Silence

[St_Anthony_1]

I am considering putting myself forward to become a benedictine oblate and was curious about keeping silent…

Does this mean simply not speaking when not necessary? or is it more about finding quietness? One is decidely more difficult than the other!!

I often find my brain racing with things I need to do that day, is silence on the other hand not words or environment but quietening the mind?

I am genuiely curious as to what people think about this as I try to practice this in my life as part of my discerment.

 

[puzzleannie]

to me (as an oblate) it means not needing to have the last word
not needing to speak on any and all occassions
not needing to always give my unsolicited opinion
most of all not responding to hurtful speech
not laying down the law all the time
not trying to control a conversation

example some people (not you or I) have the habit of turning the conversation always back toward them. If you start talking about your ailment, they have a worse one. If your kid got an A, their kid is going to Harvard, and so forth.
trying to break those kinds of habits

also not needing background noise–tv radio earbuds

 

[GRATEFULONEjim]

Silence is truly a difficult thing to get used to in today’s society. Solitude is another. They are both wonderful gifts that people tend to take for granted.

 

[DaveBj]

Sheesh, I would not make it as a Benedictine Oblate. I like my background noise too much–news radio, classical music, etc.

On the other hand, my wife is an oblate. Silence? BWAAAAHAHAHAHA!!!

 

[GRATEFULONEjim]

Sheesh, I would not make it as a Benedictine Oblate. I like my background noise too much–news radio, classical music, etc.

On the other hand, my wife is an oblate. Silence? BWAAAAHAHAHAHA!!!

Funny Stuff!!

 

[Little_One0307]

Exterior silence helps in one’s pursuit of what one is aiming to get with silence. And that is silence of the heart and mind before God’s presence. I am finding how much silence means to my spiritual journey.

You hit the nail on the head. Silence is being silent before God to hear His Voice and be open to His movings. For me this has been a long time process and it is still going on. Short prayer or prayer in the heart has been most helpful.

It is possible for one to be in crowd and maintain interior silence before God much better than one who is in a cloister. It does require grace, ask for it quite often.

I usually listen to music very rarely. I converse when it is needed, anything else I usually do not talk much. Of course, I pretty much live a life of solitude only going to town once in a blue moon, but I do like it this way.

God bless.