Episode 81. Dante Rewrites The Foundational Prayer Of Christianity: PURGATORIO, Canto XI, Lines 1 - 24

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Dante now hears the first of the penitents of Purgatory proper. They're under their boulders, reciting the foundational of Christianity.

Except they're not. They're reciting Dante's rewrite of that prayer.

Join me, Mark Scarbrough, for this curious passage that opens PURGATORIO, Canto XI, in which our poet has the sheer bravado to rewrite the most important prayer in the Christian tradition.

Here are the segments for this episode of WALKING WITH DANTE:

[01:55] My English translation of the passage: PURGATORIO, Canto XI, lines 1 - 24. If you'd like to read along or continue the conversation with me, please scroll down this page.

[04:06] Initial comments about the prayer from the prideful penitents on the first terrace of Purgatory proper.

[09:25] The original statement of the prayer from Matthew 6: 9 - 13 versus Dante's rewrite of it.

[12:55] Dante's additions to this foundational prayer.

[21:39] The controversies Dante writes into this foundational prayer.

[32:29] Two interpretive questions. One, why does Dante feel free to rewrite a ritualized prayer, part of the liturgy itself?

[35:45] Two, what is Dante's ultimate poetic theory? That sacred space creates metaphoric/poetic space which then creates actual/physical reality.

And here’s my English translation of Purgatorio, Canto XI, Lines 1 – 24

“Our father, who remains in heaven,

Not contained there except by the greater love

You have for your first creations on high,

“Praise be your name and your might

From every created thing, as is your due

Whenever we give thanks for your sweet breath.

“Let the peace of your kingdom come to us,

For we can’t get it on our own,

Because it won’t naturally come to us, even with all our ingenuity.

“Just as your angels willingly

Make sacrifices to you, singing Hosanna,

Let people make the same.

“Give our daily manna to us today.

Without it, the one working so hard to move ahead

Only goes backward in this bitter wilderness.

“And as we forgive each one who has done us wrong

To make us suffer, forgive us in your benevolence

And don’t pay attention to our actual merit.

“Don’t tempt our strength, which is easily overwhelmed.

It gives way before the ancient adversary.

Keep it free from the one who goads us.

“This last prayer, our precious Lord,

Is not made for ourselves—because there’s no need—

But for the ones who we have left behind.”