“Be Still and know that I am God”  (Psalm 46:10)  

In order to hear God’s voice and to feel His presence, we need to enter into a state of profound silence especially when we pray.

Last Sunday I arrived about 25 minutes before Mass began.  I was hoping to pray the Office of Readings and prepare to participate in the Eucharist. Since I got there early I was hopeful that I would encounter holy silence. No such luck. Several people were sitting in the pews and talking. Quite loudly.

I read an article in the Wall Street Journal about the Lincoln Memorial which is a replica of the Parthenon an ancient Greek temple.It was an interesting article about this very American temple, but it was these words that, for me, jumped off the page

“Quiet—Respect Please.” It wasn’t necessary. Silence fell naturally as we stood before the statue of the man responsible for the unity that makes it possible for us to serve all 50 states.

“Silence fell naturally.” The author assumed that most people would stand before the statue of Lincoln in reverence. Certainly, Lincoln was a great president. A great man. But he is still a creature. He is not the Creator of the cosmos.

Yet when we come into the very presence of the Word, Jesus Christ, the true temple, we act as if we are standing around the office water cooler. No reverence. Not even respect.

Confession: I am ashamed to admit that I have been as guilty as the next “mature” lady in the pew.  But only when I am spoken to; I don’t want to offend anyone dontcha know.

Our Pastor instituted a five minute moment of silence before Mass begins which is announced by the lector. Even the musicians are to be silent.  But last Sunday the pianist banged away through the five minutes of silence. Sigh.

When my husband was in Deacon formation, we spent once a month at Conception Abby.  I loved participating in Sunday Mass at their beautiful Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. The liturgy was almost perfect, the Monks chanted beautifully, and no one, not even guests or people from the town talked. Not even a whisper could be heard. There were signs at the entrance to the Church that asked that those entering maintain “Holy Silence.

A sign similar to the one in the Lincoln Memorial should be in every Catholic Church.

In the Screwtape Letters by C.S Lewis, a senior devil instructs his nephew, a devil in training, that noise is a powerful tool to keep people away from God:

“Noise which alone defends us from silly qualms, despairing scruples and impossible desires. We will make the whole universe a noise in the end. We have already made great strides in this direction as regards the Earth. The melodies and silences of Heaven will be shouted down in the end. But I admit we are not yet loud enough, or anything like it. Research is in progress. (Chapter 22)”

The Screwtape letters were published in 1942. Before televisions in every home, iPods, cell phones etc.

I would think that the research is complete. And the results implemented. The devils can sleep in even on Sunday morning.