From the Australian Provincial
In his concluding speech at the recent Congregation of Procurators, Fr General Adolfo Nicolás SJ urged Jesuits around the world to recover the spirit of silence. It is a timely message for all of us in these busy times.
On this Feast of the Assumption, Fr Nicolás’ words make me think of Mary's prayerfulness and her ability to ponder things in her heart.
The silence of our hearts is indeed a beautiful place to meet God. Here is what Fr Nicolás said on the subject of silence:
I believe that one of the primary challenges facing the Society today is that of recovering the spirit of silence. I am not thinking of disciplinary measures, fixed times of silence, going back to religious houses that look more like monasteries. Rather, I am thinking of the hearts of our men.
We all need a place inside ourselves where there is no noise, where the voice of the Spirit of God can speak to us, softly and gently, and direct our discernment. In a very true sense we need the ability to become ourselves silence, emptiness, an open space that the Word of God can fill, and the Spirit of God can set on fire for the good of others and of the Church.
More than ever, every Jesuit should be able to live like a monk in the middle of the noise of the city – as an Orthodox friend of ours once said. That means that our hearts are our monasteries and at the bottom of every activity, every reflection, every decision, there is silence, the kind of silence that one shares only with God.
This made me think of Madeline Delbrel, who set out with her six companions to set up an unenclosed contemplative community in the midst of an industrial area near Paris: "Why should the wind through the pines, the sand storms, and the squall upon the sea, all count as silence, and not the pounding of the factory machines, the rumbling of the trains at the station, and the clamor of the engines at the intersection?" - Madeleine Delbrêl
ReplyDeleteSafe travels to Syria and prayers for your work there!
Thanks for your prayers, Michele.
DeleteExcellent point you raise in your quote. It is paradoxical, but true.
I would like to second Michelle's wishes for you and your travels.
ReplyDelete"To be monk in the middle of the noise of the city... Our hearts are our monasteries." Indeed. For a Jesuit priest and for a layman or laywoman. At least, I do feel the need.
Thank you.
Thanks, Claire. Thanks for the prayers.
DeleteThe provincial said it well. Ignatius still wants us to be contemplative in action in our own world contexts.