Purgatorio with Heidi White

Purgatorio with Heidi White

From The Classical Mind by Jared Henderson & Wesley Walker

April 28, 2026 · 1h 24m

About this episode

Heidi White joins Fr. Wesley Walker and Dr. Junius Johnson to discuss Dante's Purgatorio and its themes.

In this episode of The Classical Mind , Fr. Wesley Walker and Dr. Junius Johnson welcome back Heidi White to explore the middle canticle of Dante’s Divine Comedy , the Purgatorio . Is Purgatory “cosmic extra innings” or a “cosmic decontamination chamber” for the saved? How do Inferno and Purgatorio differ? Give a listen as Heidi, Junius, and Wesley discuss the moral and structural architecture of Mount Purgatory, specifically the “Order of Love” ( ordo amoris ) that governs the seven terraces and how Dante organizes the capital vices. Endnotes: Heidi: The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis Junius: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis Wesley: “Ash Wednesday” by T.S. Eliot I Because I do not hope to turn again Because I do not hope Because I do not hope to turn Desiring this man's gift and that man's scope I no longer strive to strive towards such things (Why should the agèd eagle stretch its wings?) Why should I mourn The vanished power of the usual reign? Because I do not hope to know The infirm glory of the positive hour Because I do not think Because I know I shall not know The one veritable transitory power Because I cannot drink There, where trees flower, and springs flow…

People in this episode

Hosts: Fr. Wesley Walker, Dr. Junius Johnson

Guest: Heidi White

Topics covered

  • Dante
  • Purgatory
  • Divine Comedy
  • moral architecture
  • capital vices
  • Order of Love

Keywords

  • Purgatorio
  • Dante
  • Inferno
  • Order of Love
  • capital vices
  • cosmic decontamination

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Divine Comedy, The Great Divorce, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Ash Wednesday

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