„For what is the joy of the heart but the draughts of wisdom?” (Ep. 1, 7) – about how Ambrose of Milan described a joy in his letters

Marcin Wysocki

Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II , Poland


Abstract

This article presents the concept of joy in surviving more than 90 letters of St. Ambrose of Milan. As it is clear from the above analysis of St. Ambrose’s letters, he included in them broad and deep reflections on a joy. Certainly the vocabulary that was used by Bishop of Milan to describe the phenomenon of joy reflects the richness of this phenomenon. The variety of topics, context, sources of joy prsented in his letters show the importance of joy in the life and work of the Bishop of Milan. He appreciates the earthly joy, drawing from ordinary, earthly life, but beyond it he submits the spiritual joy, „joy of the heart” (iucundi­tas cordis), which comes from God, the Giver of wisdom.

Keywords:

Ambrose of Milan, joy, letters

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Published
2012-12-15


Wysocki, M. (2012). „Któryż to napój, jeśli nie napój mądrości, jest radością serca?” (Ep. 1, 7), czyli jak opisuje radość św. Ambroży w swoich listach. Vox Patrum, 58, 289–305. https://doi.org/10.31743/vp.4079

Marcin Wysocki 
Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II



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