Old Testament
The Song of Songs
The Song of Songs is the twenty-fourth of the 46 books of the Old Testament: 8 chapters and 116 verses. The Douay-Rheims calls it Canticles.
About Song of Songs
About Song of Songs · Love poetry
The Song of Songs is a cycle of love poems between a bride and bridegroom — ardent, physical, and entirely without embarrassment. Solomon's name stands over it by tradition; its actual poet and date are unknown. Israel and the Church have always read it on two levels at once: a celebration of human love as God's good creation, and an allegory of God's desire for his people, of Christ and the Church, of God and the soul. The mystics made it their favorite book of Scripture for that second reading.
| Testament | Old Testament — book 24 of 46, 24 of 73 in the Bible |
|---|---|
| Canon | Protocanonical (in every Christian canon) |
| Chapters | 8 |
| Verses | 116, as Bless numbers them |
| In the Douay-Rheims | Canticles |
| Latin | Clementine Vulgate, every chapter |
| Bp. Challoner | Summaries of all 8 chapters · 23 notes |
| Catechism | 3 paragraphs cite it |
Chapter by chapter
All 8 chapters, in brief.
Bishop Richard Challoner’s summary of each chapter, from his revision of the Douay-Rheims (1749–52). Open a chapter for the full text.
Song of Songs 1
16 versesThe spouse aspires to an union with Christ, their mutual love for one another.
Song of Songs 2
17 versesChrist caresses his spouse: he invites her to him.
Song of Songs 3
11 versesThe spouse seeks Christ. The glory of his humanity.
Song of Songs 4
16 versesChrist sets forth the graces of his spouse: and declares his love for her.
Song of Songs 5
17 versesChrist calls his spouse: she languishes with love: and describes him by his graces.
Song of Songs 6
12 versesThe spouse of Christ is but one: she is fair and terrible.
Song of Songs 7
13 versesA further description of the graces of the church the spouse of Christ.
Song of Songs 8
14 versesThe love of the church to Christ: his love to her.
Bp. Richard Challoner · chapter summaries
In the comments
What the saints said.
3 quotations from 3 saints linked to passages of Song of Songs in Bless. Each names the work it comes from.
St. Bernard of Clairvaux · on Song of Songs 8:7
On this verse
Love seeks no cause beyond itself and no fruit; it is its own fruit, its own enjoyment. I love because I love; I love in order that I may love.
Sermons on the Song of Songs, 83, c. 1150
St. Gemma Galgani · on Song of Songs 2:16
On this theme
O Jesus, I love You so much. Your love is my life.
Diary, 1900
St. John of the Cross · on Song of Songs 5:6
On this theme
Where have You hidden, Beloved, and left me moaning? You fled like the stag after wounding me; I went out calling You, and You were gone.
Spiritual Canticle, stanza 1, 1584
Coming up
Read at Mass.
From October 29, 2026 to October 28, 2027, Song of Songs is read at the principal Mass on 2 days in the US calendar. The next 5 readings:
| Date | Celebration | Reading | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent | First Reading | Song of Songs 2:8-14 | |
| computed | St. Mary Magdalene | First Reading | Song of Songs 3:1-4b |
| computed | Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent | First Reading | Song of Songs 2:8-14 |
| computed | St. Mary Magdalene | First Reading | Song of Songs 3:1-4b |
| computed | Thursday of the Third Week of Advent | First Reading | Song of Songs 2:8-14 |
No more readings are listed here; the liturgical calendar has every date through December 31, 2028.
Citations as published in the USCCB liturgical calendar (principal Mass, first option). Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish.