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Hermeneutics Historical Theology Song of Songs Spirituality Theological Hermeneutics

A Prayer for Study of Song of Songs: William of St. Thierry

Here is a wonderful prayer from William of St. Thierry, which is a prelude to his study of the Song of Songs.  This is from The Church’s Bible Commentary.

As we approach the epithalamium, the marriage song, the song of the Bridegroom and the Bride, to read and weigh your work, we call upon you, O Spirit of holiness. We want you to fill us with your love, O love, so that we may understand love’s song — so that we too may be made in some degree participants in the dialogue of the holy Bridegroom and the Bride; and so that what we read about may come to pass within us.  For where it is a question of the soul’s affections, one does not easily understand what is said unless one is touched by similar feelings.  Turn us then to yourself, O holy Spirit, holy Paraclete, holy Comforter; comfort the poverty of our solitude, which seeks no solace apart from you; illumine and enliven the desire of the suppliant, that it may become delight.  Come, that we may love in truth, that whatever we think or say may proceed out of the fount of your love.  Let the Song of your love be so read by us that it may set fire to love itself within us; and let love itself be for us the interpreter of your Song.