Church Fathers, Day 276: St. Ambrose says don’t let passion outrun reason

Don’t let passion outrun reason

Reason should dictate everything we do, says St. Ambrose. If reason loses control of our passions, then the passions, like runaway horses, drag the mind away to disaster.

We ought to be careful never to do anything rashly or carelessly, or any­thing at all for which we cannot give a reasonable ground. For though a reason for our action is not given to everyone, yet everybody looks into it. Nor, indeed, have we anything to excuse ourselves with. For though there is a sort of natural force in every passion of ours, yet that same passion is subject to reason by the law of nature itself, and is obedient to it.

Therefore it is the duty of a careful watchman so to keep a lookout, so that pas­sion may not outrun reason or utterly forsake it. Otherwise, by outstripping it, con­fusion be caused, and reason be shut out, and come to nothing by such desertion.

Disquiet destroys consistency. Withdrawal shows cowardice and implies in­dolence. For when the mind is disquieted, passion spreads wide and far, and in a fierce outburst will not stand for the reins of reason and cannot be turned back by its driver. Thus, as a rule, not only is the soul perturbed and reason lost, but the face turns red with anger or lust, it grows pale with fear, it cannot contain itself in pleasure, and cannot bear joy.

When this happens, then our natural judgment and weight of character is cast aside, and we can no longer keep that consistency which alone in deed and thought can keep up its own authority and what is appropriate.

–St. Ambrose, On the Duties of the Clergy, 1.47

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

In the last few hours, how much of what I’ve done was controlled by reason?

And how much was I instead dragged around by runaway emotions?

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord, accept my prayer at your holy, heavenly, and reasonable altar, and bless me with a spirit of peace.

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