Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermon 33 "The Mystical Noontide," Commentary On the Song of Songs

"O true noontide, fullness of warmth and of light, abiding-place of the sun, which exterminates all shadows, dries up marshes, and drives forth pestilential odours! O perpetual solstice, and day that declines not! O mid-day light, enjoying at once the freshness of spring, the beauty of summer, the fruitfulness and abundance of autumn, and, not to omit anything, the deep rest and unbroken quiet of winter! Or, at least, if you prefer it so, it is the winter only that disappears and is wanting. 'Show to me ' (says the Bride) 'this spot of brightness, peace, and abundance so great, that ...  I, too, [may] be found worthy to contemplate Thee in Thy light and Thy beauty by means of a transport and rapture of soul; and to behold Thee feeding Thy flock with fuller abundance and more complete security than now.'

For here, too, Thou dost feed Thy flock, but not to the full; nor is it permitted to Thee to repose, but it is needful to stand and watch over them because of terrors of the night. Alas! [here] the light is not clear, nor the nourishment full, nor the dwelling safe; therefore tell me where Thou feedest, where Thou makest Thy flock to rest at noon. Blessed dost Thou call me when I hunger and thirst after righteousness (Matt. v. 6). What is this in comparison with the happiness of those who are satisfied with the goodness of Thy House (Ps. lxv. 4), who eat and rejoice in the sight of God, yea, who exceedingly rejoice? (Ps. lxviii. 3 ) But, and if I suffer anything for righteousness' sake, Thou sayest again that I am none the less blessed (1 Pet. iii. 14). And it is certain that to have nourishment where you apprehend suffering is to experience enjoyment, but not security. To have nourishment and suffering together, what is that but a grievous joy? All things that I possess here fall short of being perfect; many are beyond my prayer, nor is any safe. When wilt Thou fill me with joy with Thy Countenance? (Ps. xv 11, Douay) Thy Face, Lord, will I seek (Ps. xxvii. 8). Thy Countenance is a noonday to me. Tell me where Thou feedest, where Thou makest Thy flock to rest at noon. I know sufficiently where thou feedest without resting; tell me where Thou doest both the one and the other. I am not ignorant where at other times Thou doest this, but I would know where Thou doest this at noon. For during the time of my mortal life, and in the place of my pilgrimage, I have been accustomed to be spiritually fed, and to feed others, with nourishment from Thee, in the Law, in the Prophets, in the Psalms. Thou dost feed us also in the pastures of the Gospels, and with the Apostles I have rested. Often, also, I have sought, and have been able to find, spiritual nourishment for me and mine in the actions, the words, and the writings of the Saints. Still more frequently (because it was very close at hand to me) I have eaten the bread of sorrow, and drunk of the wine of regret; my tears have been my meat day and night, while they daily say unto me, Where is now thy God? (Ps. xlii. 3.) I have, indeed, been nourished from Thy Table: for Thou hast prepared a Table before me against them that trouble me (Ps. xxiii. 5), and from it, I repeat, I receive somewhat by the gift of Thy mercy, which imparts comfort and consolation, as often as my soul is sorrowful and disquieted within me. Those pastures I know, and following Thee, my Shepherd, have often sought them; but tell me, I entreat, those which I know not."


Online Text of Sermons on the Song of Songs, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux 

Cistercian Fontenay Abbey, France