C
codebilly
Guest
Much has been debated on this forum regarding Catholic devotion to Mary. Non Catholics vehemently opposed to Marian devotion quote scripture to “defend” the position that Mary is ordinary, is not an intercessor, and is not meritorious of the devotion discharged by her Catholic devotees.
Often, non Catholics conclude that Catholics “worship Mary”.
Considering that the Bible is the “Word of God”, I ask the following questions to this community:
Who is the Lover in Solomon’s Canticle of Canticles (Song of Songs, Song of Solomon)?
Is God “the Lover” in the book of Canticles?
If God is the Lover, who is the beloved?
If the beloved is Mary, can it be said that God “worships” her?
**Solomon’s Canticle of Canticles.
Chapter 4
1 How beautiful art thou, my love, how beautiful art thou! thy eyes are doves’ eyes, besides what is hid within. Thy hair is as flocks of goats, which Come up from mount Galaad.
2 Thy teeth as flocks of sheep, that are shorn which come up from the washing, all with twins, and there is none barren among them.
3 Thy lips are as a scarlet lace: and thy speech sweet. Thy cheeks are as a piece of a pomegranate, besides that which lieth hid within.
4 Thy neck, is as the tower of David, which is built with bulwarks: a thousand bucklers hang upon it, all the armour of valiant men.
5 Thy two breasts like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies.
6 Till the day break, and the shadows retire, I will go to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.
7 Thou art all fair, O my love, and there is not a spot in thee.
8 Come from Libanus, my spouse, come from Libanus, come: thou shalt be crowned from the top of Amana, from the top of Sanir and Hermon, from the dens of the lions, from the mountains of the leopards.
9 Thou hast wounded my heart, my sister, my spouse, thou hast wounded my heart with one of thy eyes, and with one hair of thy neck.
10 How beautiful are thy breasts, my sister, my spouse! thy breasts are more beautiful than wine, and the sweet smell of thy ointments above all aromatical spices.
11 Thy lips, my spouse, are as a dropping honeycomb, honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments, as the smell of frankincense.
12 My sister, my spouse, is a garden enclosed, a garden enclosed, a fountain sealed up.
13 Thy plants are a paradise of pomegranates with the fruits of the orchard. Cypress with spikenard.
14 Spikenard and saffron, sweet cane and cinnamon, with all the trees of Libanus, myrrh and aloes with all the chief perfumes.
15 The fountain of gardens: the well of living waters, which run with a strong stream from Libanus.
16 Arise, O north wind, and come, O south wind, blow through my garden, and let the aromatical spices thereof flow.**
Often, non Catholics conclude that Catholics “worship Mary”.
Considering that the Bible is the “Word of God”, I ask the following questions to this community:
Who is the Lover in Solomon’s Canticle of Canticles (Song of Songs, Song of Solomon)?
Is God “the Lover” in the book of Canticles?
If God is the Lover, who is the beloved?
If the beloved is Mary, can it be said that God “worships” her?
**Solomon’s Canticle of Canticles.
Chapter 4
1 How beautiful art thou, my love, how beautiful art thou! thy eyes are doves’ eyes, besides what is hid within. Thy hair is as flocks of goats, which Come up from mount Galaad.
2 Thy teeth as flocks of sheep, that are shorn which come up from the washing, all with twins, and there is none barren among them.
3 Thy lips are as a scarlet lace: and thy speech sweet. Thy cheeks are as a piece of a pomegranate, besides that which lieth hid within.
4 Thy neck, is as the tower of David, which is built with bulwarks: a thousand bucklers hang upon it, all the armour of valiant men.
5 Thy two breasts like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies.
6 Till the day break, and the shadows retire, I will go to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.
7 Thou art all fair, O my love, and there is not a spot in thee.
8 Come from Libanus, my spouse, come from Libanus, come: thou shalt be crowned from the top of Amana, from the top of Sanir and Hermon, from the dens of the lions, from the mountains of the leopards.
9 Thou hast wounded my heart, my sister, my spouse, thou hast wounded my heart with one of thy eyes, and with one hair of thy neck.
10 How beautiful are thy breasts, my sister, my spouse! thy breasts are more beautiful than wine, and the sweet smell of thy ointments above all aromatical spices.
11 Thy lips, my spouse, are as a dropping honeycomb, honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments, as the smell of frankincense.
12 My sister, my spouse, is a garden enclosed, a garden enclosed, a fountain sealed up.
13 Thy plants are a paradise of pomegranates with the fruits of the orchard. Cypress with spikenard.
14 Spikenard and saffron, sweet cane and cinnamon, with all the trees of Libanus, myrrh and aloes with all the chief perfumes.
15 The fountain of gardens: the well of living waters, which run with a strong stream from Libanus.
16 Arise, O north wind, and come, O south wind, blow through my garden, and let the aromatical spices thereof flow.**