The prayer of silence is an ancient form of prayer where the soul casts his gaze on God with deep love and self-abandonment. This isn’t a prayer of deep thought, but rather a prayer of deeply felt abiding love. The prayer of silence is contemplative and after you’ve learned how to pray your mental prayer well you will naturally enter into this form of prayer toward the end of your holy hour of adoration. The prayer of silence comes to souls who have learned to practice a life of quiet stability and are faithful to God through adversity.
First let’s consider a quotation from St. John of the Cross about how we can speak to God in silence using a pure heart of love for him and our willingness to offer him true worship.
“The Father spoke one Word, which was his Son, and this Word he speaks always in eternal silence, and in silence must it be heard by the soul."
Now, take a moment to reflect on a mediation by St. Teresa of Calcutta on the prayer of silence.
on the Prayer of Silence
by St. Teresa of Calcutta
In the silence of the heart God speaks. If you face God in prayer and silence, God will speak to you. Then you will know that you are nothing. It is only when you realize your nothingness, your emptiness, that God can fill you with Himself. Souls of prayer are souls of great silence.
To make possible true inner silence, practice:
Silence of the eyes, by seeking always the beauty and goodness of God everywhere, and closing them to the faults of others and to all that is sinful and disturbing to the soul.
Silence of the ears, by listening always to the voice of God and to the cry of the poor and the needy, and closing them to all other voices that come from fallen human nature, such as gossip, tale bearing, and uncharitable words.
Silence of the tongue, by praising God and speaking the life-giving Word of God that is the truth, that enlightens and inspires, brings peace, hope, and joy; and by refraining from self-defense and every word that causes darkness, turmoil, pain, and death.
Silence of the mind, by opening it to the truth and knowledge of God in prayer and contemplation, like Mary who pondered the marvels of the Lord in her heart, and by closing it to all untruths, distractions, destructive thoughts, rash judgments, false suspicions of others, vengeful thoughts, and desires.
Silence of the heart, by loving God with our heart, soul, mind, and strength; loving one another as God loves; and avoiding all selfishness, hatred, envy, jealousy, and greed.
I shall keep the silence of my heart with greater care, so that in the silence of my heart I hear His words of comfort, and from the fullness of my heart I comfort Jesus in the distressing disguise of the poor. For in the silence and purity of the heart God speaks.
Now that you know what the prayer of silence is, we will try to put our hearts and minds into the presence of God.
Entering into the Prayer of Silence
When you come into the presence of God, slow down and take time to open your heart. Enter into the moment with a deep longing to know and love Him. Embrace His Majesty. He is your Lord and King. Close your eyes to feel the Spirit of God.
Embrace your nothingness.
Open your heart.
There should be no distractions, no noise, nothing to take your heart and soul away from this moment.
Now let’s begin the prayer of silence by invoking the Holy Spirit:
The Prayer of Silence
Opening Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit, breathe into me, move in me. Attract my heart, Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy and make myself present to You. Strengthen me, Holy Spirit, that I may defend all that is holy.
AMEN.
The Prayer of Silence
Contemplation Leads to Love of God
Pause to listen for the breath of God to speak to you. You are turning toward the living presence of God.
SAY NOTHING, JUST TAKE HIM IN:
Now you are ready to enter into contemplation. Just look at Him. Feel His gaze. Rest in His embrace. This is the moment of adoration. If you cannot feel His presence, open your heart even wider. Ask Him to give you the grace to feel sorrow for your sin, for all the moments you rejected His grace, for every lack of love you are guilty of committing against His Sacred Heart.
The only sin He cannot forgive is the lack of love.
Love Him now, deeply, so, so deeply.
Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, I love You, I adore You. I lift up my heart.
Reach even deeper. Give Him all. Give everything you have.
Lord, let me see what You see, and feel what You feel.
Repeat these words if you cannot yet love Him in contemplation.
Beg for the grace to love Him.
Jesus let me love You as You desire. Open my heart to love.
Gaze.
Allow Him to show you.
Still not feeling His presence? Is your heart still hard?
OPEN YOUR HEART:
Jesus reveal to my soul the many ways I have sinned against Your Divine Heart.
Repent all these sins from the depths of your soul.
Begin again, the prayer of contemplation.
Love Him with all you’ve got. Fill His Divine Heart with your love. Receive His Divine Love into your own heart.
Look at Him in silence as your hearts are connected with love.
Unite your heart with His completely.
Stay in this moment of divine embrace for as long as possible.
Afterward, praise and glorify God from your soul and from your heart, with prayers of the Church, and with great reverence.
Learn About Mental Prayer
The ways of mental prayer have been handed down over the centuries by the saints. This sample mental prayer meditation will walk you through the ways of mental prayer for beginners. Join us for our series of mental prayer meditations on the virtues.
Saints on the Prayer of Silence
“In silence I tell you everything, Lord, because the language of love is without words.” – St. Faustina Kowalska
“Our most important task consists in remaining silent before this great God, silent with our desires as well as with our tongue. He understands only one language, that of silent love.” – St. John of the Cross
“The will certainly seems to me to be united in some way with the will of God; but it is by the effects of this [silent] prayer and the actions which follow it … If the person who receives such a grace recognizes it for what it is, Our Lord is granting him a surpassingly great favor, and another very great one if he does not turn back.” – St. Teresa de Avila
“In this oasis of quiet, before the wonderful spectacle of nature, one easily experiences how profitable silence is, a good that today is ever more rare… In reality, only in silence does man succeed in hearing in the depth of his conscience the voice of God, which really makes him free.” – Pope John Paul II
“Pay attention, O Job, listen to me; Keep silent, and let me speak…listen to me; Keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom.” – Job 33:31-33
2 Responses
Awesome – just awesome. The Lord is blessing you and you are blessing him with this amazing website. I am so excited to know this has been wrought of all your trials and suffering and deep Love for him, planting seeds for knowledge, guidance, and resources in this website that is set so beautifully and in an easily navigable way.
I Praise God for You! ♥️
Can you add the Long version of the Breastplate of St. Patrick or sometimes called the Lorica of St. Patrick? Jesus asked me twice to recite this daily for protection. I think others may find strength in it too. ☀️
Thank you for the kind words. The prayer is added and can be found here: https://iamjesus.net/breastplate-of-st-patrick-prayer-of-protection/