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 In the middle of the journey of our life, I came to myself within a dark wood where the straight way was lost.
The poet Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) was born in Florence, Italy, the son of a notary. Dante first saw Beatrice in 1274 when he was nine years old, and she became the inspiration for his later poetic works. Her death in 1290 was a profound shock to Dante. He was a soldier for a while and entered politics, in which he sided with the enemies of Pope Boniface VIII. He was eventually banished from Florence. His best known work is The Divine Comedy – the poet's imaginary journey to hell and purgatory.
About the Pioneers of the Spirit Collection
Throughout history a few special individuals have felt a spiritual longing so profound that nothing could satisfy their hunger. Facing uncharted territory, they mapped their own souls, seeking that mystical place where the self meets the divine. We call them Pioneers of the Spirit.
Each biographical profile in this series weaves together excerpts from the personal writings of each mystic, dramatic artwork, expert commentary, and a compelling narration focusing on the relevance of each pioneer to contemporary times.
Pioneers of the Spirit Collection:
Augustine of Hippo
Hildegard of Bingen
Ignatius Loyola
Julian of Norwich
Teresa of Avila | 
