HOLY SILENCE

THE CLASSIC REFLECTIONS OF SR. MARIE-AIMEE DE JESUS, A 19TH CENTURY SPIRITUAL MYSTIC AND CARMELITE NUN ON THE TWELVE DEGREES OF SILENCE IS RELIED ON BY THE AUTHOR, FR. BASIL NORTZ, EMPHASISES THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH TYPES OF SILENCE TO LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF GOD AMIDST THE BUSYNESS OF LIFE WHICH IS USUALLY FILLED WITH NOISE, FURORE AND PRATTLE. THE READERS ARE GIVEN INSIGHTS ON ONE OF THE MOST SINFUL ATTITUDES THAT LEADS US TO SUFFER THE LOSS OF THE MERCIFUL FORGIVENESS OF GOD AND TO AVOID PASSING JUDGMENT ON OTHERS. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE BOOK TEACHES THE READERS THE MOST IMPORTANT ATTITUDE TO ENTER INTO THE LOVE OF GOD AND TO AFFECTIONATELY CONVERSE WITH HIM THROUGHOUT THE DAY. THERE ARE ALSO PRACTICAL TECHNIQUES TO OVERCOMING DISTRACTIONS IN PRAYER AS WELL AS ADVISE FROM THE SAINTS ON METHODS OF MEDITATION TO DEVELOP SILENCE OF SOUL. FR NORTZ EXPLAINS, “HOLY SILENCE IS WHAT HELPS THE SOUL ACQUIRE THE STRENGTH NECESSARY TO BEAR THE PRESENCE OF THE ALL-PURE GOD, WHO IS IPSUM ESSE SUBSISTENS (SUBSISTENT BEING ITSELF).”