Color your soul with the Mass; Church Fathers: Day 188

Jacob of Serugh tells us that our souls take on the color of whatever we think about. We should let our souls be drawn to the sights and sounds of the Mass, and then we will be dyed with holy colors.

Life flows from the service of the house of God; you who love life, do not refuse the profit that comes from it.

The human soul receives impressions; whatever she meditates on, she is dyed with that and becomes the same color. When she hears the dirges of the wailing women, she overflows with grief and pours out tears over the departed; and when again she hears the songs and jests of the actors she turns wanton, so that with a loud voice she may pour forth laughter. When she hears bad news, dread comes upon her; but if she hears good news, she is glad. And every wind that blows to­wards her moves her; and in whatever direction it be, each time she turns.

So when she hears the sound of the service of God’s house, spiritually she is moved with love towards God; and she despises the evil world and its affairs, so to speak, and comes in and mingles with these godly meditations; and she clings to and loves that spiritual conversation. She scorns the world and its affairs and its doings; she is steeped in these voices of holiness, and all carnal thoughts depart from her. And the soul scorns the love of the world and its pleasures, and thoughts of wantonness and neglect. And when she hears these voices that are sung to her, she is chaste and lowly and full of hope and moderation.

Therefore it is right that whoever enters in to give himself to prayer should stay long in God’s house. –Jacob of Serugh, On the Reception of the Holy Mysteries, 653-655

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

What music was running through my head just now? What TV shows was I thinking about just a while ago?

Would the Mass have been a better thing to occupy my mind?

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord, through your Mass lead me to perfection, and make me perfectly worthy of the grace of your sanctification.

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