Keep the prayer of the angels in your heart; Angels: Day 355

Even when you’re just out shopping, says St. John Chrysostom, you can still be praising God with the heavenly hosts. True praise isn’t just the words you speak: it shows itself in how you live.

What is the hymn of the heavenly beings? You, the faithful, know it. What do the Cherubim above say? What do the angels say? “Glory to God in the highest” (Isa. 6:3).

This is why the hymns come after the psalm, because they are even more perfect. “With psalms, with hymns, with spiritual songs,” it says, “with grace sing- ing in your hearts to God” (Ps. 100:4, Septuagint reading).

Singing in your hearts to God—not just with the mouth, he means, but with obedience. That’s what it means to sing to God. Otherwise you’re just singing to the air, and your voice dissipates with no result—you’re just singing to show off.

Even if you’re in the market, you can remember to sing to God, though no one else will hear you. Moses prayed this way, and God heard him. He says, “Why do you cry to me?” even though Moses said nothing. He only cried out in thought, with a contrite heart, and only God heard him. There’s no reason you can’t pray to God, and keep your mind on Heaven, even when you’re just walking around. –St. John Chrysostom, Homily 9 on Colossians

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Have I asked for the help of the angels to change my attitude and the way I treat people around me—on the road, in the supermarket, at work?

CLOSING PRAYER

Holy Guardian Angel, help me be attentive to your promptings, so that all my works and all my words may rise as a hymn of praise to God.

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