Are we uncomfortable with silence?

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Rob2

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There have been threads in recent days about silence or lack of it in churches , and even in the sacristy .

To ask for silence in church is not to be negative . Rather it is to be positive and creative , to create that atmosphere in which prayer can better flourish , and in a Catholic church to give respect to the Eucharistic presence of the Lord .

The church ought to be a haven of peace in a noisy world .

Pope Francis asks for silence in church . Prior to the liturgy in St Peter’s Rome I have heard a request announced in several languages for no applause as the Pope processes to the altar .

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-the-mass-needs-silence-not-chit-chat-76871
 
There’s a great book by Cardinal Robert Sarah
" The Power of Silence "
I was actually reading this book before mass - for 6 -7 weeks
but the before mass chattering - was too much.
I eventually moved to the the very back row of the church -
but the casual chattering is still somewhat loud.
I also switched books - it was too much -
caught between the peaceful pages and also, at the same time, chattering.
 
I was at Mass Saturday morning and before the Mass there was so much talking I ended up going up the stairs to the glass enclosed sound proof area where parents bring their infants during Mass. It being prior to a daily Mass nobody was there. It was peaceful and quiet In contrast to all the talking in the pews. Yeah I know people will comment that the noise in church does not bother them and some can block it out while praying and contemplating. Good for them. But I need silence.
 
I love silence too. I find shopping to be difficult because of all the music playing (and I love music) but there are times I want peace and silence. I have made a silent retreat and it was bliss.
 
I like silence. I experience it at home, but rarely at church. It sometimes comes as a surprise. One time at the Teen Mass, when we knelt just before the Consecration, a hush fell upon the congregation, and I was amazed.
 
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Mass ends soon after receiving Jesus,I like to spend a little time with him in silence .It can be a bit challenging when people stay on in the church talking.
Some days I can tune out better ,close my eyes and pray .For that reason I find the cathedral gives the opportunity to pray on quietly rather than the small churches about .Some foyers are smaller than others ,but it’s easier when everyone moves to the hall for a cuppa.
 
Did you go to Gethsemane? My husband and our oldest son went on a silent retreat and discernment weekend there (near Bardstown/Springfield). They came home completely refreshed.
 
I so love the silence, so I arrive at Mass about 45 minutes early. About 15 minutes before Mass, the choir enters, people start arriving, the choir sings, chatting begins.
 
I don’t mind being quiet all by myself, but I have a hard time with silence when I’m with other people.
I feel like it’s on me to keep the other person entertained.
 
I love both silence and subdued lighting. My favorite time is the fourty five minutes before the Saturday evening mass, while confession is underway. The lighting is dim, especially this time of year. It is very peaceful and relaxing. Most conducive to silent prayer and meditation. I could bask in this mood for hours. It reminds me of when I was a child, and the church was open for most of the day, every day. When a mass was not being held, the lights were kept dim.
 
I love silence. I try to arrive at mass early for silent prayer. Most people are respectful of it at our parish, but I have noticed other parishes we’ve visited are noisy. I even have a little corner in my home I can retreat to if I need some alone time. That’s where I keep my bibles and Catholic reading material.
 
I get out quite a bit to be by myself to be quiet. I think that’s my attraction to daily mass. The silence I appreciate in nature I can also obtain in church. Sunday’s at my parish are a noisy affair. That’s why my wife and I seek out quieter churches on weekends when I’m not serving. There’s been a trend, though, at my parish and with our new pastor we’re graciously learning together to be more quiet at mass while still being the loving community we’ve always been.
 
I especially love inner silence, when that inner monologue takes a rest. Beautiful!
 
I think this is very much a personal preference. My sister and I share a house. She HAS to have something going… TV, a movie, music, something.

I, on the other hand prefer silence. The quieter the better.

It gets interesting at times.
 
Shakuhachi said:
I especially love inner silence, when that inner monologue takes a rest. Beautiful!
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Absolutely. True silence is found within. It is not where God is found—it is what God is. An absence of external sound is being quiet, and while quiet is a condition for silence, it is not in itself the entirety of silence.
 
@Rob2 this is a TED talk we listened to at the last session of the Just Faith program I’m in. Being a birder and a seeker of quiet places, I found it very interesting.

 
tad said:
@Rob2 this is a TED talk we listened to at the last session of the Just Faith program I’m in. Being a birder and a seeker of quiet places, I found it very interesting.

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Thanks @tad that is interesting .

So many sounds around us and how the sounds change when the environment is “disturbed” .

One sound or biophony I enjoy hearing - - - - - - -

 
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