If you’ve ever been in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican, you know it is a place that commands solemn reverence. “Silenzio! Silence!” can be heard at regular intervals throughout the small, holy space. No translation is needed for the multicultural tourists who can get rather excited gazing upon Michelangelo’s masterpiece of The Last Judgment.
Why is silence required in the Sistine Chapel? Well, despite housing one of the most famous pieces of artwork in the world, it is a Catholic chapel where Mass is still celebrated on occasion. This small room of prayer is also where the College of Cardinals convenes to elect a new Pope when the need arises, making it a rather significant place of Catholic history. The silence is a response to the sacred events that define the space.
Sometimes, I let out my Italian-museum-shushing voice when I’m driving my kids to school and the bickering gets rather robust for my early morning ears. I tell the kids to pretend they’re in the Sistine Chapel. There may not be a Renaissance masterpiece on the interior roof of my SUV (perhaps something to consider, Honda?), but sometimes we all need to hit that pause button to reset everyone’s tone and de-escalate a chaotic situation. Silence truly can be golden, and it is also a regular necessity for our souls. As a mom, when I crave silence, I am really craving an encounter with the sacred.
Moments of silence help us to realize that nothing we have to say is really that important – especially in comparison to what God has to say to us. If we can sit in silence, especially in prayer, and just listen for God’s voice, we can acknowledge the presence of the sacred. We all have a tendency to get caught up in our busy lives, and prayer time and silence can become a rarity, even a discomfort. Sitting in silence can be a shock to the system, with fingers twitching, trying not to reach for the closest handheld telecommunications device.
If you’re craving more silence for your family, try getting to church earlier, before Mass starts. Even five extra minutes can make a big difference in calming the body and mind enough to pray fruitfully. After a while, five minutes can become 10, which can work up to 15, at which point, the silence will hopefully be more natural.
If you experience difficulty focusing or staying silent, try gazing at the tabernacle or the crucifix and just saying the name of Jesus to yourself to help focus. As St. Philip Neri (whose feast day is coming up on May 26) said: “The name of Jesus, pronounced with reverence and affection, has a kind of power to soften the heart.”
Sitting in silence in a quiet church, in the presence of Jesus in the tabernacle, should remind us of the importance of the sacred. We have generally lost a sense of the sacred these days. It seems that no topic is off limits and social media offers regular intrusions into our lives that at one time would never have been accessible (or acceptable).
Sometimes it’s even hard to find respect for the sacred in a Catholic church. I’ve been to many where the focus is not so much on God’s presence but on the people’s presence. Too often there is idle chatter in the church immediately before and after (and occasionally during) Mass that detracts from the sacredness of what goes on in that holy place. The candle by the tabernacle is there to remind us of God’s constant presence in the tabernacle.
Not to downplay the importance of fellowship and Christian charity, but a respectful silence after Mass can play an important part in preserving that sense of the sacred that was created, and still remains, by the presence and reception of the Eucharist.
It’s not uncommon for some parishioners to want to pray or offer thanksgiving immediately after Mass, which can prove difficult amidst the din of a departing crowd.
It is no small thing to think that most people in that church just took part in a taste of heaven and now carry with them the living Christ. If we lose all moments of silence, especially in church, we also lose acknowledgement of the sacred presence of God in our midst. (The natural noises of babies and young children do not count against the quietude, as children should always be welcome in a sacred space.)
Being silent and acknowledging the sacred might be a dying art these days. By virtue of the Eucharist – Christ’s constant presence in every Catholic Church – Catholics have a unique opportunity to preserve these two essential elements.
Lazzuri writes from her home in Nova Scotia, where she lives with her husband, six children, and her mom. She can be reached at [email protected].