What does her heavenly Bridegroom call her?

Her heavenly Bridegroom calls her “the dove with gentle voice, and beautiful face.” St. Gregory of Nyssa says, “When the Word has called out to her in this way through the windows, the dove answers appropriately—the dove who had been illumined by the beam of

1087 St. Augustine of Hippo, Sermons on the Liturgical Seasons 195.2 (FOTC 38:42).

1088 St. Augustine of Hippo, Sermons on the Liturgical Seasons 216.5 (FOTC 38:157ff).

1089 St. Augustine of Hippo, Sermons on the Liturgical Seasons 213.7 (FOTC 38:127).

1090 St. Augustine of Hippo, Sermons on the Liturgical Seasons 195:5 (FOTC 38:42).

these thoughts and had understood the meaning of the rock, which is Christ. For she says: ‘Show me your face, and let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your countenance is glorious’ … And those who hear his sweet voice know the grace of the gospel—the ones who say, ‘You have the words of eternal life’ (John 6:68).”¹⁰⁹¹