In the texts The Divine Comedy, On Law Morality and Politics, and Revelations of Divine Love, there is a central theme of divine justice. In Dante’s Inferno, divine justice is God’s will for mankind and the order of the universe. In Saint Thomas Aquinas’ text, divine justice is the consequence of straying away from divine law. Finally, in Julian of Norwich’s work, the purpose of divine justice is to earn God’s mercy and eventually reside in his presence. Using different understandings of divine law and justice, each author is uniquely able to convey a similar message – mankind’s purpose is to achieve salvation and be in God’s grace.
In Dante’s The Divine Comedy, the nature of justice seems to be impartial and unexempt from anyone. Specifically, …show more content…
There is human law, eternal law, natural law, and divine law. Human law is “an ordinance of rulers for their subjects” (Q. 94 p. 10). Eternal law is “God’s plan of creation, which directs the actions of creatures to their appointed ends (Q. 92 p. 10). Natural law is “God’s plan for human beings communicated to them by reason” (Q. 93 p. 10). Divine law “refers to special revelation” (Q. 91 p. 16). The main role of divine law is to serve as a guideline for the rest of the laws that follow. Divine law, a derivation of eternal law, is also the basis of divine justice. Divine justice, a consequence of disobeying God’s eternal law, in turn is only possible because there is a divine law. Corresponding to divine law, the purpose of human law is for mankind to aim for virtue. Aquinas also argues, “In addition to the natural law and human laws, divine law was necessary to give direction to human law” (Q. 91 A. 4 p. 21). Since we are condemned to sin, human laws help to govern our lives and give us a sense of direction towards our true goal. Ancillary to his statement, Aquinas gives four reasons why divine law is necessary. He noted that, “First, indeed, law directs our acts in relation to our ultimate end… Second, because of the uncertainty of human judgement, different persons judge human actions differently…” (Q. 91 A. 4 p. 21). In correspondence, he stated, “Third, human beings can make laws regarding things they are able to judge… Fourth, human laws cannot punish or prohibit evil deeds” (Q. 91 A. 4 p. 21). All four explanations express the importance of divine law in relation to human laws and their inability to inflict appropriate punishments. Human law and justice system also doesn’t possess the power to exercise the suitable punishment for each sin. Such abilities only lie within God’s divine law and