In a busy world filled with distractions, noise, and instant gratification, sometimes the most difficult thing to attain is silence.
Cardinal Robert Sarah writes in his book, The Power of Silence: Against the Dictatorship of Noise, “Our world no longer hears God because it is constantly speaking, at a devastating speed and volume, in order to say nothing. Modern civilization does not know how to be quiet. It holds forth in an unending monologue …
Thus there is a dictatorship of speech, a dictatorship of verbal emphasis. In this theater of shadows, nothing is left but a purulent wound of mechanical words, without perspective, without truth, and without foundation … Developing a taste for prayer is probably the first and foremost battle of our age.”
Being able to center ourselves, turn off all distractions, and seek God in silence is essential in developing a prayer life. Praying in silence is a gift, and beyond that, praying in silence is a muscle. It does not simply happen on its own, but rather comes as a result of consistent practice.
Some great ways to embrace silence in prayer are to meditate on the Scriptures, to reflect on a spiritual reading, or to pray a form prayer, like the Rosary. Choose a particular passage or prayer that you’d like to meditate on, go over it, and then reflect. This might entail thinking about a pillar of faith or virtue you are struggling with or applying lessons from Scripture to your own life. Whatever that time looks like for you, the important part is leaning into the silence and welcoming God into your heart.
If you are looking for spiritual reading to reflect on during your silent prayer, we recommend these three titles:
St. John Vianney's Meditations on the Eucharist
