![]() We begin to see as God sees and so are restored to communion with God, with our brothers, and with all creation. In time, though, this simple, silent prayer of intense desire restores our integrity. Paradoxically, this road to simplicity in silence can be painful because we ourselves are fragmented. Living in Christ, we are content to be led by him, like Peter whom Christ told simply to stretch out his hands (see John 21:18). ![]() Silence favors attentiveness of heart and solitary prayer. As our Order’s Constitutions say, silence fosters mindfulness of God and fraternal communion. You will soon learn that we monks of New Melleray love silence as the environment of a life hidden in Christ. As Saint Antony of the Desert taught, “That is not the perfect prayer wherein the monk understands himself or what he is praying.” It is the prayer too deep for words that Saint Paul talks about (Rom 8:26). This kind of silent, wordless prayer, is a response in faith to God who loved us first. We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. When a monk prays like this he is stretching out his heart. Silence is an essential element of our life of prayer. And if we are going to hear that voice, we must be silent. Many translated example sentences containing 'prayer in silence' Portuguese-English dictionary and search engine for Portuguese translations. If we are going to pray, we must be willing to listen quietly for God’s still, small voice ( 1 Kings 19:11-12 ). Saint Benedict probably noticed monks doing this and so he put it in his Rule: if someone wants to pray, let him simply go into church and pray. Eugene Peterson Prayer, like any conversation, involves listening as much as talking. “What is he doing?” you ask yourself. He is praying. If you are a newcomer to monastic life you might be puzzled when you learn he has already been there for thirty minutes. Prayer in silence how to#If we understand how to be with another person in silence without thinking of anything or. In the pre-dawn light you will probably see a monk kneeling in the choir stall beside the organ. It is a prayer of relationship with God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Unceasing prayer will include prayers that are spoken, whispered, shouted, sung, and silent as we direct our thoughts of praise, petition, supplication, and thanksgiving to God.Walk into the monastic church some early morning before Lauds. Rather, it means we are to be in a constant state of God-consciousness, where we take every thought captive to Him (2 Corinthians 10:5) and bring every situation, plan, fear, or concern before His throne. ![]() Perhaps the best verse to indicate the validity of unspoken prayers is 1 Thessalonians 5:17: “Pray without ceasing.” To pray unceasingly obviously cannot mean we are praying out loud all of the time. There is not anything wrong with praying silently, as long as you are not doing it because you are embarrassed to be heard praying. Help children learn to pray by praying with them, teaching them traditional prayers, and providing them with opportunities to practice quiet time with God. ![]() What is the difference between praying aloud or silently if you are by yourself? There are some circumstances where only silent prayer is appropriate, e.g., praying for something that needs to stay between you and God only, praying for someone who is present, etc. The Bible mentions praying in private (Matthew 6:6). He has access to all prayers directed to Him, whether or not they are spoken. Nothing we do, say, or think is hidden from God, who does not need to hear our words to know our thoughts. Jesus knew the evil thoughts of the Pharisees (Matthew 12:24-26 Luke 11:17). God can hear our thoughts just as easily as He can hear our words (Psalm 139:23 Jeremiah 12:3). That does not mean that silent prayer is any less valid than praying out loud-Hannah’s prayer was answered, after all. ![]() The Bible gives an example of silent prayer in Hannah’s inaudible petition (1 Samuel 1:10, 13), but it does not give specific instructions on praying silently. ![]()
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