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What is holy silence?

holy silence
Answer


Holy silence is a spiritual discipline often propagated by the Catholic Church, though it extends to other Christian traditions and has its counterparts in religions like Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. Holy silence is associated with contemplative prayers, which differ from simply praying with one’s mind. Contemplative prayer involves steps geared to silence the mind and heart to listen to God. The aim of holy silence is to foster deep intimacy with God, listen for His guidance, and enhance self-reflection.

Some Bible passages used to support holy silence are Psalm 46:10 and 1 Kings 19:11–12, both of which encourage contemplation and attentiveness. In a busy society with an overload of noise, the appeal of holy silence is evident. Catholic traditions even have an icon of Our Lady of Silence, which portrays Mary with a finger on her lips. Rosaries and prayers to Our Lady of Silence are made available. The Arlington Catholic Herald reports that Pope Francis hung a picture of Our Lady of Silence in the Vatican, showing his priority of practicing holy silence and listening to God. Father Antenucci, who commissioned the icon for the pope, said, “Silence is a revolution, . . . the womb where words that are true are born” (quoted by Glatz, C., “The Importance of Holy Silence,” www.catholicherald.com/article/columns/the-importance-of-holy-silence, 8/7/19, accessed 12/28/24)

The emergent church also embraces the discipline of holy silence in their pursuit of mystical spirituality. Quakers include long periods of holy silence in their worship, waiting for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Many evangelicals practice forms of holy silence, even if they do not use the term.

Practitioners of holy silence argue that it’s an important discipline, especially in our fast-paced, hurried, and harried modern world. The discipline of holy silence is said to enhance one’s relationship with God, create a deeper spiritual connection, encourage inner peace, reduce stress, and promote self-reflection. Holy silence can serve as a countercultural witness in a busy culture.

However, the practice of holy silence comes with some cautions. First, if the idea of “holy silence” involves shutting off the brain or emptying the mind, it is unscriptural. Prayer in the Bible requires an engaged mind. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7). The act of making requests and supplication involves the mind.

Second, if the time spent in holy silence embraces an attempt to enter an altered state of consciousness, it is unbiblical. Mystical attempts to “connect with the divine” or attain a higher plane of enlightenment have roots in Eastern religions. There is more New Age thinking in such practices than orthodox Christianity.

Third, we don’t need to sit in silence to hear from God, as the holy silence advocates often suggest. We already have His Word as His special revelation. Quiet, meditative times are helpful for engaging with Scripture, but seeking extrabiblical, mystical communication is unnecessary and could even be harmful.

We can affirm the positive aspects of holy silence. Jesus took personal retreats (Luke 5:16), and we need moments to disconnect from the over-stimulation of the world. James admonishes us to be eager to listen and slow to speak (James 1:19), so there is value in silence. However, unbiblical ideas and practices associated with this discipline should be rejected.

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This page last updated: January 29, 2025