“Let no earthbound and materially minded person, however, be abashed at the mention of “kisses.” Let them, on the contrary, consider that also at the moment of holy communion we receive the bridegroom’s limbs, caress, and embrace them, press them to our heart with our eye, imagine a kind of embrace, believe ourselves to be with him, embrace him, caress him, love driving out fear.”
Theodoret of Cyr
“For it is with the kiss that lovers cleave to each other and gain possession of the sweetness of grace that is within, so to speak. Through such a kiss the soul cleaves to God the Word, and through the kiss the spirit of him who kisses is poured into the soul, just as those who kiss are not satisfied to touch lightly with their lips but appear to be pouring their spirit into each other…She sought the kiss, God the Word poured himself into her wholly and laid bare his breasts to her, that is, his teachings and the laws of the wisdom that is within, and was fragrant with the sweet fragrance of his ointments. Captive to these, the soul is saying that the enjoyment of the knowledge of God is richer than the joy of any bodily pleasure.” Ambrose
“Having embraced the Word of God, the soul desires him above every beauty; she loves him above every joy; she is delighted with him above every perfume; she wishes often to see, often to gaze, often to be drawn to him that she may follow.”
Ambrose
“She is dark by nature, beautiful by grace.” Caesarius of Arles
“She said, ‘I was dark’ because she had not yet seen herself as the sun.” Gregory of Elvira
“‘Do not marvel’ she says, ‘That righteousness has loved me.’ Although I have become dark through sin and have dwelt in gloom by my deeds, the bridegroom made me beautiful through his love, having exchanged his very own beauty for my disgrace. After taking the filth of my sins upon himself, he allowed me to share his own purity, and filled me with beauty.”
Gregory of Nyssa
“Our eyes are not such as the eyes of Christ’s beautiful bride must be, of which eyes the bridegroom says, ‘Your eyes are doves.’ He is hinting, perhaps, at the perceptive power of spiritual people, because the Holy Spirit came upon the Lord as a dove, and the Lord is in each one.”
Origen
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