In the Silence of the Night There is Music

The great philosopher Soren Kierkegaard once said, "The present state of the world and all of life is diseased. If I were a doctor and were asked my advice, I should reply: Create Silence! Bring men to Silence. The word of God cannot be heard in the noisy world of today. This conversation focuses on the celebration of the Feast of St. John of the Cross. We briefly discuss the theme of silence in John's own writings and the importance of it in his life, but then we go on to see how John's writings and teaching on the theme of silence so profoundly impacted Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity, and how she married John's poetry to her own experience of entering into a silent and intimate encounter with the Lord. Since this is December, the conversation also reflects on our own need to enter into silence in anticipation of the arrival of the Lord, and how the Blessed Mother was for John, Elizabeth and can be for us, the model of the interior soul, waiting in silence for the arrival of the gift of her son.

 

RESOURCES

The Twelve Degrees of Silence by Marie-Aimee of Jesus; Trans. from the French by Souer Ginette, Missionary Recluse

 

The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross, ICS Publications.

 

Elizabeth of the Trinity: The Compete Works, Vol. 1: General Introduction, Major Spiritual Writings,” ICS Publications.

 

A Soul of Silence: Sister Elizabeth of the Trinity  by Mary Amabel du Coeur de Jesus,OCD