Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Song of Solomon 6:11

Eastern Fathers

Cyril of Jerusalem

You wish to know the place? He says in the Canticles, "I came down to the nut garden"; for it was a garden where he was crucified.

Catechetical Lecture 14:5 ↗

Western Saints

Bede

I descended into the garden of nuts, etc. For the garden of nuts is the present Church, where we are scarcely able to perceive each other's consciences. Indeed, nuts are all fruits which are covered with a harder shell; conversely, all soft things are generally called evil. Therefore, the life of the righteous is rightly compared to nuts, where they preserve the sweetness of spiritual fruit in their innermost heart in such a way that they cannot make it known to others, how great it is. …

Commentary on the Song of Songs ↗

Robert of Tombelaine

What do we understand by nuts, if not all the perfect, who while they retain divine wisdom within their bodies, carry as it were a kernel in a fragile shell? For there are very many in the Church who attend constantly to divine Scripture, and tasting how sweet the Lord is, desire to taste yet more; they ruminate on holy joys in their heart, and ruminating they grow stronger more and more. And yet outwardly, to those who do not know them, they appear worthless, because it is unknown what sweet food they carry within their interior. …

Commentary on the Song of Songs, Chapter 6 ↗