Cassiodorus

In his own words on Song of Solomon

• Song of Solomon 1:2

  You deserve, in fact, to kiss Christ and to maintain forever that beauty which is your virginity, for these words are spoken to you: "Let him kiss me with the kiss of his mouth, for your breasts are better than wine, fragrant with the best ointments" and the other passages which that divine book includes in its mystical proclamation.

  EXPOSITION OF THE PSALMS, PREFACE 17

• Song of Solomon 1:2

  In short, you deserve Christ's kiss and the continuance of your virginal glory forever, for these words are spoken to you: "Let him kiss me with the kiss of his mouth, for your breasts are better than wine, smelling sweet of the best ointments," and the other verses which that divine book includes with its mystical proclamation. - "Exposition of the Psalms, Preface"

• Song of Solomon 1:5

  We read in the Song of Songs of the church which bears the image of the Lord Savior, "I am black and beautiful," that is, black physically and beautiful in heavenly merits. He demonstrates why he used the word beautiful: as Christ put it, the world was reconciled to God through grace. - "Exposition of the Psalms 44.3"

• Song of Solomon 1:5

  Concerning the church which bears the image of the Lord Savior, one reads the following passages in Song of Songs: "I am black and beautiful," that is, black with regard to the physical body, but beautiful because of heavenly merits. Then he shows why he used the term beautiful: as Christ says, the world was reconciled to God by grace.

  EXPOSITION OF THE PSALMS 44:3

• Song of Solomon 2:5

  The church proclaims in the Song of Songs, "I am wounded by love." So the holy people pray to be pierced by the fear of the Lord, so that by dying they may live, whereas earlier by living they were dying.

  EXPOSITION OF THE PSALMS 119:120

• Song of Solomon 4:1

  So they say that these eyes have fainted after the Lord's salvation, because of the holy coming of the incarnation, which they bore with such longing that it could allow them no rest. So they were right to faint, because they had no period of leisure.

  EXPOSITION OF THE PSALMS 119:123

• Song of Solomon 6:10

  You are rightly compared with this figure since you raise your precious head over all races, and you transmit the souls of the just like resplendent stars to the kingdom above. You are a pyramid full of heavenly corn, the blessed gathering of saintly people from diverse nations, the shining assembly of bright minds, a structure that cannot be dismantled since it is fashioned from living stones, the eternal happiness of all who are blessed, brighter than the sun, whiter than snow, without spot or wrinkle. Of you it is written in the Song of Songs: "Who is she that comes forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in array?" - "Exposition of the Psalms, Preface 17"

• Song of Solomon 6:10

  You are properly compared to this figure since you raise up your precious head from all the nations, and you conduct the souls of the just, like exceptional lights to the kingdom above. You are a pyramid filled with heavenly corn, the blessed gathering of saints from many nations, a bright assembly of clear minds, an indestructible building made of living stones, the eternal happiness of all the blessed, brighter than the sun, whiter than snow, without stain, without wrinkle. It is written about you in Song of Songs: "Who is she who comes forth, rising like the dawn, beautiful as the moon, as exceptional as the sun, terrible as an army arrayed for battle?"

  EXPOSITION OF THE PSALMS, PREFACE 17