The Poetry of Silence: A Lay Cistercian reflects on silence and solitude as he waits before the Blessed Sacrament. - Michael F. Conrad - Bog

THE POETRY OF SILENCEIn the past few years, having retired and found myself one day watching the Weather Channel as the highpoint of my day, I asked myself, "Is there anything more to life?" The answer came in several parts, one of which was to begin to vigil (wait) before the Blessed Sacrament at my parish church. It is called exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and gaining in popularity as its counterpart in the World reverts to slandering people's reputation, detracting from their contributions to life, and prevaricating against others. Another part of the discovery is that of Lay Cistercian spirituality, based on Cistercian practices and charisms. All of it is rooted in transforming oneself from our false self to our new self in Christ. St. Benedict's Rule is an important part of how we apply this to our individual life experiences. This book is the result of my Lectio Divina (Phil 2:5) meditations before the Blessed Sacrament. Many people look for knowledge from books. I just sit there in contemplation and my mind is so flooded with wonderful and unexpected thoughts that I have to write them down or lose them, much like St. John talks about in John 21:24-25. In literature, fiction and non-fiction define and describe someone, something, or an event. In Poetry, the author just seeks to approach the hidden, yet essential mystery contained in the writing. The Mystery of Faith is cush a phenomenon. Want to describe it? Don't waste your time. Poetry seeks to uncover the delicate interactions and layers of meaning contained in a topic without destroying it in the process. This is the poetry of silence, a truth you can only approach and see-through foggy glass, but one whose meaning opens the door to the human heart to love with all their capability and capacity.