Salesian Literature

Chapter 4  :  Two stages in the perfect fulfilment of this commandment

​

While king Solomon, filled with the Holy Spirit, was composing the sacred Song of Songs, he was surrounded by a large number of women and girls who ministered to his love – in accordance with the dispensation of those days – in a variety of rank, of function (cf. Cant. 6:7-8).

 

First of all, there was one, his beloved beyond compare; for him, none so gentle, none so pure as she, and so she was called after him the Sulamite[1].  Secondly, he had three score queens.  Thirdly, he had eighty more called concubines, who were not queens, but lawfully and honourably shared his bed and board.  Finally he had maids about him past all counting in readiness to take the places of his queens and concubines as need arose.

 

Here, then, was a symbolic description of the varied virtues of souls which – in future generations – were to adore, love and serve the prince of peace, Jesus Christ our Lord.  There will be some, newly freed form sin and determined to love God, who are still novices, apprentices, who are still delicate, still wanting in strength.  They love God’s delicate charm, it is true; but their emotions are still mixed, their charity still in its infancy, that they love a number of unnecessary, empty or dangerous things as well as our Lord.

 

These souls are the maidens of which the Song of Songs speaks (cf. Cant. 6:7-8; 1:2-3).  They have heard the sweet sound of the bridegroom’s name; they find in him only pardon and peace; they love him truly, but their love – like themselves – is in its infancy.

 

These souls who are still novices truly love the heavenly bridegroom, but they are also full of innumerable distractions and amusements of their own choosing.  They love him more than anything else, yet they are taken up with many other things which they love alongside him, apart from him.  To put it plainly, tiny disorders in speech, behaviour, clothes, amusements, are not contrary to God’s will, that is certain; but neither are they in accord with God’s will – they are alongside it, apart form it.

 

However, there are those who have made some progress in charity, who have suppressed any love they had for dangerous things, and yet are still prone to loving dangerously, unnecessarily.  They love what God wants them to love, but they love it excessively, with a love that is too sensitive, too vehement.  God meant Adam to love Eve deeply, but not so deeply that – to please her – he would transgress God’s command.  Adam did not love an unnecessary thing, nor something essentially dangerous; but he did love it excessively, dangerously.

 

In itself, love of parents, friends or benefactors is in accord with God’s will; but we can love them too much.  Our vocations too, however spiritual they may be, our practices  of piety (which we are really to care for) can be loved immoderately – if, for example, we put them before obedience or a higher good; or if we treat them as goals, instead of means to an end, to the last goal of all, charity.

 

​

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[1]  Sulamite, in Hebrew, means perfect.

​

Back to Top

​