As a fish lives in water so we live in a sea of air.

We breathe it every moment of our lives. We see it as the blue sky and movements of the clouds; we smell it in the in the spring flowers; we hear it in the sounds of nature and as it whistles past our ears. We take its for granted but St. Francis of Assisi prayed thus:

Be praised, my Lord,
through Brothers Wind and Air,
and clouds and storms,
and all the weather,
through which you give your creatures sustenance.

Photo courtesy of NASA (Apollo 16 Mission).

In God providential care, the creation of air goes back into the evolution of stars which produced among other elements Oxygen, Nitrogen and Carbon. As the stars died they scattered their matter into space which eventually was caught up into the formation of our solar system. At present, this blanket of air is 348 miles thick. It protects us against harmful solar radiation, the frigid vacuum of space and moderates the movements of clouds and temperature of the planet. It compresses our bodies preventing the gases in our physical makeup from bubbling and causing death.

"Air" is not only all around us but also inside us. We breathe Oxygen which oxidizes the food we eat thus releasing its energy. Oxygen as part of water (H2O) makes up 65% of our body weight. We do not use Nitrogen directly but is found in the soil and food we eat; it is part of the protoplasm of every living organism.

Air flowing from our mouths allows us to speak and sing. Through wind instruments such as the flute, we express the melodies of our soul which brings us harmony, joy and peace. Air is for life, communication, music and the praise of God. We live in it, move in it and exist in it. Air speaks to us of God's pervasive and invisible presence to his creatures.

Silent Night played by Bro. Renatus Foldenauer, CSC Please click image to hear

Breath, Wind, Spirit