I have come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.
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Ambrose of Milan
AD 397
This inebriation makes people sober. This inebriation is one of grace, not of intoxication. It leads to joy, not to befuddlement. In the banquet hall of the church there will be pleasant odors, delightful food, and drink in variety. There will be noble guests and attendants who grace that occasion. It will not be otherwise! What is there that is nobler than to have Christ at the church’s banquet, as one who ministers and is ministered unto? - "Cain and Abel 1.5.19"
“I have eaten my bread with my honey.” This solid is gathered from the flowers of various virtues by the cooperative work of those bees that proclaim wisdom. Holy church puts it in honeycombs so that it may be the food of Christ. - "On Virginity 16.98"
The bridegroom comes down and takes delight in the diversity of her fruit; he rejoices because he has found a stronger food and one that is sweeter, too. For there is a kind of bread of the word, and a honey, one speech more ardent, another more persuasive. There is also one faith that is more hot like wine, another that is more clear like the taste of milk. Christ dines on such food in us. He drinks such drink in us; with the intoxication of this drink, he challenges us to make a departure from worse things to those that are better and best. - "Isaac, or the Soul 5.49"
Apple-trees. The spouse, submitting to God's will, is content to suffer. (Worthington)
She addresses her beloved, and as he had praised her, under the similitude of a delightful garden, she invites him into it. (Calmet)
I Christ again approves of her patience, and invites the saints to congratulate with her. (Worthington)
He always hears his Church, Matthew xxviii. 20., and Mark xi. 24. (Calmet)
The saints had prayed for Christ's coming; and accordingly, (Isaias lviii. 9.) he takes flesh of the most pure virgin. (St. Athanasius, Synop.)
Comb. Septuagint, "bread. "
Milk. Chaldean, "white wine. "But (Calmet) milk and wine may be taken together. (Clem. Pæd. i. 6.)
The chaste delights of retired and penitent souls are thus described: (Calmet) Dulciores sunt lacrymæ orantium quam gaudia theatrorum. (St. Augustine, Psalm cxxviii. ""The tears of penitents are the wine of angels, because in them is the odour of life. "(St. Bernard, ser. 30.)
Inebriated. Not so as to lose reason, Genesis...
“Come, brethren, drink deeply of love.” Wine to cheer the heart of people. The wine of the flesh does not cheer the heart of humankind but overpowers it and produces madness; it is written, in fact, that it is not for kings to drink wine. - "Homilies on the Psalms 42 (Psalm 127)"
“O my sister, my bride, come.” Lest you associate anything base with the concept of bride, the word sister is adjoined to preclude any dishonorable love. Come, my sister: love is something sacred and for that reason I call you sister. My bride: I call you my bride that I may have a wife, and from you, my wife, beget sons in number, sons as many as clusters of grapes on the vine. - "Homilies on the Psalms 42 (Psalm 127)"
