Dante's Prayer

video by sassygal2007

This haunting song by Loreena McKennitt is soul-stirring and heart breaking. Dante loved Beatrice his entire life, even though she died as a young woman. A poem to her, by Dante:

"Her presence brings ... such felicity, they render thanks to God for this sweet grace. Her beauty has such a wonderful quality it leaves in women's hearts no envious trace ... the sight of her is humbling to all things. Such loveliness is not confined ... no one there is who, calling her to mind, Lost in Love's very sweetness does not sigh." ~ from La Vita Nuova by Dante Alighieri

Lyrics to "Dante's Prayer"

When the dark wood fell before me, and all the paths were overgrown, when the priests of pride say there is no other way, I tilled the sorrows of stone. I did not believe because I could not see, though you came to me in the night. When the dawn seemed forever lost, you showed me your love in the light of the stars.

Cast your eyes on the ocean, cast your soul to the sea. When the dark night seems endless, please remember me.

Then the mountain rose before me, by the deep well of desire, from the fountain of forgiveness, beyond the ice and the fire - cast your eyes on the ocean, cast your soul to the sea.

When the dark night seems endless, please remember me.

Though we share this humble path, alone how fragile is the heart! Oh give these clay feet wings to fly, to touch the face of the stars. Breathe life into this feeble heart; lift this mortal veil of fear, take these crumbled hopes, etched with tears. We'll rise above these earthly cares. Cast your eyes on the ocean, cast your soul to the sea ... When the dark night seems endless, please remember me...