"Inward and outward silence are necessary if we are to be able to hear God's word. And in our time this point is particularly difficult for us. In fact, ours is an era that does not encourage recollection; indeed, one sometimes gets the impression that people are frightened of being cut off, even for an instant, from the torrent of words and images that mark and fill the day. It was for this reason that in the above mentioned Exhortation Verbum Domini I recalled our need to learn the value of silence: “Rediscovering the centrality of God’s word in the life of the Church also means rediscovering a sense of recollection and inner repose. The great patristic tradition teaches us that the mysteries of Christ all involve silence. Only in silence can the word of God find a home in us, as it did in Mary, woman of the word and, inseparably, woman of silence” (n. 66). This principle — that without silence one does not hear, does not listen, does not receive a word — applies especially to personal prayer as well as to our liturgies: to facilitate authentic listening, they must also be rich in moments of silence and of non-verbal reception. St Augustine’s observation is still valid: Verbo crescente, verba deficiunt “when the word of God increases, the words of men fail” (cf. Sermo 288, 5: pl 38, 1307; Sermo 120, 2: pl 38, 677). The Gospels often present Jesus, especially at times of crucial decisions, withdrawing to lonely places, away from the crowds and even from the disciples in order to pray in silence and to live his filial relationship with God. Silence can carve out an inner space in our very depths to enable God to dwell there, so that his word will remain within us and love for him take root in our minds and hearts and inspire our life." Pope Benedict XVI, General Audience, 7 March 2012.
Yeah, there is something that happens in silence that goes beyond words. Silence as a word doesn't do it justice. It's like as though it is sacred ground where we meet and connect to God.
I knew a very old Irish monk called Father Eunan one time. He walked with a heavy limp and was silence walking. No one seemed to know anything much about him. What county he came from, what he had worked at. Nothing. Not only did he not speak about himself he did not talk about anything really. He was teaching me gardening and he strictly talked about gardening alone. I don;t think I ever heard him speak and extra uncalled for word about anything. Being very young back then and curious I constantly tried to draw him out but the most I could ever get was a wry smile. Not a word. He came from that generation of monks called Trappists who by their rule never spoke at all. They communicated by silence. After Vatican 2 they began to speak. But I don't believe Father Eunan ever switched over. But he was very, very holy indeed. Indeed saintly. Holiness as well as silence. The curious thing about Eunan is that he taught me much more by his silence than anyone else did by talking. His silence was his talking. It was one of the great blessings of my life to have met and worked alongside him. It is true when we talk to God we talk to God He is a silent God . Silence but his silence speaks. I would say as we move forward in prayer we become more and more silent as a matter of course. Although also of course this is affected by our place in life. A father or mother of several teen age children for instance will not, I suspect, be exactly cloaked in silence. But as a general rule I think there should be greater and greater silence. Plus when we do speak there will be much smiling and laughter. At the moment as a matter of course I get to speak to one person, Heather, for a few minutes once a day after mass. If Heather is not there I usually do not get to speak at all. But I do get to speak to God all day long all day. Every second, all day long. It is not an empty silence but a filled one. Full of the music of God. Silence , simply for the sake of silence could be very unhealthy. Silence filled by God is a joy. But it according to state of life . Mother Angelica for instance must have had to speak a lot. The same with Fulton Sheen. But they spent loads of time, too, in front of the Blessed Sacrament and loved this.
Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth!” This is why one should especially seek silence after receiving Holy Communion!
I find it very helpful getting to Mass early. People going to Mass remind me of little birds that go to roost on a tree. They are all excited and singing at first. Then they calm down and go silent. We need time to reach a proper inner stillness. It is true the old Latin Mass is a better , richer liturgy. Far,far,far better. But with any form of Mass it strikes me that to some extent what we bring is what we get. Primarily , in the first place it is what we bring that counts the most. If for instance we find the Mass boring or distracting it is because we ourselves have not made the effort. But if we ourselves are still and silent that silence will spread around us. I notice in my own little Monastery Church it is much , much more silent than it was when I first went there. Also there are far more people going. It is bad when lay people talk in Church but it is far worse when nuns and priests do so. But you never know what great effect the good example of your own behaviour is having on others. We don;t have to go around rebuking people, our own example does so. But there are many, many , many masses which are Sacriligeous at the moment which are sacriligeous and should be avoided. There are many , many Masses which are gravely offensive to God.
To kneel in preparatory prayer before Holy Mass and to do so in thanksgiving afterwards is very important. To do so before Holy Mass on weekends might be more difficult, but not nearly so much afterwards. On Sundays, unfortunately, most people exit the Church within 5-7 minutes. Yet that allows for quiet following.
