Bernard of Clairvaux, on Song 2:1

“I am the flower of the field, and the lily of the valleys.”

“And first observe for me now a certain threefold state of the flower: in the field, in the garden, in the bridal chamber; so that after this it may also more easily become clear why he chose above all to call himself the flower of the field. And in the field indeed and in the garden the flower springs up, but in the bridal chamber by no means. It gives fragrance and shines there, yet not standing erect, as in the garden or field; but plainly lying down, as one that has been brought in, not born there. And therefore it is indeed necessary to renew them frequently, and always to set out fresher flowers, because they do not long retain their fragrance or their beauty. But if, as I said in another sermon, the little bed sprinkled with flowers is the conscience filled with good works; you see certainly, that the likeness may be preserved, that it by no means suffices to do what is good once or twice, unless you ceaselessly add new things to the former, so that sowing in blessings, you may also reap from blessings. Otherwise the flower of the good work lies down and withers, and in a short time all splendor and vigor is destroyed from it, if it is not continually renewed by other and yet other acts of piety cast upon it. This is so in the bridal chamber. In the garden however it is not so: but neither in the field similarly. For from themselves, having once produced flowers, they continually supply that whereby the inborn beauty may long persevere in them. Yet they also differ among themselves, in that the garden indeed, in order to flower, is cultivated by the hand and art of men: but the field naturally produces flowers of itself, and without any aid of human diligence. Do you think you now seem to yourself to perceive who that field is, neither furrowed by the ploughshare, nor dug up by the hoe, nor fattened with dung, nor sown by the hand of man; yet nevertheless adorned with that noble flower, upon whom the Spirit of the Lord is known to have rested? "Behold," he says, "the smell of my son is as the smell of a field full, which the Lord has blessed" (Gen 27:27). That flower of the field had not yet put on his beauty, and already he was giving forth his fragrance, when the holy and aged Patriarch, feeble in body, dim of sight, but keen of smell, perceived him in spirit, so as to cry out this for joy. He ought not therefore to have declared himself a flower of the bridal chamber, he who is a flower perpetually vigorous: but neither likewise of the garden, lest he should seem to have been produced by human work. But beautifully and most fittingly, "I am the flower of the field," he says, who both came forth without human effort, and once having come forth, no corruption thereafter had dominion over him, that the word which he spoke might be fulfilled: "You will not give your Holy One to see corruption" (Ps 16:10).”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.