On Sept. 14, students dressed in red to commemorate 14th-century poet Dante Alighieri. Sept. 14 marked the 705th anniversary of Dante’s death in 1321, and Beloved First Truth household encouraged students to celebrate “Dante Day” by wearing red.  

Dante is most famous for his poem “The Divine Comedy,” which takes the reader on an allegorical journey through Dante’s own life. The poem is divided into three sections: “Inferno,” “Purgatorio” and “Paradiso.” Each section of the poem accompanies Dante in his journey through hell (“Inferno”), purgatory (“Purgatorio”) and finally heaven (“Paradiso”).“Inferno” is the most widely known of the three sections.  

For the first half of the journey, Dante is led by the Roman poet Virgil. In the latter half, Dante is led by Beatrice, a woman he loved who tragically died.  

Aidan Mohr, a junior majoring in theology and catechetics, says that “Inferno” is a “great commentary on the moral life.” Having read the “Inferno,” Mohr says that the poem exposes the details of sin, especially the “downward spiral of sin.” Mohr notes that reading “Inferno” has helped him in his personal life.   

Mohr praises Dante’s writing style, saying that “Dante is a comedian.” He also says that Dante writes with beautiful clarity and simplicity.  

Although Dante has long since passed, his memory lives on in his incredible writings and in celebrations like Franciscan’s “Dante Day.”