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The Cantata of Love: A Verse by Verse Reading of The Song of Songs
What book of Old or New Testament has generated the most commentaries in the history of the Church? Not John's Gospel, not Paul's letter to the Romans, not the prophet Isaiah, no, it is the Song of Songs. It is a book that is unknown to many Catholics, and shocking to those who discover it for the first time because of its descriptions of a lover and his beloved--God is only mentioned once and that is at the very end. And yet the greatest of the Fathers have commented on it. Origen's is the classic and St. Jerome says of it: "Origen, having surpassed all of the interpreters of all the books of Scripture, surpassed himself in this interpretation of the Canticle." St. Bernard of Clairvaux, St. Francis de Sales, St. John of the Cross, all have added to the great tradition of interpreting this book for they see it as God's love for Israel and the Church, Christ's love for Mary, for the Church and for each of us. The author draws on all these classics of Catholic tradition to give us a verse by verse reading of the Song of Songs which will deepen the spiritual lives of all of us--a deepening rooted in God's word and the most profound Catholic tradition.
"A marvelous book of great inspiration. It will touch many a heart with the message of God's love that the Canticle brings. Reading it was a revelation to me. It will do an enormous amount of good."
--Bishop Patrick V. Ahern, Vicar of Staten Island
"This work offers us a whole treatise on the spiritual life. It was slowly brought to maturity, lovingly polished and solidly built. The dramatic realism will be a great help to all who might be tempted to give up somewhere along the way."
--Henri Cardinal de Lubac
Blaise Arminjon, S.J. entered the Society of Jesus in France over 50 years ago. He has been in charge of the formation of younger Jesuits and is a renowned master of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, giving them to religious and laity alike throughout Europe.
"A marvelous book of great inspiration. It will touch many a heart with the message of God's love that the Canticle brings. Reading it was a revelation to me. It will do an enormous amount of good."
--Bishop Patrick V. Ahern, Vicar of Staten Island
"This work offers us a whole treatise on the spiritual life. It was slowly brought to maturity, lovingly polished and solidly built. The dramatic realism will be a great help to all who might be tempted to give up somewhere along the way."
--Henri Cardinal de Lubac
Blaise Arminjon, S.J. entered the Society of Jesus in France over 50 years ago. He has been in charge of the formation of younger Jesuits and is a renowned master of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, giving them to religious and laity alike throughout Europe.
373 pages, Paperback
First published December 31, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 7, 2009
Did you know that more has been written about this obscure book of Jewish antiquity than any other in the canon? (Maybe it's just among OT books... shoot.) It immediately becomes apparent when glossing over the sources for the numerous quotations from the commentaries by saint after saint: John of the Cross, Francis de Sales, Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory Nazianzen, and the sacred monster of mysticism, Bernard of Clairvaux...the list goes on and on. Arminjon has a deft awareness of them all, yet incorporates the insights of literary criticism into his interpretation in such a way that sheds immense clarity over this baffling "footnote" in the Scriptural canon. He starts by dividing the work into five poems and identifies the various voices that speak. This alone is instructive in itself--who hasn't read this and gotten lost in who is speaking to whom? Over and above the justifications for his interpretive choices comes a theologico-poetic commentary of his own that is truly marvelous. It awakens a desire for the majesty and beauty of the spiritual life that has remained with me for months afterward, recasting it all in the most enriched and embroidered language of love without falling into the wilting sentimentality typical of such writing. It made me want to learn Hebrew simply to read the Song of Solomon in the original ... and to memorize it.
Make your way slowly through this book. If it does not suit your taste, put it down and take it up again when you are inspired to. Lend it to no one from whom you cannot one day retrieve it. And in the meanwhile, think on these words of St. Theresa:
This divine prison
of the love with whom I live
made of God my captive
and freed my heart.
To see God as my prisoner causes such passion in me
that I am dying of not dying.
Make your way slowly through this book. If it does not suit your taste, put it down and take it up again when you are inspired to. Lend it to no one from whom you cannot one day retrieve it. And in the meanwhile, think on these words of St. Theresa:
This divine prison
of the love with whom I live
made of God my captive
and freed my heart.
To see God as my prisoner causes such passion in me
that I am dying of not dying.
November 14, 2021
I've finally figured out what book to bring with me to a desert island. It's this one! I could read this book again and again, finding more and more delightful passages and discovering again the depths of God's love for me. And as an added bonus, the book comes with scripture so I'd both be reading the word while reading about the word. What a joy.
I was given this book years ago by some nuns and it took me time in my faith journey to get to the point where I was ready to read this. I'm glad I kept the book, though, instead of giving it away. I have been dazzled throughout my weeks of reading. And have been able to reflect on passages throughout my day to day life. Things will pop up that will remind me of what I read that morning or a week before, which then ultimately reminds me of God's love for me. Such a delight.
The author does a great job of explaining the entire book of the Song of Songs, pointing back to its use throughout scripture, weaving in writings of the early church fathers and later great saints, and helping us now to understand the book. I'm grateful to both him and his translator for this great gift to the world.
I was given this book years ago by some nuns and it took me time in my faith journey to get to the point where I was ready to read this. I'm glad I kept the book, though, instead of giving it away. I have been dazzled throughout my weeks of reading. And have been able to reflect on passages throughout my day to day life. Things will pop up that will remind me of what I read that morning or a week before, which then ultimately reminds me of God's love for me. Such a delight.
The author does a great job of explaining the entire book of the Song of Songs, pointing back to its use throughout scripture, weaving in writings of the early church fathers and later great saints, and helping us now to understand the book. I'm grateful to both him and his translator for this great gift to the world.
November 5, 2025
Such a pearl. Cantata of Love gathers highlights from the great interpreters of the Song of Songs — Origen, Bernard of Clairvaux, John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, Francis de Sales, Thérèse of Lisieux, and others. It doesn’t replace returning to the original sources, but it collects some of their finest moments and presents them in a rich, concentrated spread... like spiritual charcuterie for lovers of the Canticle.
February 27, 2026
If you have ever been confused, irritated, or intimidated by The Song of Songs (Song of Solomon) in Scripture, then this is the book for you!
The Song of Songs is one book I have always avoided when studying Scripture. It was too poetic, too weird, too nebulous in its intent. Is it a poem written to celebrate the wonder of marital love between man and woman? Is it an ode to Eros in and of himself? Is it an allegory of God's relationship to Israel — and later to the Church? Did not really know. Did not really care. How much better to put it aside and go hang out with Job for the umpteenth time!
The Cantata of Love: A Verse by Verse Reading of The Song of Songs was an assigned text for a course on "The Nature of Mystical Wisdom in the Life of the Church." So, I had to read it. And ... wow!
Drawing from the wisdom of saints both ancient and modern, contemporary exegetes, and his own insights, Fr. Arminjon brings us to the banqueting table and his banner over us is clarity, charity, and illumination. The first extremely helpful thing he does is introduce the Song with the structure observed by André Robert - that of five poems, preceded by a Prologue and ending with a Conclusion. This makes the ebb and flow of the relationship between the Bride and the Bridegroom much easier to understand.
The Cantata of Love takes the reader, then, through five seasons: The Winter of Exile, The Spring of Betrothal, The Summer of the Wedding, The Storm of Summer, and The Autumn of the Fruits. In each poem, as well as the Prologue and Conclusion, Fr. Arminjon offers a verse-by-verse commentary, pulling largely from Christian saints, but also including Jewish and other Christian scholars. And what he leads the reader into is a beautiful extended meditation on the irresistible, all-conquering love of God—for the nation of Israel, for the Church, for each soul. This is truly one of the most beautiful books I have ever read.
Apart from encountering all the wise and wonderful words of the saints (Fr. Arminjon has a particular love for St. Teresa of Avila that made me smile many times) and being surprised by sudden connections that moved me to tears (one example is the comparison of the Bridegroom to the apple tree in Ss. 2:3 that brought to mind a favorite 18th century poem set to music: Jesus Christ the Apple Tree), for me the book's payoff in the final chapter offered the most satisfaction. Here, Fr. Arminjon recounts the whole of The Song of Songs in narrative form, incorporating all the insights gleaned throughout the study into a seamless garment of wonder at "the only drama which is being played out in this world: man's adventure, filled with torments and with joys, as he is ceaselessly sought by the passionate love of his God." Aaaaah, yes. That is drinking from the well deeply.
The Song of Songs is one book I have always avoided when studying Scripture. It was too poetic, too weird, too nebulous in its intent. Is it a poem written to celebrate the wonder of marital love between man and woman? Is it an ode to Eros in and of himself? Is it an allegory of God's relationship to Israel — and later to the Church? Did not really know. Did not really care. How much better to put it aside and go hang out with Job for the umpteenth time!
The Cantata of Love: A Verse by Verse Reading of The Song of Songs was an assigned text for a course on "The Nature of Mystical Wisdom in the Life of the Church." So, I had to read it. And ... wow!
Drawing from the wisdom of saints both ancient and modern, contemporary exegetes, and his own insights, Fr. Arminjon brings us to the banqueting table and his banner over us is clarity, charity, and illumination. The first extremely helpful thing he does is introduce the Song with the structure observed by André Robert - that of five poems, preceded by a Prologue and ending with a Conclusion. This makes the ebb and flow of the relationship between the Bride and the Bridegroom much easier to understand.
The Cantata of Love takes the reader, then, through five seasons: The Winter of Exile, The Spring of Betrothal, The Summer of the Wedding, The Storm of Summer, and The Autumn of the Fruits. In each poem, as well as the Prologue and Conclusion, Fr. Arminjon offers a verse-by-verse commentary, pulling largely from Christian saints, but also including Jewish and other Christian scholars. And what he leads the reader into is a beautiful extended meditation on the irresistible, all-conquering love of God—for the nation of Israel, for the Church, for each soul. This is truly one of the most beautiful books I have ever read.
Apart from encountering all the wise and wonderful words of the saints (Fr. Arminjon has a particular love for St. Teresa of Avila that made me smile many times) and being surprised by sudden connections that moved me to tears (one example is the comparison of the Bridegroom to the apple tree in Ss. 2:3 that brought to mind a favorite 18th century poem set to music: Jesus Christ the Apple Tree), for me the book's payoff in the final chapter offered the most satisfaction. Here, Fr. Arminjon recounts the whole of The Song of Songs in narrative form, incorporating all the insights gleaned throughout the study into a seamless garment of wonder at "the only drama which is being played out in this world: man's adventure, filled with torments and with joys, as he is ceaselessly sought by the passionate love of his God." Aaaaah, yes. That is drinking from the well deeply.
August 17, 2024
"When love carries you away... don't ask where it is taking you."
This book really does carry you away, a sweeping commentary of a relatively short book of the Scriptural canon. Yet Arminjon helps us realize what the Song truly is: an epic love story that puts the great bards of history to shame in comparison. Pulling from many different saints and commentators throughout the centuries, Arminjon paints a beautiful picture of the riches of the Song which captivated me. It took me an entire summer to work through this and I know I've only scratched the surface of this great work. I have a feeling I'll be back to reread this again and again.
"He whose illness is called Jesus cannot be cured."
"To talk about Him, to sing His praise, to celebrate His beauty, to deliver the innermost soul of all the admiration and love that is in it is... an absolute necessity. The love for the Bridegroom cannot remain unproclaimed."
This book really does carry you away, a sweeping commentary of a relatively short book of the Scriptural canon. Yet Arminjon helps us realize what the Song truly is: an epic love story that puts the great bards of history to shame in comparison. Pulling from many different saints and commentators throughout the centuries, Arminjon paints a beautiful picture of the riches of the Song which captivated me. It took me an entire summer to work through this and I know I've only scratched the surface of this great work. I have a feeling I'll be back to reread this again and again.
"He whose illness is called Jesus cannot be cured."
"To talk about Him, to sing His praise, to celebrate His beauty, to deliver the innermost soul of all the admiration and love that is in it is... an absolute necessity. The love for the Bridegroom cannot remain unproclaimed."
January 13, 2023
Amazing! Verse by verse explanation and commentary from the author as well as saints and Jewish and non-Jewish scholars. If (when) I began (begin) it again, I’d keep it with my prayer stuff, not my general spiritual reading, and know that it would be slow going. I loved having lots of sources of explanation to draw from in one place, and the index at the back will make a great resource for finding specific words. Anyone who wants to dive into Song of Songs will find a deep well to draw from. Lest my scholarly praise deter anyone, it all amplifies the love song of God, and makes it clearer for those of us who don’t understand the old
Jewish references. So beautiful.
Jewish references. So beautiful.
December 2, 2020
I cannot express how much this book resonated with the deepest parts of my being and my heart. What a blessed book of Scripture I never understood before and what a blessed guided journey through it is this book. I would leave prayer bursting with love after reading this book. Deep waters.
Also it greatly unpacks the spiritual journey, specifically the unitive way. I recommend for any Christian who has been walking with the Lord for years and seeks to understand the depths of love to which the Lord invites us.
Also it greatly unpacks the spiritual journey, specifically the unitive way. I recommend for any Christian who has been walking with the Lord for years and seeks to understand the depths of love to which the Lord invites us.
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April 5, 2023Really strong first half, then it felt as if he realized he needed to finish the book so commentary wasn't as in depth for later chapters. This could be attributed to his thesis that the different sections build on each other and so there's a lot of up front work exegesis to do and then less as the chapters go on. Really appreciated the ending section which summed up the main points quite nicely.
September 14, 2017
Read this book during my preparation for consecrated life. It's an amazing book that brought me deep into prayer with the Beloved who calls all of us.
December 26, 2022
One of the best books I have ever read.
July 31, 2014
This is an incredible exploration of the Song of Songs; Arminjon not only makes this cryptic, poetic part of Scripture understandable, but shows you the beauty and passion in it.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews