Silence is necessary not only to discern the will of God, but to accomplish it as perfectly as possible. "Souls of prayer are souls of great silence" (Bl. "There is a time for silence, and there is a time for speech" (Qo 3:7). Vita Consecrata writes: "The call to holiness is accepted and can be cultivated only in the silence of adoration." (38). "Jesus went up to the mountain to pray", says the evangelist Luke, "and he spent the whole night in prayer Before choosing his twelve men Jesus spent the whole night in prayer on the mountain (cf. St Mark writes: "Very early next morning, long before daylight, Jesus got up and went to a lonely place where he was absorbed in prayer" (35). Teresa MC says: "The fruit of silence is prayer". Even during those three years he sought the solitude of the deserts and of the mountains how many times the evangelists speak of Jesus going up to the mountain all by himself to pray. Jesus needed long years of profound silence and solitude to prepare himself for the three years of public ministry. Jesus spent about 30 years of silent life in Nazareth, unknown to all, except that, to others he was a carpenter (cf. Practically all important events in the life of Jesus take place in deep silence and solitude. The Book of Wisdom says: "When peaceful silence lay over all, and night had run the half of her swift course, down from heavens, from the royal throne, leapt your all powerful Word." (18:14-15).
The Incarnation of the Eternal Word took place "while all was in quiet Silence". "Adoration is the homage of the spirit to the King of glory, respectful silence in the presence of the 'ever greater' God." Adoration of the thrice-holy and sovereign God of love blends with humility and gives assurance to our supplications" ( CCC 2628). The Catechism calls for respectful silence in the presence of the "ever greater" God. In this silence, unbearable to the 'outer' man, the Father speaks to us the incarnate Word, who suffered, died and rose in this silence the Spirit of adoption enables us to share in the prayer of Jesus" ( CCC 2717). Words in this kind of prayer are not speeches they are like kindling that feeds the fire of love. In the various descriptive definitions of contemplative prayer, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says: "Contemplative prayer is silence, the symbol of the world to come or 'silent love'.
#Prayer in silence how to#
The silence of Nazareth should teach us how to meditate in peace and quiet, to reflect on the deeply spiritual, and to be open to the voice of God's inner wisdom and the counsel of his true teachers". We need this wonderful state of mind, beset as we are by the cacophony of strident protests and conflicting claims, so characteristic of these turbulent times. If only we could once again appreciate its great value. On Sunday, 5 January 1964, the Servant of God Pope Paul VI of happy memory, visited Nazareth where he spoke of the need for profound and positive silence: "I cannot leave without recalling, briefly and in passing, some thoughts I take with me from Nazareth. Citing a few examples here can help us to understand not only its value but also its necessity in our spiritual life. The teaching of the value of silence can be found at all times, and more so in our own time. In fact all the great teachers and masters of spiritual life insist upon this sort of silence.
We have five senses and silence demands that we be master of them all in order to have a well ordered spiritual life. When we hear the word silence what may come to mind is the opposite of noise. In this article I would like to make some reflections on this all important theme of silence. In her visiting card she wrote about the fruit of silence, which according to her is prayer. Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, the Foundress of the Missionaries of Charity Family and winner of more than 700 awards, was very fond of speaking about the need and importance of silence in our day-to-day life.
0 kommentar(er)
