"Let him kiss me with kisses of his mouth! More delightful is your love than wine!"
Thus begins the Canticle of Canticles, one of the most beautiful books of Scripture. Attributed to Solomon, this inspired love song in the Old Testament represents the love between Christ and Our Lady, His Church and, more specifically, faithful souls. However, some are unaware of this traditional representation established by Holy Mother Church, and, consequently, take the strong love expressions literally and nothing more.
Many saints, particularly St. Teresa of Avila, have written about the Canticle of Canticles, trying to aright the distorted viewpoints of this book. Nevertheless, despite the saints' noteworthy efforts, some people still believe that the Canticle of Canticles is unfitting for many occasions and safer to read only privately. Though to these people the amorous Canticle of Canticles seems unfitting, the love displayed in its dramatic expressions is indeed only part of the extent of love between Christ and the perfect soul. However, it is a beautiful, unashamed love worthy of the exchange of holy thoughts on its mysteries.
Since God is infinite, the love between Him and the perfect soul is infinitely beautiful. However, this love is only imperfectly expressed in the words of the Canticle of Canticles, for our finite language is incapable of expressing the language of heaven. Nevertheless, this goal is attempted and can hardly be surpassed by other theologians. From the very beginning of the Canticle of Canticles, we realize that the soul is taken with the love of Christ when she begins the song with the words: "Let him kiss me with kisses of his mouth! More delightful is your love than wine!" The Divine Spouse in turn begins His chorus: "Ah, you are beautiful, my beloved, ah, you are beautiful; your eyes are doves!"
The song is filled with such beautiful love expressions from Christ to His bride, and rightly so, for, "there is no exaggeration of words whereby He might prove His love for us, which He has not exceeded by deeds," notes St. Teresa of Avila in "The Way of Perfection, and Conceptions of Divine Love." If this is the case, then we should imitate the boldness of the bride in the Canticles, who in turn imitates the boldness of Christ. This will inflame and enrich the beauty of the loving harmonies passing between Christ and the soul.
If the love between Christ and the perfect soul is so beautiful, then we should make use of the expressions in the Canticle of Canticles and not be ashamed of their strength and ardor. Even though the words are ever so bold, they are but a poor representation of reality.
St. Teresa of Avila says that it is "owing to our having too little practice in the love of God, which makes us think a soul cannot speak with God in such expressions." The words of the Canticle of Canticles are inspired by the Holy Spirit, she says, and no one should be ashamed of them. It is the baser impulse which gives rise to shame of this kind since to be ashamed of the Word is to be ashamed of God who is the Word. The Word is Eternal and thus is beneficial to souls of all ages, countries and times. Therefore, thinking that the Canticle of Canticles is merely an out-of-date love song of Solomon is incorrect. We must resist shrinking from in-depth conversations and lectures on this song just because the subject may be uncomfortable. We must set our feet on this steep mountain, for as we near the peak our understanding will increase – and with it our love for God.
For the sake of the beauty and truth in the Canticle of Canticles, it is well that this inspired book hold the central theme of spiritual conversations to unite souls more closely to the aim of life: the love of God. The Canticles describes so well this love that it demands our attention and discussion about the mysteries contained within its pages. With sorrow St. Teresa of Avila points out that people "neglect considering the great mysteries contained in those words, which are inspired by the Holy Ghost." However, voicing personal meditations to fellow travelers on the road to holiness actually matures our musings, developing them more quickly by the exchange of ideas. Then, with a better understanding of the love of God, the soul imitates the bride of the Canticle of Canticles by the natural increase of her own love towards Him.
Overall, the beautiful mysteries contained in the Canticle of Canticles speak of the love between Christ and His bride – an unfathomably beautiful, unashamed love from which we should share our fruitful meditations. Sadly, the world today is desperately lacking in true love. As lights to the world, we members of Holy Mother Church must imitate the love displayed in the Canticles and promote a similar, holy, charitable affection among our fellow exiles of this world. The goal of this life is heaven and the means: imitating the Divine Love only imperfectly expressed in the divine love song, the Canticle of Canticles.
Jyllian Carter is a parishioner of St. Ann Church and is the eldest of nine siblings. For several years, she has been an aspirant of the Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in Elysburg, Pa., and hopes to become a postulant after high school graduation in 2016. This month the Catholic Church is celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Carmelite reformer, St. Teresa of Avila.