I think any young person could be inspired by the deep, erotic love expressed in the Song of Songs, so illustrative of the Theology of the Body. Here is Sinead O’ Connor’s ode to the book in her song, “Dark Am I Yet Lovely,” from the album Theology:

Whenever I talk to my high school Catechism girls about love and the Scriptures, I always use the analogy of the Scriptures as a love note and point to the Song of Songs. Whenever I need a reminder of God’s love for me, I look at a crucifix in the context of mercy and the Song of Songs.

Listen to Karen Young’s production of Canticum Canticorum to hear her interpretation of the love story.

There are several other media that have put the Song’s words to use. Its words, so strong and sensual, inspire my own poetry. It also inspires me, an easily scrupulous person, to be opened to the beauty of the sensual and the sexual. It is so human and so divine that it can only be about the union of God and man.