“Without question, all the
great saints, mystics, and spiritual masters prescribe silence as a sure means
to holiness. But why? What’s so special about silence?
Silence. It’s a
word that is both appealing and terrifying. It is a word that can either
connote peace and calm, or frightening isolation.
While some might
find the idea of silence appealing, the truth is, most of us don’t do well
with perfect quiet. Have you ever sat alone in a room, only to hear sounds
you had never noticed before? The ticking of a clock. The whooshing of air
moving through ducts. The hum of a refrigerator. A lawn mower running in the
distance. It is all a bit unnerving.
But perhaps
the thing we fear most about silence is being alone with our own thoughts. When confronted
with true quiet, we begin to hear the mad and chaotic rush of thoughts filling
our minds. The anxieties, the deep longings, the painful questions all seem to
come bubbling to the surface of our consciousness—and it makes us uncomfortable.
We fear this
confrontation with our innermost selves, the struggle with the complexity
of our hearts. So our natural tendency is to drown out silence with constant
noise. In the car alone, we turn on the radio. At home, TVs run constantly, not
so that we can watch them, but for a comforting “background noise.” A spare
moment in line is filled with compulsive checking of our smartphones. Anything
but silence.
Silence and the Saints
Yet, despite the
disquieting nature of silence, countless saints have counseled it as a
necessary and indispensable practice for growing in true holiness.
“In silence and
quiet the devout soul advances in virtue and learns the hidden truths of
Scripture,” says Thomas a Kempis. “Guard against much
talking,” advises St. Dorotheus of Gaza, “for it puts to flight
devout thoughts and recollection in God.” St. Maximilian Kolbe declares that,
“Silence is necessary, and even absolutely necessary. If silence is lacking,
then grace is lacking.” Many more examples could be given.
Through the
centuries, many religious orders have put this advice into
practice, with not a few prescribing silence to various degrees
in their rules. Perhaps the most famous and strict of these orders is the
Carthusians. Their disciplined quiet is so well known that
a documentary film about them was entitled, “Into Great
Silence.”
But why?
Without question,
all the great saints, mystics, and spiritual masters prescribe silence as a
sure means to holiness. But why? What’s so special about silence?
It is important to
understand that silence, like all the tools of the spiritual life, is not an
end in itself. It is a means—a method for coming to know Jesus Christ. Silence is
necessary because our intellects are wounded and fractured by the Fall.
Communion with God our Creator once came naturally and easily, much like seeing
or hearing does now. We were constantly aware of His presence. But now, sin has
disrupted this communion and damaged our ability to know God at the
deepest level of our being.
Our fractured
intellect, once perfectly in control, is now a chaotic storm of thoughts,
feelings and emotions—like a restless cloud of gnats on a hot summer night.
Calming this spiritual and emotional storm is incredibly difficult, and the
only way to achieve it is to face it head on. This we can only do when we are
quiet enough to hear just how chaotic our souls really are. Indeed,
this can be frightening, and we’d rather not do it—but doing so is absolutely
essential for spiritual progress.
Moreover, silence
is necessary to hear the promptings of the Holy Spirit and to receive and
preserve grace. God does not shout. He speaks quietly and softly, in a “still small
voice” (1 Kings 19:11-12). The promptings of the Holy Spirit are never heard in
busyness and anxious activity, but rather in stillness and quietness of heart.
Silence too helps
us to preserve the graces that God sends to us. Scuba divers are careful
and slow with their movements so as not to waste unnecessarily their precious
reserves of oxygen. Likewise, holy souls speak speaking carefully and
prudently to preserve their reservoir of grace.
How to Practice Silence
Now, you may be
wondering how it would be possible for a layman with a job and perhaps a family
to practice the virtue of silence. I know my wife would not appreciate it if I
began gesturing to her with monastic hand signals rather than
speaking! But while the practice of silence for a lay person might look
different than for a monastic, it is still possible and even advisable. Here
are some practical suggestions.
The first way to
practice silence is to refrain from frivolous speech, realizing that “when
words are many, transgression is not lacking” (Proverbs 10:19). That is, don’t
speak for speaking’s sake. Social media especially
encourages wasted speech. I’ve logged into Facebook to see people
complaining about hangnails, discussing their digestive problems, or posting
cryptic statements that beg for attention (“I really wonder if it’s worth it
anymore,” and the like). If you’re tempted to engage in this kind of speech,
don’t. Speak only when you have something worthwhile to say.
Second, silence can
be practiced by restraining our tongues when we desire to complain. Complaining is the
opposite of gratitude and thanksgiving, and it is actually a sin. It is so easy
to complain about a meal, a rude person, or the weather. But does this
contribute to anyone’s well being? Hold your tongue unless you have something
praiseworthy to say.
Third, we can
practice silence by refraining from sharing our opinion on every topic
imaginable. Whenever a crisis emerges on the national or world stage, it seems that
everyone everywhere immediately declares their infallible opinion on the
matter. But the truth is, many of us don’t understand these events very well at
all, and the world is not in need of more opinions. Keep your opinion to
yourself and you will be considered the wiser for it.
Fourth, we can
resist the urge to fill every spare moment with noise. If you are
driving, try leaving the radio or music off. If you are home, leave the TV off.
Avoid mindlessly checking your phone while in line or in spare moments. Life is
full of moments where we can be silent. Embrace them.
Finally, we can
keep silence when we desire to criticize others. How easy it is to
notice the faults of others! And it is even easier to repeat these faults,
true or not, to others, tearing people and harming their reputations if only to
make ourselves feel better. To keep silence when we feel the urge to criticize
is difficult, but it is also life-giving.
Conclusion
“The tongue is
placed among our members as a world of iniquity,” says St. James. Words have
power, though it be unseen, and what we say will echo in eternity. While we are
not cloistered monks, we can learn to practice silence in the state to which
God has called us, restraining our tongues wisely so we can hear the voice of
Christ and come to know him better.
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