Title: Doré's White Rose - Illustration to Dante's Divine Comedy, Paradiso by Gustave Doré. Plate 34. Dante and Beatrice and the Heavenly Host of Angels (Canto 31: The Saintly Throng in the Form of a Rose)
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Friday, June 15, 2007
Puzzle by Nancy Joline, edited by Will Shortz
MESSENGERS (66A Angels) is as good a topic as any in this standard Friday crossword puzzle. The word "Angel" is taken from the Greek word "Angelos" which means "Messenger".
Angels are those souls who from the beginning of creation never lost contact with the Creator, never had physical lives, and seek only to fulfill the will of the Creator. They came into being as a link between the Creator and humanity. They bring us messages to guide and protect us. Though they usually do not remain with one person exclusively, they can come to you when you call them.
Existing entirely at the will and in the service of God, the angel is frequently dispatched to earth to deliver some important revelation or declaration, usually having much impact upon the lives of the recipients. Aside from the other tasks given to them in relating to earthly affairs, angels are mentioned frequently in the Bible in the ministering role of messengers. While angels have many other duties in tradition, both in heaven and on earth, their role as messengers is still one central to their existence, serving to remind an often forgetful world that God loves all of his Creation and is concerned for its well-being.
One of six 10-letter entries, MESSENGERS is joined in that letter-count by HOROSCOPER (61A One who deals in futures), ERECTORSET (64A Construction equipment), GRANOLABAR (1A Energy source), RENONEVADA (15A Home of the National Automobile Museum), and EVITAPERON (17A First lady who was once a prominent radio actress).
The 10-letter entries are far outnumbered by the 8-letter and 7-letter entries: SINECURE (34A Political payoff, perhaps), OLDTIMER (39A Pops), ADOANNIE (9D "Oklahoma!" girl), PETSTORE (37D Place with cages), GRENADE (1D Pineapple, e.g.), REVOKES (2D Takes back), ANIMALS (3D Brutes), BARRIOS (8D En estos lugares se habla espanol), VANUATU (12D "Survivor" setting, 2004), PLASTER (13D Drub), SIGNORE (14D Gentleman of Verona), ENVELOP (21D Wrap), SYRIANS (29D Modern dwellers of ancient Ebla), OPENBAR (39D Where drinks aren't on you), LABELLE (40D Singer with the 1975 #1 hit "Lady Marmalade"), DUSTUPS (41D Scraps), RETIRES (42D Turns in), TRAIPSE (44D Tramp), REDDEER (45D Highlands relative of an elk), and ASSERTS (46D Maintains) -- totalling four eight-letter and 16 seven-letter entries.
A wonderful criss-crossing of long entries permeates this crossword puzzle grid and only relents with eight six-letter entries, AVENUE (7D Pennsylvania, e.g.), EOCENE (26D Dawn-of-mammals epoch), TATTLE (28D Tell), ENRAGE (20A Tick off), CONTRA (43A Sandinista's foe), ESSAYS (32A Two Ralph Waldo Emerson collections), SATIRE (56A "Gulliver's Travels," e.g.), and DUROCS (49 Some hogs); six five-letter entries, LEPER (6D Object of a miracle of Jesus), NEATO, VOTER, PAULA, EBSEN and DESTE, sixteen four-letter entries, NOTE, RANG, MVPS, CALI, SNAG, NOME, RUIN, TRAP, ERLE, STUD, BIDE, BLUE, ALPS, REST, BORG and AHEM; with a mere ten three-letter entries (the "happenstancers") ONA, MCS, AKA, EON, SAM, NRC, TED, ADS, NET, and CON.
I believe it is important to listen to our MESSENGERS -- even today one saved me from my ultimate demise! If not, you could not read this now.
Nancy Joline has constructed a beautiful crossword puzzle, full of the past, the present and the future, neatly and compactly interlocked in a tight and economical grid of much variety with multiple messages -- what more could a mortal ask?
Hallelujah!
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To go to original post with illustrations and puzzle grid, click on title at the beginning of commentary.
