Silence

To Esteem the Divine Presence

St. Benedict tells us:

Let us follow the Prophet’s counsel… I have put a guard on my mouth. I was silent and was humbled, and I refrained even from good words. (Ps 38:2-3). Here the Prophet indicates that there are times when good words are to be left unsaid out of esteem for silence… Speaking and teaching are the master’s task; the disciple is to be silent and listen” (RB 6:1-2, 6).

It is easy to let the cloister of our home be filled up with either a cacophony of individual chatter (e.g. everybody talking over each other) or the silence of isolation (e.g. everybody doing their own thing in their room). What these have in common is they cut us off from each other.

The silence St. Benedict proposes is different. It is a silence that unites us because in it we place ourselves before the Presence that is the source of our lives, the One each of our hearts desires. Who is the master St. Benedict speaks of? Jesus said, “You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers” (Matt. 23:8). By practicing silence together we enter into dialogue with the mystery of God, our Father. We sit at the feet of the Master and listen.

We practice silence at particular times in the monastery and invite you to join us in them.

• Keep silence before Morning Prayer

and after Compline, so that the first and last words of the day we utter are to God.

This is called the Grand Silence.

• During the two periods set aside for

personal prayer and Lectio Divina

(see Horarium, p. 9) • As you consider what this may look like in your home, it may be helpful to remember that the disposition of

silence is not just “not speaking,” but

also speaking only what is essential.

For instance, it may be necessary to say a few words about the work to the brother you are working with. But these are kept to what is strictly necessary and come from the same posture of listening and attentiveness, which is the spirit of silence.

• Depending on the situation, it may not be possible to observe all of these times. If so, pick one period of time each day to

do silence together.