Słodko-gorzki smak mistyki
The Bittersweet Taste of Mysticism

The Lexis of the Sense of Taste in The Diary by St Faustina Kowalska

Summary/Abstract: The article is of analytical character. Its aim is to discover the meanings which St Faustina attributed to the sense of taste as well as to reveal the levels of metaphorization of the vocabulary she used. The quality and quantity analysis involves the lexis which describes the sweet and bitter tastes – those are actually the only names of tastes indicated by the author of The Diary. As the analysis revealed, most of the vocabulary from this area was used to depict the relationship between the soul and God. The sweet taste served to define God Himself, communing with Him. The bitter taste is associated principally with Lord’s Passion and suffering which Faustina experiences in the intention of the souls. While creating the analogy between the body and the soul, she exploits colloquial vocabulary, combining it with the biblical and liturgical lexis. As she indicates, the soul has also its food – this is God’s will, grace, God’s wisdom and God’s mercy.

• Details
• Contents