First, there were the words of the Pope (via BenedictEveryday.com):
At times there is a sort of fear of silence, of recollection, of thinking of one’s own actions, of the profound meaning of one’s life. All too often people prefer to live only the fleeting moment, deceiving themselves that it will bring lasting happiness; they prefer to live superficially, without thinking, because it seems easier; they are afraid to seek the Truth or perhaps afraid that the Truth will find us, will take hold of us and change our life. Creatures must be silent, leaving space for the silence in which God can speak.
And then there was the reminder of the three things St. Louis de Montfort asked of Our Lady (via my Mary Vitamin the other day):
The only grace I beg Thee, for me, is that every moment of the day, and every moment of my life, I may say, “Amen, so be it, to all that Thou art doing in Heaven. Amen, so be it, to all Thou didst do while on earth. Amen, so be it, to all Thou art doing in my soul,” so that Thou alone mayest fully glorify JESUS in me for time and eternity. Amen.
Somehow, these spoke to me of my yearly resolve to listen. There’s a lot of noise that needs to be cut out before I can listen to what’s really important, and then there’s the whole determining-what’s-important side of things.
Silence is a place to start, and it’s where I try to start my days.
And how can I not think of Mary and look to her as an example of listening?
How do these quotes inspire you?
