All who lighten and relieve the arduous rigors of their labors show that music has been given to us as a natural solace for toil. Hence, sailors overcome the perils of the sea by singing; in this fashion they transport immense burdens with the comfort of songs; hence, the sound of music enables travelers to climb steep hills; hence, a melody leading the way even rouses soldiers to undergo the bitterness of warfare; and in short, any task, however hard and laborless, a sweet song masters and brings to completion. So let us, brothers, join the divine songs to the fasting of Lent, so that the heavenly symphony may temper and lighten the burden of abstinence.
Sermon 10, section 1.
