Glossa Ordinaria

Beautiful. Since it has been shown how the Lord protects the Church amid adversities, it remains to be shown how great a love of the Lord himself the Church keeps amid adversities. Whence there follows, Thy cheeks are beautiful. I have adorned thee with so great a virtue of saving modesty, that thou dost not corrupt the chastity of the faith promised to me by any teaching or suggestion of depraved teachers, by whom thou didst fear to be led into error. The beauty of a woman is said to be greatest in the cheeks. Allegorically. In the cheeks is marked the sign of modesty, as in preachers the practice of living rightly. The Church, though widowed by the death of her Bridegroom, is nevertheless held by so great a memory of him that she can in no wise receive the fellowship of strangers: and she groans for her own sins and for the sins of others. In the neck, the teachers; in the necklaces, their works: because they perform the things which they teach by word. By subjoining, he shows what is the grace of guarding this sobriety. Thy neck is as necklaces. For through the neck we pass foods into the body to be refreshed, and we bring forth words by which we declare the secrets of the heart to our neighbors, that is, the teachers, who both instruct by words and pour the food of salvation into the members committed to them. They are compared to necklaces who are beautiful in their morals, and who close up the breasts of virgins with words and examples, lest an adulterer put in his hand.