The Soul Is Light as a Feather

The nature of the soul is fairly compared to a very fine feather or a very light wing. If no moisture has fallen on it from outside to damage or spoil it, it is carried up almost naturally to the heights of heaven by its own lightness and the help of the slightest breath. But if it is weighted by moisture that falls on it and soaks into it, it will not only fail to be carried off by its natural lightness into any flight through the air. It will actually be dragged down to the depths of the earth by the weight of the moisture it has taken in. So it is with our soul. If it is not weighed down by the faults that touch it and by the cares of this world, or damaged by the moisture of harmful desires, it will be lifted up, as it were, by the natural blessing of its own purity. It will be carried to the heights by the light breath of spiritual meditation, and it will leave low and earthly things behind and be carried over to things that are heavenly and unseen. That is why the Lord’s command warns us well: “Take care that your hearts are not weighed down by overindulgence and drunkenness and the cares of this world.” And so, if we want our prayers to reach not only the sky but what lies beyond the sky, let us take care to bring our soul back to its natural lightness, cleansed of every earthly fault and purified from every stain, so that our prayer may rise to God unchecked by the weight of any sin. [a]