Saint Francis de Sales says that, just as bees return to the hive, attracted by the sweetness of honey, so the mystic soul loves to seek God within herself, knowing by experience how pleasant His company is.
This image that Saint Francis describes has always mesmerized me.
But who is the mystic soul?
Many of us may imagine someone beyond this world, someone who seeks to explore the mysteries of the divine. For me – and I may be wrong – it is anyone who longs for a profound and intimate union with the living God. It is anyone searching for a meaning beyond what is seen, beyond what the world can offer, into the depths of ultimate Love.
To reach this intimate union, Saint Francis tells us that the mystic soul seeks God within herself. To get there, silence is paramount.
This quotation from Saint Francis beautifully echoes Mother Teresa’s Varanasi Letter. Her words have always remained in my heart:
“We may spend time in the chapel… Have you seen with the eyes of your soul how He really looks at you with love? Do you really know the living Jesus, not from books, but from being with Him in your heart? Have you heard the loving words He speaks to you?”
— St. Francis De Sales
Have you met Jesus face to face, heart to heart, deep down within you? Can you hear His loving, tender, and gentle words? Have you heard His soft, gentle voice, felt His loving gaze, His strong embrace, Him lifting you up, carrying you, and never letting you go?
We all need to encounter Jesus. We all need our own personal salvation history – our own love story with God.
But the question remains: How do we get there?
Of course, prayer is essential. It is surrender and trust. It is perseverance. It is allowing God to work within us. It is the continual emptying of self so that we may be filled with Him.
But, simply put, it begins with silence.
Silence.
When I first encountered silence, I was filled with fear.
Silence and fear together. Something was not adding up.
Silence is associated with peace, which comes from God, whereas fear certainly does not. The two seemed to stand in juxtaposition to one another.
It was so frightening to sit in silence because, although we may be silent on the outside, our minds can take us on rollercoaster rides. How often do our thoughts jump from one thing to another? How many distractions fill our minds? How many negative or condemning thoughts invade our hearts?
How many of us hear the lies that we are unlovable? Unworthy?
Thoughts reminding us of our past, our failures, our sins, our wounds.
Where, then, is the beauty of silence?
The reality is that this is not true silence. True silence is the silence of the heart and the mind. And that requires effort. It requires practice.
These thoughts are not from God. They are contrary to the “still, small voice” (cf. 1 Kings 19:12-13), the gentle voice of God reminding us that we are His beloved children. In Christ, we can hear the Father’s love spoken over us, for we have become His sons and daughters (cf. 2 Corinthians 6:18; Galatians 3:26; John 1:12; Romans 8:14–17).
God’s voice brings peace.
His voice brings joy.
His voice brings tranquillity.
He is constantly whispering – and sometimes even shouting – His love for each one of us.
He knows you by name (Isaiah 43:1). He has counted every single hair on your head (Luke 12:7). You matter to Him personally. You are precious to Him (cf. Psalm 139; Jeremiah 31:3). You are engraved on the palm of His hand (Isaiah 49:16).
So return to the silence.
Return to that quiet place with the One who loves you.
Say no to the lies and the noise of your mind.
Simply be with Him.
Speak to Him heart to heart.
There is no need for eloquent words. Just be yourself. Allow Him into the places where you have never allowed anyone else. Tell Him what is happening deep within your heart.
He knows you better than you know yourself. He longs for your friendship. The God of the universe wants you.
Yes – you. All of you.
He wants to hear about your hardships, your sorrows, your pain, your disappointments, and your joys.
Let Him in.
Perhaps begin with just ten minutes before the Blessed Sacrament. No books. No rosary. No prepared prayers.
Just you, as you are.
Face to face.
Heart to heart.
Then remain silent.
Listen.
Prayer is a relationship between two. So listen.
Do not expect to hear an audible voice, nor to see Him as we hope to one day in eternity. But listen. For God speaks in the silence of the heart.
His words reveal a love deeper than anything this world can offer. His voice is gentle. His presence fills the soul with a peace beyond understanding.
Before long, ten minutes become an hour. Perhaps even more.
Silence becomes your safe-haven – your heaven on earth. Your intimate union with God. Practice. Persevere. Never give up.
God is waiting for you.
Just begin.
Keep Learning About Prayer
Searching for and Maintaining Peace: A Small Treatise on Peace of Heart
The Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide
He Leadeth Me: An Extraordinary Testament of Faith
Personal Prayer: A Guide for Receiving the Father’s Love
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