silence

The Reasons for Silence

2016-09-07T16:14:28-04:00September 7th, 2016|Categories: Suburban Hermit|Tags: , |

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 [...]

Quarr Abbey, Ryde, Isle of Wight

2015-11-24T19:12:48-04:00November 24th, 2015|Categories: Suburban Hermit|Tags: , , , , , , |

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 [...]

Julian of Norwich

2015-11-20T17:50:31-04:00November 20th, 2015|Categories: Suburban Hermit|Tags: , , , , , |

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 [...]

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