Songs of Love and RomanceAndrew Mellas

#Christianity&theArts@Kogarah

What is romance?

Aragorn and Arwen

Songs of Love and Romance?

Romance

A medieval narrative relating the extraordinary adventures of some hero of chivalry.

Any of various kinds of short vocal or instrumental piece, typically simple or lyrical in character.

A fictitious narrative in which the events depicted are remote from everyday life, or in which sensational events or adventures are the main theme.

Homer’s Odyssey

The sweet days of his life time were running out in anguish over his exile, for long ago the nymph had ceased to please. Though he fought shy of her and her desire, he lay with her each night, for she compelled him. But when the day came he sat on the rocky shore and broke his own heart groaning, with eyes wet scanning the bare horizon of the sea.

Book 5

Courtly love

The literary cult of heterosexual love that emerged among the French aristocracy from the late 11th

century onwards.

The troubadours of southern France converted sexual desire from a necessity of physical life into a spiritually ennobling emotion.

An elaborate code of behaviour evolved around the tormented male lover’s obedience to a disdainful, idealised lady.

Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593)

Come live with me and be my Love, and we will all the pleasures prove, that hills and valleys, dales and field, or woods or steepy mountain yields. And I will make thee beds of roses and a thousand fragrant posies, a cap of flowers, and a kirtle embroider'd all with leaves of myrtle.

‘The Passionate Shepherd to His Love’

Romantic love?

Romantic love is often paired with sexual desire.

The lover experiences both feelings but they are in tension with each other.

Desire is self-regarding, pleasure seeking.

Love is directed to the other.

The opposition between love and desire is unique to the West.

The Making of Romantic Love

Biology or culture?

There is very little scientific evidence supporting a theory of sexual appetite as innate.

Sexual desire differs from hunger and thirst—there is “no evidence of any adverse effects of sexual abstinence” and “little evidence for a homeostatic mechanism in human sexual motivation” (Stephanie Both et al, 2007).

Romantic love is present in 147 out of 166 cultures (William Jankowiak & Edward Fischer, 1992)

Can we speak of Christian romance?

Song of Songs

Song of Songs

Episode III

Song of Songs

Episode III

Song of Songs was the last part of a trilogy written by Solomon—episode I was Proverbs and episode II was Ecclesiastes.

Song of Songs

Episode III

Song of Songs was the last part of a trilogy written by Solomon—episode I was Proverbs and episode II was Ecclesiastes.

Proverbs represented purification…Ecclesiastes reflected on the vanity of an ephemeral world and thus represented illumination through the contemplation…

Song of Songs

Episode III

Song of Songs was the last part of a trilogy written by Solomon—episode I was Proverbs and episode II was Ecclesiastes.

Proverbs represented purification…Ecclesiastes reflected on the vanity of an ephemeral world and thus represented illumination through the contemplation…

…The Song of Songs was the third and final chapter of the ascent of the soul—the union with God.

Song of Songs—summary

Begins with the Shulamite’s desire for her lover.

A dialogue between the lovers follows…talk of a rendezvous…flattery and courtship.

The frantic search for him whom her soul loves by night in the market-places, and in the streets.

A royal wedding procession…another dream…frolicking in the fields…ends with Solomon’s vineyard.

Fifty Shades of Grey

“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for your breasts are better than wine, and the fragrance of your perfumed ointments is better than all spices, your name is perfumed ointment emptied out. That is why young maidens have loved you…”

Song of Songs

“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for your breasts are better than wine, and the fragrance of your perfumed ointments is better than all spices, your name is perfumed ointment emptied out. That is why young maidens have loved you…”

The Song as an allegory

Scripture often communicates God’s message by way of enigmas and below-the-surface meanings.

Allegory delves into the mystical purpose of Scripture.

The Song of Songs suggests a way of envisaging the very structure of reality.

The narrative of allegory—in a subtle way—conveys a kind of philosophy.

Song of Songs 3:1-3

“By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loves: I sought him, but found him not; I called him, but he hearkened not to me. I will rise now, and go about in the city, in the market-places, and in the streets, and I will seek him whom my soul loves: I sought him, but I found him not. The watchmen who go their rounds in the city found me. [I said], Have ye seen him whom my soul loves?”

Chapter 3 of the Song

The bride, alone on her bed at night, goes out in search of her beloved, crying out for him, searching for him in the streets and the market.

In search of her lover, she even asks the watchmen of the city whether they have seen him but their response disappoints her, so she leaves them behind and only then finds the one she seeks.

Song of Songs

The narrative is suggestive of how “lovers of transcendent Beauty are to relate themselves to the Divine.” (St Gregory of Nyssa).

It is an invitation to experience the mystery of the Divine.

In the Song, the soul is led as a bride toward the bridegroom, toward a mystical marriage with God.

Christ the Bridegroom

“He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.” (John 3:29)

“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” (John 7:37)

St Gregory of Nyssa

[…] since it is Wisdom who speaks, love her as much as you are able, with your whole heart and strength; desire her as much as you can. To these words I am bold to add, Be in love, for this passion, when directed to things incorporeal, is blameless and impassible.

(1st homily on the Song of Songs)

“I sleep but my heart is awake”

Song of Songs, chapter 5, verse 2.

St Gregory of Nyssa

For the sense organs of the soul are truly touched with sweetness by the Word when the apple tree’s shadow protects us from the fiery blaze of temptations […]

(4th homily on the Song of Songs)

Infinite desire?

The desire of the soul that is ascending never rests content with what has been known […] mounting upwards by way of one greater desire toward another that surpasses it […] always journeying toward the infinite by way of higher things.

(St Gregory of Nyssa, 8th homily)

Christian romance?

“Let us love the Bridegroom, brethren, let us, radiant with virtues and right faith, trim our lamps”

“Your bridal chamber, O my Saviour, I see all adorned, but I have no garment so that I may enter it.”

“O Bridegroom, surpassing all in beauty…clothe me in the glorious robe of your beauty”

Holy Week

Christian romance?

Rejoice, cup wherein is mixed the wine of mighty joy. Rejoice, scent of Christ’s fragrance. Rejoice, you who alone are blameless and fair among women. Rejoice, vessel that has received the inexhaustible Myrrh, emptied out upon you.

Akathist Hymn

Thank you