Commentary Par XXVI 9-12

The protagonist's blindness, John assures him, is but temporary.  For the reference, see Acts 9:10-18, where Ananias, a disciple of Christ, is sent to cure Saul of his blindness.  Once he does so, Paul begins to preach Jesus Christ.  This is thus the pivotal moment in the life of Saul/Paul.  While Beatrice, bringing back Dante's sight, is thus Ananias-like, there is much less at stake here, and the comparison may seem at least a bit overblown.  Gaffney (Gaff.1973.1) argues that Dante abandons Thomistic precepts here and turns to the Platonic-Augustinian tradition, particularly as available in Saint Bonaventure's Itinerarium mentis in Deum.  This, according to Gaffney, represents a further stage in his spiritual progress, a stage corresponding to the second category of contemplation, of 'what is within the soul,' according to Bonaventure's distinctions.  His vision restored and spiritually re-directed, the Pilgrim eventually enters the third category of contemplation, that 'above the soul.'