"I am the rose of Sharon,
and the lily of the valleys.
(Sg 2:1)

The above Hebrew text refers "meadow saffron" which means some kind of wild flower on the plain of Sharon, probably resembling a crocus. The early English translators arbitrarily chose the rose. In any event, it refers to a beautiful flower.

This most beautiful poem first of all is an expression of Solomon's love for Shulamite, presumably a shepherd girl. But the Jews have always understood the Songs of Songs referring to the love of God for his people Israel. Within the Christian perspective this is seen as an expression of the love of Christ for his Church and since the Church begins with the Incarnation of Christ in Mary, the Rose came to symbolize the love of God for Mary. The Songs of Songs is also understood as a beautiful expression of the encounter between God and Mary at the Annunciation as follows:

SONG OF SONGS

(Sg 2:10-13

My lover speaks; he says to me,
"Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one,

and come!

"For see, the winter is past,
the rains are over and gone.

The flowers appear on the earth,
the time of pruning the vines has come,
and the song of the dove is heard in our land.

The fig tree puts forth its figs,
and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance.

Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one,

and come!

 

In a Latin liturgical text of the 15th Century posted on the Web by Dr. Deboro B. Schwarts: ENGL 203, the Rose signifies Mary as we read,

"There is no rose comparable in virtue to the Rose that bore Jesus. Alleluiah!
For heaven and earth were contained in this rose in a small space. Wondrous thing.
Through that rose, we come to understand the holy Trinity. Of the same equal form.
Let us leave the pleasures of this world behind and devote ourselves to the joy of this birth. Let us go over.
The angels sang to the shepherds, 'Glory to God in the Highest.' Let us rejoice."

 

Symbol of Christ