Song of Songs 2:1

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I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.

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Ambrose of Milan

AD 397

He himself said, “I am the flower of the plain, a lily of the valley.” The flower, when cut, keeps its odor, and when bruised increases it, nor if torn off does it lose it. So, too, the Lord Jesus, on the gibbet of the cross, neither failed when bruised nor fainted when torn. And when he was cut by that piercing of the spear, being made more beautiful by the color of the outpoured blood, he, as it were, grew comely again, not able in himself to die, and breathing forth upon the dead the gift of eternal life. - "On the Holy Spirit 2.38–39"

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Ambrose of Milan

AD 397

He says himself, “I am a flower of the field, a lily of the valleys, as a lily among brambles.” Consider, then, another place in which the Lord likes to reside, and not only one place but many. He says, “I am a flower of the field,” because he often visits the open simplicity of a pure mind;“and the lily of the valleys,” for Christ is the bloom of lowliness, not of luxury, voluptuousness, of lasciviousness, but the flower of simplicity and lowliness. “A lily among brambles” as the flower of a good odor is sure to grow in the midst of hard labors and heartfelt sorrow (since God is pleased with a contrite heart). - "On Virginity 9.51"

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Aquinas Study Bible

AD 2017

rose of Sharon: or 'flower of the field.' The Bridegroom says this of Himself, meaning, 'the splendor of the world.' lily of the valleys: meaning 'the glory of the lowly,' (Alcuin) or, the lowly state of Christ's parents can be perceived in this, because He chose poor ones. (Haimo of Auxerre) Or this verse means that the Church begins to actually praise itself and speaks righteously. Putting forth the aroma of the lily as a picture of the just because of the brightness of the lily. So also the works of the righteous are illuminated. In the valley however the flowers are as among thorns. Grace sprang up, as “in the midst of of the thorns” the works actions of this life.(St. Hippolytus)

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George Leo Haydock

AD 1849

I am. The spouse compares herself to a lily, as she is the fairest flower on the bed, (Calmet) or Christ may here speak. (Worthington) (Isaias xi. 1.) (Origen) He praises himself first, that his spouse may hear her own eulogy. (Menochius)

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Hippolytus of Rome

AD 235

The justified here begins to praise herself and says, “I am the flower of the field” because she was not spread abroad throughout the earth. For, behold, I am a flower to all men through faith in you. - "Treatise on the Song of Songs 17.1"

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Jerome

AD 420

[Christ] himself says in the Song of Songs, “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valley.” Our rose is the destruction of death, and [that rose] died that death itself might die in his dying. - "Letter 75.1"

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Jerome

AD 420

This flower has become fruit that we might eat it, that we might consume its flesh. Would you like to know what this fruit is? A Virgin from a virgin, the Lord from the handmaid, God from man, Son from mother, fruit from earth. Listen to what the fruit itself says: “Unless the grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it cannot bring forth much fruit.” - "Homilies on the Psalms 6 (Psalm 66)"

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Nilus of Sinai

AD 430

It is necessary to understand that the valleys where the bride is a lily, as she is called, are comparable to these ravines. For in distinguishing herself in the midst of that which is called “hollow” by reason of actions or thoughts that are base, she who is adorned magnificently stands resplendent among them as a lily. It is also because at the age to come she is going to pass judgment on such souls by comparison with the perfection of her own deeds even though by nature she holds no advantage over them, just as the inhabitants of Nineveh and the Queen of the South pass judgment upon a generation that is faithless. Besides the fact that she became as a lily in the valleys where nothing was possible before, these valleys may have begun to bear fruit out of envy for the beauty of her flower, receiving seeds from the sower who went out to sow, … like a land rich and good that causes the seed to multiply. … If the valleys, because they are low, fallow and many in number, designate the Ge... Read More

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Richard Challoner

AD 1781

I am the flower of the field: Christ professes himself the flower of mankind, yea, the Lord of all creatures: and, ver. 2, declares the excellence of his spouse, the true church above all other societies, which are to be considered as thorns.

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Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation - 2 Peter 1:20