Chapter 42: The great silence after Compline
Silence should be sought at all times by monks and nuns and this is especially important for them at night time. (From para. 1 of Ch. 42 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)
Silence may allow me to experience either the presence of God or the absence of God. Either way, I proceed in faith, into the darkness of day.
In the story of daily life compline is the period at the end of the daily paragraph. The silence of night is a pause, a time to rest deeply with God, a time to recuperate with the Divine Author in mind body and spirit.
ReplyDeleteAs I am a householder, raising a family and not a monk or nun, Benedict's guidance helps me realize why I treasure this time so much.
Who am I? My imaginations of what I think others think of me? The multiple facades that I present in the vain hope that people will think well of me? The flaws that I attempt to hide from the world and myself? No doubt these are, regrettably, part of me. But these are not who I am. The discovery of who I truly am may take a lifetime and requires silence, which allows the grace of God to illuminate me to me. And, if it is God's will, to play my part in His illumination.
ReplyDelete"Open our hearts to the silent presence of the Spirit of your Son. Lead us into that mysterious silence where your love is revealed to all who call." Open me, Abba. Lead me.
ReplyDelete