Cânticos 1
Jerome · Comentário Patrístico (catena)
Cânticos 1:1
Solomon, a lover of peace and of the Lord, corrects morals, teaches nature, unites Christ and the church, and sings a sweet marriage song to celebrate that holy bridal. — LETTER 53.8
Cânticos 1:2
I see two attributes that, by coming together, are made one. Justice and peace have kissed. All this becomes one in the mystery of the Lord Savior, the Son of man and of God who is our truth, kindness, peace, justice, in whom the justice of the first people and the mercy of the second people are joined together into one peace. The apostle says, in fact, "He himself is our peace, he it is who has made both one." This is the mystery for which the church longs and cries out in the Song of Solomon: "Let him kiss me with the kiss of his mouth." This is the kiss of which Paul the apostle says, "Greet one another with a holy kiss." — HOMILIES ON THE PSALMS, ALTERNATE SERIES 64 (PSALM 84)
Cânticos 1:3
"It is as when the precious ointment upon the head runs down over the beard, the beard of Aaron." Oh, if only there were time to explore together each verse; even a day would not suffice! We have read in Exodus the account of how oil is prepared for the anointing of the priest; we have read, too, of the different kind of balm used to anoint kings. There was still another unguent for prophets. What more is there to say? All these oils of unction were different, each with its own spiritual symbolism.… Nothing is ever made sacred except by anointing. It is with this in view that young maidens say in the Song of Solomon, "Your name is a spreading perfume: we will run after you in the odor of your ointments." — HOMILIES ON THE PSALMS 45 (Psalm 132)
Cânticos 1:4
There also—the Lord himself is my witness—when I had shed copious tears and had strained my eyes toward heaven, I sometimes felt myself among angelic hosts and for joy and gladness sang, "Because of the sweet smell of your good ointments, we will run after you." — LETTER 22.7
Cânticos 1:5
Born, in the first instance, of such parentage we are naturally black. Even when we have repented, so long as we have not scaled the heights of virtue, we may still say, "I am black but comely, O daughters of Jerusalem." … "For this cause shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be" not as is there said, "of one flesh" but "of one spirit." Your bridegroom is not haughty or disdainful; he has "married an Ethiopian woman." When once you desire the wisdom of the true Solomon and come to him, he will avow all his knowledge to you; he will lead you into his chamber with his royal hand. He will miraculously change your complexion so that it shall be said of you, "Who is this that goes up and has been made white?" — LETTER 22.1
Cânticos 1:7
I linger long in the land of the midday sun, for it was there and then that the spouse found her bridegroom at rest. — LETTER 108.12
Cânticos 1:7
You see that it is not in the third hour that the spouse dines or reclines but at midday. Where do you dine, where do you rest, where shall I find you, where do you enjoy delights, where can I find you, O my spouse? Do you want to find me? At noon, in perfect knowledge, in good works, in the bright light. Because we have the noonday, that is why the devil disguises himself as an angel of light and pretends that he has the light, that he has the noonday. When heretics promise any pseudo-mysteries, when they promise the kingdom of heaven, when they promise continence, fasts, sanctity, the renunciation of the world, they promise the noonday. But since their midday is not the light of Christ, it is not the noonday but the noonday demon. — HOMILIES ON THE PSALMS 20 (Psalm 90)
Cânticos 1:11-12
Let us hear what the bride says before that the bridegroom comes to earth, suffers, descends to the lower world, and rises again. "We will make for you likenesses of gold with ornaments of silver while the king sits at his table." Before the Lord rose again and the gospel shone, the bride had not gold but likenesses of gold. As for the silver, however, which she professes to have at the marriage, she not only had silver ornaments, but she had them in variety—in widows, in the continent and in the married. Then the bridegroom makes answer to the bride and teaches her that the shadow of the old law has passed away and the truth of the gospel has come. — Against Jovinianus 1.30
Cânticos 1:15
"Ah, you are beautiful, my beloved, ah, you are beautiful: your eyes are doves!" You who are beautiful and strong, because you resemble him of whom it is sung, "In your beauty and your splendor," will hear from your spouse, "Forget your people and your father's house. So shall the king desire your beauty." — HOMILIES ON THE PSALMS, ALTERNATE SERIES 61 (PSALM 15)