Silence is easy to come by for me lately—now that Ohio is wrapped in a thick blanket of snow. The other day I sat mesmerized, watching the large, lacy flakes dance their way down from the sky.

Silence, God’s First Language

God speaks in silence. Remember how the prophet Elijah waited for the Lord to pass by as he had promised. Strong wind split rocks, followed by an earthquake and fire. But God wasn’t in any of these loud things. He spoke in sheer silence.

God still speaks in silence.  Pope St. John Paul II stated,“ Actually, it is only in silence that human beings can hear in their inmost being the voice of God which truly sets them free.”

When we sink into silence, we come face to face with God. To be still we must cease our frantic pace, put away the cell phone, turn off the TV, quiet our bodies, curb our racing minds, and close our mouths. Only then can we be attuned to the voice of God speaking from the eternal silence. St. Teresa of Calcutta offered another motivation for silence: “The more we receive in silent prayer, the more we can give in our active life.”

Advantages of Silence

Mother Teresa also noted: “God is the friend of silence. . . . See how nature, the trees, the flowers, the grasses grow in perfect silence—see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence.” When we are silent, we can glimpse deer, catch fish, read a book, and work out a problem.

You probably have memories that bear out the truth of the saying “silence is golden.” Maybe you remember walking into the peace of your own home after a noisy party, or taking a stroll before anyone else was awake, or gazing at a baby fast asleep. Such times are valuable because they draw us more deeply into reality. St. Elizabeth of the Trinity said, “There is nothing so great as silence. It shuts out the external world to open up the interior world.”

Daily Cacophany

Usually the world packs our minds with a million noises: music, chatter, commercials, traffic sounds, crowds. Sheltered from these distractions, we are free to concentrate on essentials.

In silence we find truth, goodness, and beauty. We discover who we are. Silence is the air that our spirit must breathe if our spiritual life is to thrive. St. John of the Cross taught, “The language that he [God] best hears is the silent language of love.” When you pray, go to a peaceful place, quiet your mind, and still your body. No need to speak directly to God—to adore and thank him or voice petitions. Just be still and listen.

Jesus Sought Silence

Jesus, our model, valued silence. He prepared for his public life by a 40-day private retreat in the wilderness. Before choosing his apostles, “He departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12). He often rose before dawn or drew apart from the hubbub of the crowds to commune with God alone: to celebrate their bond of love, and to center his life and his work on God’s will.

Jesus recommended praying in solitude to his followers: “But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret”(Matthew 6:6).

Silence as a Pathway to God

We believe that the Trinity lives within us. Quiet solitude enables us to attend to God. We can adore the Almighty in the depths of our being, delight in his loving presence, and strengthen our love for him. Refreshed and encouraged by loving encounters with God, we can better meet life’s challenges.

People who seek God have always reserved silent spaces in their lives. St. Thomas More, who was Chancellor of English in the sixteenth century, prayed every morning from two to six-o’clock! For centuries men and women religious have practiced silence. (Originally we Notre Dames observed Silencium Rigorosum, strict silence at night.) Serious Christians participate in days of recollection, retreats, and renewals in which silence usually plays a major role. During liturgical celebrations “at the proper times all should observe a reverent silence.”

The Incarnation

In the Christmas liturgy we hear “When peaceful silence lay over all, and night had run the half of her swift course, down from the heavens, from the royal throne, leapt your all-powerful Word” (Wisdom 18:14–15). Our silent hearts invite another incarnation. In the tranquility of silence the Word becomes living and active in us. Faith, hope, and love are born anew. We acquire the energy to live life to the hilt, and we increase our potential for eternal life.

Self-check

1. Am I afraid to be alone?
2. Am I uncomfortable doing nothing?
3. Do I occasionally treat myself to several hours of solitude and silence—in a park, at the beach, or some other secluded area?
4. During how much of each day do I experience silence?
5. Do I always have the radio on when I drive?
6. In the quiet evening hours do I always watch TV, or do I sometimes pray, read, or reflect?
7. After receiving Communion, do I pray—or watch people go by?
8. How much time do I allow for daily prayer?

A Prayer

Jesus, you speak to me when I am silent. Once amid thunder and crashing waves when you said, “Peace, be still,” the wind and waves obeyed you. Now calm me. Lord, quiet my body so that I might rest in your presence. Silence my heart and mind so that I might wait attentively for your word. Then when I am still, speak, Lord, and I will listen.

What is your favorite memory of silence?

Here is the snow falling as seen from my balcony Tuesday: