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The Sisters of the Good Samaritan offer you a simple reflection starter on a current Benedictine Good Samaritan Book.  

A Blessed Life: Benedictine Guidelines for those who long for good days
by Wil Derske.
Liturgical Press; 2009

 

 

 

 

Chapter 2 – Reticence and Silence

The reflection starters below may help you plumb the depths of the text and explore more deeply what the text is saying to you in your daily life.

Spend some time reflectively reading chapter 2 Reticence and Silence. As you read, notice any words or phrases that connect with your experience, surprised you or raised a question for you

 

  • Quoting Joan Chittister, Derske writes silence is an element of monastic spirituality that has a contribution to make to our time (p. 16). Reflect on silence and the contribution it makes to your life.


  • Derske reflects that silence enables us to open ourselves to what presents itself in our soul (p. 18). Can you recall any time in your personal spiritual journey where this was real for you? Reflecting on what this meant to you, pause and thank God for the gift of silence.


  • In our busy world, silence is hard to find. What helps you to create silence (p. 19) in your life?


  • What is your response to Derske’s comment that Benedict’s teaching on silence may impress on us that the quality of our speaking is determined by the quality of our silence (p. 23)?


  • Derske asserts that silence and the quality of conversation are important preconditions for the quality of communal life (p. 26). Is this true for you in your chosen life style?


  • Is there anything you would like to do to reduce the stimuli in your life precisely in order to live a more intense spiritual life (p.27)?


  • What in this chapter inspires you to live differently?

 

pAST REFLECTIONS.

 

 

A Blessed Life: Benedictine Guidelines for those who long for good days,
Chapter 1 – Benedictine Life: Vital and Attractive

 

 

 

 

 

Sr Joan Chittister’s book, Twelve Steps to Inner Freedom: Humility Revisited. 

 

 

 

 

book


Sr Verna Holyhead’s book,
The Gift of St Benedict.