Commentary Par IX 7

This is the first appearance of the word vita when it has the meaning 'living soul' in the poem.  It is used 23 times in Inferno with its usual meaning ('life,' in various senses), and then 24 times in Purgatorio.  In Paradiso it is used 32 times in all, but, to indicate a soul in grace, only here (of Charles) and then of five other denizens of Heaven, as follows:[Par XII 127] (Bonaventura), [Par XIV 6] (Thomas), [Par XX 100] (Trajan), [Par XXI 55] (Peter Damian), and [Par XXV 29] (James).  Gragnolati (Grag.2005.1), p. 242, n. 5, is simply incorrect when he states that the 'same term "vita" is used throughout the Comedy to define the human soul.'