T. S. 엘리엇은 단테의 『신곡』과 토마스 아퀴나스 신학의 전통을 계승하는 앵글로 가톨릭의 종교 시인이다. 엘리엇은 세 명의 여성으로부터 시신이자 삶의 자극제로서 영향을 받았다. 어린 시절에 엘리엇에게 큰 영향을 끼친 어머니가 느꼈을 배신의 감정에 대한 미안함에 엘리엇은 코리올란이라는 비극적 영웅을 만들었다. 전 부인 비비안에 대한 죄책감은 엘리엇에게 앵글로 가톨릭 신앙의 속죄의 길을 가는 깊은 시련을 주었다. 에밀리 헤일은 엘리엇의 문학의 시신으로 베아트리체였으나 발레리와의 결혼으로 실망을 주었다. 엘리엇은 세 명의 여인들에게 빚진 죄를 참회했다. 엘리엇은 자신이 진 배신의 죄를 초기 시부터 작품에 반영하였다. 『황무지』에는 군대에 간 남편을 배신하는 여인들의 대사가 나오며 『코리올란』은 1편 「개선 행진」과 2편「한 정치가의 어려움」으로 되어 있는데 영웅 코리올란은 오만에 차서 조국과 어머니를 배반했다. 엘리엇은 자신의 분신인 해리와 에드워드로 하여금 그들의 죄를 정화하기 위하여 『가족 재회』와 『칵테일 파티』에서 속죄와 고백성사의 길을 보여 주었다.

It is the aim of this study to explore the theological significance of “the divine light”, expressed in the writings of St. Symeon, the New Theologian. It was understood that the believers of the Eastern Orthodox Church focused on “deification” as the vision of Christian life. It was their belief that the experience of an intimate fellowship and a union with God is crucial on the path toward deification. They also asserted that some believers experienced the divine light, which was often expressed by the icons of the Eastern Orthodox Church. The icons implied that the experience of the divine light was crucial, as it worked deeply within the soul of the believer for deification. St. Symeon, based on his experiences, was a prominent and renowned teacher of “the divine light”. This article outlines the meaning of the divine light in five points. First, the writings of St. Symeon reveal that the divine light is not simply symbolic, but rather as real as the experiences of Jesus and Moses in the Scripture. Those of the Eastern Orthodox Church believed in the literality of these stories, and were convinced that they themselves could undergo such experiences. As a result, many of them, including St. Symeon, experienced the divine light in their earthly lives. Second, the divine light is not permanent, but rather temporal. Because of this temporality, they believed that followers should live a life of thorough obedience to the Scripture. When such a lifestyle is kept, the divine light could be granted again through the grace of God. Third, the divine light is significant for the deification of believers because it is the presence of God. Though there are multiple means through which one might experience the presence of God, the divine light is a particular mean, as it is expressed in the Bible. Fourth, when the believer is blessed by the coming of the divine light upon him or her, said person is filled with the joy of the soul overwhelming all worldly pleasures. This joy functions as a motivation to commit him or herself to a spiritually disciplined life. Finally, the fruit of the divine light is the union with God, and this union is concretely expressed in the daily life of the believer. The believer would then live a life according to the will of God, as well as a life of love regarding one’s neighbor as him or herself.