Silence is a cornerstone of Benedictine life and spiritual development, but the goal of monastic silence is not non-talking. Instead it is "selective talking." Someone following Jesus Christ in the way of St Benedict will often be silent because he realizes that what he has to say is either disrespectful, gossipy, unfruitful, insulting, vulgar, unkind or [...]
God has good manners. He will not talk to you when you are talking.
Quarr Abbey If you came this way, Taking any route, starting from anywhere, At any time or at any season, It would always be the same: you would have to put off Sense and notion. You are not here to verify, Instruct yourself, or inform curiosity Or carry report. You are here to kneel [...]
I was introduced to one of the great treasures of English medieval spirituality (sadly neglected by most Catholics) the Revelations of Divine Love by the anchoress and mystic Julian of Norwich when I took a course in the fourteenth century mystics at Blackfriars in Oxford. Fr Simon Tugwell OP was the brilliantly witty and erudite lecturer. The Lady Juliana was born about [...]
Why do you wish to change the world when you cannot change yourself?
Silent people are not the only ones who don't say much.