Dante understood Aquinas: The prime mover is not pushy; He/it is not the first domino that knocks down all the others.
He is Beautiful and Beauty in Himself, Glorious and Triune Glory, and by His beauty He arouses desire, which moves us toward Him.
That is why people in the depths of Hell are immobile; they have moved beyond desire for God. That is why people in Paradise dance eternally, because they are moved by nothing but their pure desire for God.
Of Roots and Adventures
I have lived in Ohio, Michigan, Georgia (twice), Pennsylvania, Alabama (also twice), England, and Idaho. I left…
Our Most Popular Articles of 2025
It’s been a big year for First Things. Our website was completely redesigned, and stories like the…
Our Year in Film & Television—2025
First Things editors and writers share the most memorable films and TV shows they watched this year.…