The places of Earthly delights and penance of Saint Mary Magdalene in hagiography and sermons in Old polish literature Cover Image

Przestrzenie ziemskich rozkoszy oraz pokuty św. Marii Magdaleny w hagiografii i homiletyce dawnej Polski
The places of Earthly delights and penance of Saint Mary Magdalene in hagiography and sermons in Old polish literature

Author(s): Marzena Golan
Subject(s): Language studies, Language and Literature Studies, Studies of Literature, Theory of Literature
Published by: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Szczecińskiego
Keywords: Mary Magdalene; penance; the baroque novel; hagiography; palace; mirror; speculum; hermitage; cave; dragon

Summary/Abstract: The author of the article attempts to describe the places where Mary Magdalene allegedly dwelled. The hagiographic accounts and old Polish sermons, especially from the Saxon dynasty times, are the baseline for this work. Old Polish literature created three depictions of Mary Magdalene: as a beautiful and sensual sinner, as an ascetic penitent and as a devout mystic. In all these three cases the places where the saint dwelled is very important. Mary Magdalene as a beautiful sinner dwelled in places full of exquisiteness and wealth. A crucial feature here are the attributes of the saint: a mirror and a perfume vial. As a penitent, Mary Magdalene was praised as an example for the sinners looking for conversion. The place Mary Magdalene’s penance became a part of her atonement.

  • Issue Year: 7/2017
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 44-61
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: Polish