Fathers

Song of Solomon 8

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Oh that you were like my brother, who nursed from the breasts of my mother! If I found you outside, I would kiss you; yes, and no one would despise me. I would lead you, bringing you into the house of my mother, who would instruct me. I would have you drink spiced wine, of the juice of my pomegranate. His left hand would be under my head. His right hand would embrace me. I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, that you not stir up, nor awaken love, until it so desires. Who is this who comes up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? Under the apple tree I aroused you. There your mother conceived you. There she was in labor and bore you. Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm; for love is strong as death. Jealousy is as cruel as Sheol. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a very flame of Yahweh. Many waters can’t quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man would give all the wealth of his house for love, he would be utterly scorned. We have a little sister. She has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister in the day when she is to be spoken for? If she is a wall, we will build on her a turret of silver. If she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar. I am a wall, and my breasts like towers, then I was in his eyes like one who found peace. Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon. He leased out the vineyard to keepers. Each was to bring a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit. My own vineyard is before me. The thousand are for you, Solomon, two hundred for those who tend its fruit. You who dwell in the gardens, with friends in attendance, let me hear your voice! Come away, my beloved! Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices!

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What the Fathers say

Song of Solomon 8:7

Eastern Fathers

Cyril of Jerusalem

Though weak in body the women were courageous in spirit. "Many waters cannot quench charity, neither can floods drown it." He whom they sought was dead, but their hope of the resurrection was not quenched.

Catechetical Lecture 14:13 ↗

Western Saints

Ambrose of Milan

And so charity ought to be in us, that we may not be called back from Christ by any dangers. For it is written: 'Many waters cannot quench charity, neither can the floods drown it'; because love passes over the torrent. No storm, no deep peril, no fear of death or punishment can diminish the power of charity. In these things we are tested, in these things a happy life is found, even if it is overwhelmed by many dangers. …

On Jacob and the Blessed Life, 1.7.27-28 ↗

Bede

If a man gives all the substance of his house, etc. This sentence does not require an explanation of words, as both the apostles themselves at the beginning and countless believers afterward have sufficiently proved its truth by their examples, when for the love of the truth they seemed to leave everything they possessed in this world, and appeared to lose nothing to themselves, so long as they would receive true goods in heaven. …

Commentary on the Song of Songs ↗

Bonaventure

A person is disposed to the influx of the gift of fortitude through the inextinguishable fire of charity. "Many waters could not extinguish charity." Do you think you can extinguish a burning furnace with a drop of water? Every power is like a drop of water in comparison to the loving soul. "Love is strong as death": death conquers all, and likewise love conquers all things. "Jealousy is hard as hell": hell does not release what it holds, and so charity conquers all things and holds them fast. …

Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 5 ↗