Sermons on the Song of Songs

But as for you, my brethren, when you hear or read these words of the Spirit of God, do you think you can apply to yourselves any part of what is said? Does it ever seem to you that you recognise in your own experiences something of the Bride’s felicity which the Holy Ghost Himself celebrates in this Canticle of love? If not, then of you also it may be said that you “hear His voice, but you know not whence He cometh and whither He goeth.” Perchance you also long for the repose of contemplation. You do well. But do not forget the flowers wherewith, as you read, the bed of the Spouse ought to be decorated. Therefore do you likewise take care to bestrew with the flowers of good works the nuptial couch of your own consciences, making the practise of virtue to precede the holy quiet of contemplation, as the blossom precedes the fruit. For if you seek repose without being well exercised in labour, your rest will be only the lazy lolling of the luxurious: neglecting the fruitfulness of Lia, you will abandon yourselves to the delightful but unprofitable embraces of Rachel. Besides, it is altogether contrary to right order to demand the reward before you have earned it, to desire to eat before you have laboured. “If any man will not work,” writes the Apostle, “neither let him eat.” And the Psalmist, “By (obedience to) Thy commandments I have had understanding.” We are thus given to understand that it is only by observing the commandments we can make ourselves worthy to taste the sweetness of contemplation. Do not imagine, then, that the satisfaction of your private devotion should be allowed to withdraw you in the very slightest from the practice of holy obedience or from following the traditions of the fathers. Otherwise, the Beloved will certainly refuse to take His repose with you. Especially when He finds the couch you have prepared for Him littered with the hemlock and nettles of self-will, instead of the sweet-smelling flowers of obedience. Consequently, He will not hear your prayers, nor will He come to you when you call upon Him. For such a Lover of obedience as He, Who chose to die rather than to disobey, will undoubtedly give Himself only with reserve to the soul that is unsubmissive. Neither need you expect any blessings on your unprofitable leisure from Him Who has said, through His Prophet, “I have laboured in patience,” alluding to the time when, as an exile from His home in heaven, where alone perfect repose is possible, “He wrought salvation in the midst of the earth.” Rather it is much to be feared that you will bring down upon yourselves those dreadful words of reprobation which sounded of old like a clap of thunder in the ears of the perfidious Jews, “Incense is an abomination to Me. The new moons and the sabbaths and the other festivals I will not abide.” Also, “My soul hateth your new moons and your solemnities; they are become troublesome to Me.” Then the Prophet shall have to lament over you as over Jerusalem, saying, “The enemies have seen her and have mocked at her sabbaths.” For the soul which the Bridegroom rejects becomes the sport of her infernal enemies.

I must here, my brethren, confess my extreme astonishment at the impudence of some amongst us, who, whilst they are throwing the whole house into confusion by their singularities, whilst they are scandalising the community by their impatience, and by their insolence and insubordination showing their contempt for authority, have nevertheless the presumption to invite the Lord of all holiness with importunate solicitation to repose on the polluted bed of their evil consciences. But He has answered them beforehand where He says by His Prophet, “And when you stretch forth your hands I will turn away My eyes from you, and when you multiply your prayers I will not hear.” What? To a bed such as thine, covered not with the flowers of virtue but with the filth of vice, hast thou the temerity to invite the King of Glory? Is it to repose with thee He shall come and not rather to reprove thee? The Centurion, although the sweet perfume of his faith was diffused throughout all Israel, yet, conscious of his unworthiness, begged the Saviour not to enter under his roof. And wouldst thou, polluted as thou art with the filth of every vice, wouldst thou compel Him to enter not thy house, but thy heart? The Prince of the apostles cries out in awe, “Depart from me, O Lord, for I am a sinful man.” And dost thou dare to say, “Come to me, O Lord, for I am holy”? “Be ye all,” writes St. Peter, “of one mind in prayer; love the brotherhood.” And the Vessel of Election, “I will therefore that men pray in every place, lifting up pure hands without anger and contention.” You see, my brethren, how perfectly in accord are the Prince of the apostles and the Doctor of the nations, and how by the inspiration of the same Spirit they both speak of the peace and tranquillity of soul which ought to accompany our prayers. Do thou, therefore, who art a constant source of annoyance to thy brethren, who wagest war on concord, and revoltest from unity, do thou, I say, continue all the day long stretching out thy hands towards the Lord. Thou shalt only have thy labour for thy pains. But perchance you will ask, “What wouldst thou have us to do?” In the first place, you must cleanse your consciences from every stain of anger, dissension, discontent, and jealousy; and you must hasten to exclude from the home of your hearts whatever you may find there to be opposed either to domestic peace or to the obedience which you owe your superiors. Next, it is requisite to adorn the spiritual couch with the flowers of all kinds of good works and holy desires, and to perfume it besides with the odours of the various virtues. I mean to say, “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever modest, whatsoever great, whatsoever holy, whatsoever lovely, whatsoever of good fame, if there be any virtue, if any praise of discipline,” you must take care to “think on these things” and to exercise yourselves in the same. When the bed is thus adorned, then you may with confidence invite the Bridegroom to repose therein, because like the Spouse, you can now truly say to Him at His entrance, “Our bed is flourishing.” That is, your consciences shall be redolent of piety, peace, gentleness, justice, obedience, joy, and humility. So much for the bed.