Andrea Oliva Florendo Illuminates the Song of Songs in “Romance of the Enclosed Garden”

Andrea Oliva Florendo’s new book, “Romance of the Enclosed Garden: Song of Songs” offers readers a contemplative exploration of Scripture’s most lyrical text, the Song of Songs. An Adjunct Associate Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at St. John’s University, Florendo draws on her extensive background as a visual artist, harpist, and spiritual practitioner to present an enriching perspective on love and faith.

In this work, Florendo invites readers to enter the sacred imagery of the Bridegroom and the Bride, a narrative often seen as a lover’s quest but revealed here as the profound mystery of Christ and the Virgin Mary. Through reflections on Church Fathers, saints, and nuptial hymns, she highlights how human love whispers of divine love, and how marriage itself becomes a mirror of Christ’s passion for His Church. The book reminds readers that God’s love is tender, fervent, and unrelenting, calling each soul to rest in His embrace.

Florendo’s passion for this subject is rooted in her life of teaching, artistry, and devotion. The author of “Liturgy of Flowers in a Mary Garden,” she also runs a Mary Garden Guild at a monastery and coordinates an academic service-learning program at St. John’s University. Alongside her husband, Dr. Romulo Florendo, she has recorded The Enclosed Garden, a harp and violin album that complements the contemplative spirit of her writings.

Reader John J. Fitzgerald, J.D., Ph.D., Christian Ethics & Moral Theology, shared that the book is “a passionate meditation, rich in symbolism, on the romantic and religious significance of flora. Readers will benefit from the detailed exploration of one of the most underrated books, the Song of Songs, and music lovers in particular will be surprised by the concluding chapter.”

“Romance of the Enclosed Garden: Song of Songs” motivates readers to embrace the truth that love is at the center of their spiritual calling. An engaging read, this book is now available for purchase on Amazon and other major online retailers.

For more information about Andrea Oliva Florendo, visit https://www.andreaolivaflorendogardens.com/.

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