Edition Seven | 29 April 2020

Continuing to celebrate the resurrected Lord in the season of Easter, this edition of The Daily Soul focuses on the discipline of silence in meditation as counselled by Bishop Greg to nourish the spiritual life. In particular, the practice of Christian Meditation is highlighted as an effective practice for all to find God’s grace and peace in Stillness, Silence and Simplicity.

In Silence

Exterior silence can greatly aid in fostering an interior awareness of God’s presence. Jesus, in the Gospel of Luke, “withdrew himself into the wilderness and prayed” (Luke 5:16) and his followers have continued to do the same. St John of the Cross, founder of the Carmelite order and a great master of interior prayer, loved to pray in the mountains. Many would argue that nature greatly enhances one’s appreciation of the divine. Going into nature, let alone mountains, isn’t always possible, particularly with the current COVID-19 restrictions. It is times like these when we can take particular note of the advice, “When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matt 6:6).

Our church teachings give us some clarity on the value and importance of silence in prayer. “Contemplative prayer is silence, the ‘symbol of the world to come’ or ‘silent love.’ Words in this kind of prayer are not speeches; they are like kindling that feeds the fire of love. In this silence, unbearable to the ‘outer’ man, the Father speaks to us His incarnate Word, who suffered, died, and rose; in this silence, the Spirit of adoption enables us to share in the prayer of Jesus” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2717).

Meditation is a practice found at the core of all the great religious traditions. In recent times there has been a major recovery of the contemplative dimension of Christian faith and prayer. We can all be encouraged by the widespread implementation of Christian Meditation throughout parish school communities in the Diocese of Lismore.