Though Dante’s Divine Comedy leads its readers through hell, purgatory, and ultimately heaven, the story is about life here and now, as Rod Dreher reminds us in his newest, How Dante Can Save Your Life. “Dante,” says Dreher, “is the ally of every Christian and of every soul that seeks to be more serious about life and how to live it.” And as you might guess from the title, that involves the multifaceted work of salvation.
I’ve just finished How Dante, and what stands out for me is that word work. Grace is a labor, and it’s not one-sided. As Paul says in Philippians, God works in us “to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Salvation is, says Dreher, “a matter of action.” God initiates, but we participate. He starts, and we join.
Read Full Article »