Tonight, we read Step number 11 on “talkativeness and silence.” Fittingly, it is very brief, if not the briefest of all of the steps of The Ladder. This brevity is St. John’s way of teaching us that so much of our speech involves vainglory; putting ourselves on display. We seek through it to step out of ourselves; betraying the painful experience we have as human beings of our lack of identity. God has created us for himself. He has created us in his image and likeness precisely that we might not experience ourselves in isolation, but rather in communion. However, to enter into communion with God means to step out of our limited ways of perceiving the world around us and reality as a whole. This means allowing God, through the silence,
to draw us in faith into the experience of His life, light and love. To give ourselves over to talkativeness is to find ourselves dissipated. Our desire for God cools and the emptiness that we feel drives us to fill our lives with anything and everything so that we do not feel alone. Despite having God dwelling within us, once we lose sight of him, silence becomes an enemy. Therefore, John tells us that we must foster silence as a habit. We must allow God to show us its value, and what it makes possible for us. The first step is to create external silence. Once we have done this, we often see the unsettledness of our minds and hearts.
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Text of chat during the group:
Conferences of St. John Cassian: Conference Four on the Desires of the Flesh and Spirit Part III
Conferences of St. John Cassian: Conference Four on the Desires of the Flesh and Spirit Part II
Conferences of St. John Cassian: Conference Three on Renunciation -Part V and Conference Four on Desires of Flesh and Spirit
Conferences of St. John Cassian: Conference Three on Renunciation -Part IV
Conferences of St. John Cassian: Conference Three on Renunciation -Part III
Conferences of St. John Cassian: Conference Three on Renunciation -Part II
Conferences of St. John Cassian: Conference Three on Renunciation -Part I
Conferences of St. John Cassian: Conference Two Part V on Discretion
Conferences of St. John Cassian: Conference Two Part IV on Discretion
Conferences of St. John Cassian: Conference Two Part III on Discretion
Conferences of St. John Cassian: Conference One Part V and Conference Two Part II on Discretion
Conferences of St. John Cassian: Conference One Part V and Conference Two Part I on Discretion
Conferences of St. John Cassian: Conference One Part IV - Goal of the Spiritual life (Purity of Heart)
Conferences of St. John Cassian: Conference One Part III - Goal of the Spiritual life (Purity of Heart)
Conferences of St. John Cassian: Conference One Part II - Goal of the Spiritual life (Purity of Heart)
Conferences of St. John Cassian: Conference One Part I - Purity of Heart
Introduction to the Life, Times and Writings of St. John Cassian Part II
Introduction to the Life, Times and Writings of St. John Cassian
Ladder of Divine Ascent - Step 29 On Dispassion Part II and Step 30 on Love
Ladder of Divine Ascent - Step 28 On Prayer Part II and Step 29 On Dispassion
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