The World Is Rotten Because Of Silence

Enough of exhortations to be silent! Cry out with a hundred thousand tongues; the world is rotten because of silence. - Saint Catherine of Siena

I am Bombarded With Noise

“I hear noise outside of me and there is more noise going on within me. I am bombarded with noise. My mind wanders in a thousand different directions. My world has too much stimuli and marches past me in an ever-moving parade of sounds and images. I am drowning in the noise. My spirit is suffocating from the noise. Lord, set me free.” - Carmelite Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Los Angeles

The Cry of Today

People are experiencing great yearnings to be fulfilled, satisfied, and whole, and the world is running out of answers for them.

“Lord, when can I come to you with a quiet heart?”

“I hear noise outside of me and there is more noise going on within me. I am bombarded with noise. My mind wanders in a thousand different directions. My world has too much stimuli and marches past me in an ever-moving parade of sounds and images. I am drowning in the noise. My spirit is suffocating from the noise. Lord, set me free.”

This prayer demonstrates the call of the Holy Spirit to deeper prayer, to a more profound interior life. Note the elements of the prayer. First of all, there is the enlightenment that one’s heart is not quiet. At the same time, there is an understanding that so much noise is not good. The prayer reflects a person who is aware of the need to reduce the stimuli bombarding the senses with their accompanying thoughts and feelings. It depicts a soul that is submerged in noise, suffocating from the noise.

This is the prayer of our present cultural milieu. It could be called, “The Cry of Today.”

Carmel’s call through truth echoes in the souls of many people throughout our world. People are seeing that the final product of all this consumerism is not so good. They are experiencing great yearnings to be fulfilled, satisfied, and whole, and the world is running out of answers for them. This is where Carmelite spirituality can be helpful to God’s people today. It explains, guides, and teaches all those who are ready to learn.

One of the things that Carmelite spirituality teaches is that the contemplative life arises from within the soul and needs a contemplative space. That’s why the prayer ends with, “set me free.” What is a contemplative space? It consists of an attitude, a choice, and a decision.

The Attitude: I need to change my approach to the quantity and quality of my life’s activities in order to weed out the busyness from my life.

The Choice: I will eliminate from my life unnecessary hectic, frantic activity and slow down, in as much as it is possible. I will choose a simpler lifestyle and build into it a contemplative space.

The Decision: I will pray every day. I will go to my contemplative space and listen only to God that I may come to know Him better and grow into a deeper relationship with Him. The interesting outcome of this is that I will actually get more done.

After adjusting attitude, making the choice and the decision, it is very helpful to read spiritual books. Read about the saints and learn how they “downsized” their life’s activities and made more time for God. As prayer deepens, turn to the Carmelite Saints who explain the various stages of prayer.

After reading, we, too, can say, like Edith Stein, “This is truth.”

- Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles

Originally posted at Integrated Catholic Life

Without Silence, We Simply Cannot Hear What He so Desperately Wants to Avail to the Human Soul

Drowning and suffering in the noise is one of the many impediments to grace and interior peace, within the noise of life. And sometimes the 'noise' knows no audible sound but will plague your mind with a rendundant echo that pushes many to the edge of madness. Once the soul has been prepared and thus been nourished by silence, contemplatively speaking, the tranquility becomes a vital 'daily bread.' I am absolutely convinced that without silence, we simply cannot hear what He so desperately wants to avail to the human soul; which most importantly is more of Him. We can prattle in our thoughts without ever uttering a syllable. The greatest way to still one's self preparing for the silence that awaits, is to sit regularly before the exposed Presence of Him in the monstrance. Go to adoration, frequently and regularly, but turn off the phone, and leave the rosary beads, prayer cards, and books at home. Just you and Him. Let Him decorate your soul with silence. He can still an unquiet heart and mind. - Amy Ivsan

God Cannot Be Found in Noise and Restlessness

We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls. - Blessed Mother Teresa

Patience Obtains All

Let nothing trouble you. Let nothing frighten you. Everything passes. God never changes. Patience obtains all. Whoever has God, wants for nothing. God alone is enough. - Saint Theresa of Avila (Poesías 30)

The Importance of Silence

The Father spoke one Word, which was his Son, and this Word he speaks always in eternal silence, and in silence must it be heard by the soul - Saint John of the Cross

No Foul Language

No foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for needed edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear. - Eph 4:29

Holy Silence

The fruit of silence is prayer. The fruit of prayer is faith. The fruit of faith is love. The fruit of love is service. The fruit of service is peace. - Blessed Mother Teresa