One of these days I had the chance of leafing through the Capuchin Constitutions. I was particularly struck by a phrase I found in Chapter Three, which speaks about the brothers’ life of prayer. The intriguing phrase is the following: “Let silence, which is the faithful guardian of the interior spirit and required by charity in community life, be held in great esteem…”

As the Constitutions imply, silence nurtures and protects interior silence. The question that comes to mind is: what is the benefit of dwelling entire periods of the day in interior silence? Can such a silence be productive? Is it not better to do something for others instead?

Unfortunately many people overlook the reality that without reflection our lives become much like a house that is built on the sand. What is the fate for such a house? Jesus’ own words say it all. “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it” (Matt 7, 27). Interior silence is foundational. It is the mortar which keeps the house of our existence solid, united and protected from any tragic destruction.

Silence is the royal door for listening to God’s loving invitations for us. Hosea says “Behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her” (Hos 2, 14). Silence offers us the correct atmosphere to meet ourselves in front of God. In no other place our rebellion, pride, lust and obstinacy are made so explicit and

mellowed than the wilderness of solitude.

As the Bible shows, in the wilderness the comforting presence of God becomes resplendent to us. In it we learn how foolish we are when we lose ourselves in the words we say. “Like a house that has vanished, so is wisdom to a fool; and the knowledge of the ignorant is unexamined talk” (Sir 21, 18).

Personally speaking, the greatest lesson I learn all the time from my own

solitude is that the only way for me to live abundantly is by trying to do what is right in front of the Lord till the very end.

As Dale Carnegie writes: “Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.”

From a Christian point of view, the success I envisage for myself and for all those who share my faith is that of being the person/s God wants us to be.

Solitude constantly empowers me to seek God’s face because it is solely with him that “there is steadfast love, and… plenteous redemption” (Psalm 130, 7).

Let us look for and cherish our solitude. In it the ever old and new call to be with God is at our disposal.

“Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts” (Zech 1, 3).

Lord Jesus, in times of solitude and loneliness teach me how to pray in seclusion and to perceive the Father within myself.

Teach me to welcome solitary moments, to enjoy the solitude within myself, while listening to Your inspirations. In solitude, Your mysteries are uncovered!

Teach me to understand that what seems to me bitter can be changed for me into sweetness of body and soul. Amen.

Fr Mario Attard

OFM Cap

San Gwann