Sermons on the Song of Songs

Therefore if “the winter is now past,” and “the rain over and gone,” if “the flowers have appeared in our land,” and if, finally, the vernal mildness (so to speak) of spiritual grace warns us that “the time of pruning has come,” what remains but to devote all our energies henceforth to this work, so holy and so necessary? “Let us search our ways,” as the Prophet Jeremias counsels. Let us search our affections as well. And let each of us consider that he has made progress, not when he finds nothing to be reprehended, but rather when he reprehends what he finds. Then only you have not examined yourselves in vain, when you have understood the need of yet another scrutiny. For you have not been deceived in your investigation, if it has left you persuaded of the necessity of repeating it. And if you are always willing to prune yourselves whenever you see the need of it, you shall certainly be always pruning. Therefore be ever mindful of your dependence on heaven’s help and on the mercy of the Bridegroom of the Church, Jesus Christ Our Lord, Who is over all things, God blessed for ever. Amen.