vision of the rose is the culmination of his journey through Paradise, marking the transition from theological understanding to direct contemplation of the divine. After Beatrice, his guide, returns to her place within the rose, the theologian Bernard of Clairvaux takes over as his guide, leading Dante to pray to Mary for the strength to see the ultimate vision of God. The rose thus serves as both a physical and spiritual structure through which Dante experiences the divine, culminating in his vision of the Holy Trinity as three circles of equal circumference, symbolizing the mystery of the Incarnation. This final vision, described as a flash of grace, transcends human understanding and marks the end of both the poem and Dante’s spiritual journey.
From Paradiso Canto 30
This canto introduces the Celestial Rose as Dante transitions from a river of light to the vision of the blessed.
- Verses 109–117
- Verses 124–126
Italian:
E come clivo in acqua di suo imo
si specchia, quasi per vedersi addorno,
quando è nel verde e ne’ fioretti opimo,
sì, soprastando al lume intorno intorno,
vidi specchiarsi in più di mille soglie
quanto di noi là sù fatto ha ritorno.
E se l’infimo grado in sé raccoglie
sì grande lume, quanta è la larghezza
di questa rosa ne l’estreme foglie!
English:
And as a hill is mirrored
in waters at its base, as if to see
itself—when rich with grass and flowers—graced,
so, in a thousand tiers that towered above
the light, encircling it, I saw, mirrored,
all of us who have won return above.
And if the lowest rank ingathers such
vast light, then what must be the measure of
this Rose where it has reached its highest leaves!
Context: Dante describes the Rose as a mirrored, tiered structure reflecting the souls who have ascended to heaven, emphasizing its immense scale and luminosity.
Italian:
Nel giallo de la rosa sempiterna,
che si digrada e dilata e redole
odor di lode al sol che sempre verna,
English:
Into the yellow of the eternal Rose
that slopes and stretches and diffuses fragrance
of praise unto the Sun of endless spring,
Context: Beatrice draws Dante into the heart of the Rose, depicted as eternal and expanding, offering praise to the divine light.
From Paradiso Canto 31
Here, Dante beholds the full form of the Rose, with angels moving like bees among the blessed souls.
- Verses 1–3
- Verses 7–12
- Verses 16–18
- Verses 94–99
- Verses 121–123
Italian:
In forma dunque di candida rosa
mi si mostrava la milizia santa
che nel suo sangue Cristo fece sposa;
English:
So, in the shape of that white Rose, the holy
legion was shown to me—the host that Christ,
with His own blood, had taken as His bride.
Context: The Rose is revealed as a white, radiant formation of the saints, symbolizing the Church Triumphant united with Christ.
Italian:
sì come schiera d’ape che s’infiora
una fïata e una si ritorna
là dove suo laboro s’insapora,
nel gran fior discendeva che s’addorna
di tante foglie, e quindi risaliva
là dove ’l süo amor sempre soggiorna.
English:
just like a swarm of bees that, at one moment,
enters the flowers and, at another, turns
back to that labor which yields such sweet savor,
descended into that vast flower graced
with many petals, then again rose up
to the eternal dwelling of its love.
Context: Angels are likened to bees pollinating the Rose, sharing peace and ardor among the souls, illustrating dynamic divine love.
Italian:
Quando scendean nel fior, di banco in banco
porgevan de la pace e de l’ardore
ch’elli acquistavan ventilando il fianco.
English:
When they climbed down into that flowering Rose,
from rank to rank, they shared that peace and ardor
which they had gained, with wings that fanned their sides.
Context: The angels distribute divine gifts throughout the Rose's ranks.
Italian:
E ’l santo sene: «Acciò che tu assommi
perfettamente», disse, «il tuo cammino,
a che priego e amor santo mandommi,
vola con li occhi per questo giardino;
ché veder lui t’acconcerà lo sguardo
più al montar per lo raggio divino.»
English:
And he, the holy elder, said: 'That you
may consummate your journey perfectly—
for this, both prayer and holy love have sent me
to help you—let your sight fly round this garden;
by gazing so, your vision will be made
more ready to ascend through God’s own ray.'
Context: Saint Bernard urges Dante to survey the Rose (called a "garden") to prepare for the beatific vision.
Italian:
così, quasi di valle andando a monte
con li occhi, vidi parte ne lo stremo
vincer di lume tutta l’altra fronte.
English:
so, as if climbing with my eyes from valley
to summit, I saw one part of the farthest
rank of the Rose more bright than all the rest.
Context: Dante's gaze ascends through the Rose's tiers to its brightest section.
From Paradiso Canto 32
Saint Bernard guides Dante through the Rose's hierarchy, detailing its divisions and inhabitants.
- Verses 13–15
- Verses 16–21
- Verses 22–27
- Verses 28–36
- Verses 37–39
- Verses 40–48
- Verses 118–120 & 127–129 (combined for context)
Italian:
puoi tu veder così di soglia in soglia
giù digradar, com’io ch’a proprio nome
vo per la rosa giù di foglia in foglia.
English:
these you can see, from rank to rank as I,
in moving through the Rose, from petal
unto petal, give to each her name.
Context: Bernard names the souls petal by petal, highlighting the Rose's layered structure.
Italian:
E dal settimo grado in giù, sì come
infino ad esso, succedono Ebree,
dirimendo del fior tutte le chiome;
perché, secondo lo sguardo che fée
la fede in Cristo, queste sono il muro
a che si parton le sacre scalee.
English:
And from the seventh rank,
just as they did within the ranks above,
the Hebrew women follow—ranging downward—
dividing all the tresses of the Rose.
They are the wall by which the sacred stairs
divide, depending on the view of Christ
with which their faith aligned.
Context: The Hebrew women form a partition in the Rose based on faith in Christ.
Italian:
Da questa parte onde ’l fiore è maturo
di tutte le sue foglie, sono assisi
quei che credettero in Cristo venturo;
da l’altra parte onde sono intercisi
di vòti i semicirculi, si stanno
quei ch’a Cristo venuto ebber li visi.
English:
Upon one side,
there where the Rose is ripe, with all its petals,
are those whose faith was in the Christ to come;
and on the other side—that semicircle
whose space is broken up by vacant places—
sit those whose sight was set upon the Christ
who had already come.
Context: The Rose is divided into semicircles for pre- and post-Incarnation believers.
Italian:
E come quinci il glorïoso scanno
de la donna del cielo e li altri scanni
di sotto lui cotanta cerna fanno,
così di contra quel del gran Giovanni,
che sempre santo ’l diserto e ’l martiro
sofferse, e poi l’inferno da due anni;
e sotto lui così cerner sortiro
Francesco, Benedetto e Augustino
e altri fin qua giù di giro in giro.
English:
And just as on
this side, to serve as such a great partition,
there is the throne in glory of the Lady
of Heaven and the seats that range below it,
so, opposite, the seat of the great John—
who, always saintly, suffered both the desert
and martyrdom, and then two years of Hell—
serves to divide; below him sit, assigned
to this partition, Francis, Benedict,
and Augustine, and others, rank on rank,
down to this center of the Rose.
Context: Key figures like Mary, John the Baptist, and saints anchor the Rose's divisions.
Italian:
Or mira l’alto proveder divino:
ché l’uno e l’altro aspetto de la fede
igualmente empierà questo giardino.
English:
Now see
how deep is God’s foresight: both aspects of
the faith shall fill this garden equally.
Context: The Rose (as "garden") balances both facets of faith through divine providence.
Italian:
E sappi che dal grado in giù che fiede
a mezzo il tratto le due discrezioni,
per nullo proprio merito si siede,
ma per l’altrui, con certe condizioni:
ché tutti questi son spiriti asciolti
prima ch’avesser vere elezioni.
Ben te ne puoi accorger per li volti
e anche per le voci püerili,
se tu li guardi bene e se li ascolti.
English:
And know that there, below the transverse row
that cuts across the two divisions, sit
souls who are there for merits not their own,
but—with certain conditions—others’ merits;
for all of these are souls who left their bodies
before they had the power of true choice.
Indeed, you may perceive this by yourself—
their faces, childlike voices, are enough,
if you look well at them and hear them sing.
Context: The lower ranks hold baptized infants, seated by others' merits, evident in their childlike appearance.
Italian:
Ma vieni omai con li occhi sì com’ io
andrò parlando, e nota i gran patrici
di questo imperio giustissimo e pio.
Quei due che seggon là sù più felici
per esser propinquissimi ad Agusta,
son d’esta rosa quasi due radici:
...
così quella pacifica oriafiamma
nel mezzo s’avvivava, e d’ogne parte
per igual modo allentava la fiamma;
English:
But follow with your eyes even as I
proceed to speak, and note the great patricians
of this most just and merciful empire.
Those two who, there above, are seated, most
happy to be so near the Empress, may
be likened to the two roots of this Rose:
...
so did the peaceful oriflamme appear
brightest at its midpoint, so did its flame,
on each side, taper off at equal pace.
Context: Adam and Peter are described as roots of the Rose, with its light brightest at the center near Mary (the Empress).
From Paradiso Canto 33
The Rose is referenced metaphorically in Saint Bernard's prayer to Mary, as Dante approaches the final vision of God.
- Verses 7–9
Italian:
per lo cui caldo ne l’etterna pace
così è germinato questo fiore.
English:
That love whose warmth allowed this flower to bloom
within the everlasting peace
Context: In Bernard's prayer, the "fiore" (flower) symbolizes the Celestial Rose, germinated through divine love in Mary's womb, representing Paradise's blossoming.