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
Lord, I ask your pardon, I have sinned again.
Facebook Pinterest Gmail LinkedIn Print Friendly Lord, I ask your pardon, I have sinned again. This, alas, is what I am capable of doing on my own! But I abandon myself with confidence to your mercy and your pardon, I thank you for not allowing me to sin even more grievously. I abandon myself to […]
The Most Important And Holy Spiritual Practice | Br. Lawrence
Facebook Pinterest Gmail LinkedIn Print Friendly “The most holy and important practice in the spiritual life is the presence of God.” – Brother Lawrence Learn more from Brother Lawrence HERE. Subscribe To Our Weekly Newsletter!Our weekly email newsletter includes links to our seasonal content so you can stay connected to the Church’s liturgical seasons and […]
Food Nourishes The Body While Love Nourishes The Soul
Facebook Pinterest Gmail LinkedIn Print Friendly Subscribe To Our Weekly Newsletter!Our weekly email newsletter includes links to our seasonal content so you can stay connected to the Church’s liturgical seasons and find simple ways to celebrate them and grow in holiness. SUBSCRIBE! Thank you for subscribing!
Fr. Rob – Lord Show Us the Father
In this episode of the Catholic Link podcast, Fr. Rob discusses the little known Church council, the Second Council of Nicaea, which is the seventh ecumenical council in the Church’s history. Fr. Rob discusses what this council says about icons of God the Father.
How To Pray Together As A Couple
Facebook Pinterest Gmail LinkedIn Print Friendly Have you ever wondered how to pray as a couple? Here are three easy things you can do to begin a prayer life with your spouse/soon to be spouse. If you want to learn more about how you can have a great marriage, not just an average one, check […]
What Is The Sacred Heart Of Jesus?
Facebook Pinterest Gmail LinkedIn Print Friendly What does the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus mean? The feast day of the Sacred Heart is on June 24th and the entire month of June is devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, but you can learn about this devotion any day of the year! What […]
A Simple Hack To Help You Read The Bible Every Day
Facebook Pinterest Gmail LinkedIn Print Friendly Dr. John Bergsma shares his advice on how to squeeze in reading the Bible every day! How To Read The Bible Every Day Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash Subscribe To Our Weekly Newsletter!Our weekly email newsletter includes links to our seasonal content so you can stay connected to […]
St. Gertrude’s Prayer For the Souls In Purgatory
Facebook Pinterest Gmail LinkedIn Print Friendly St. Gertrude‘s Prayer for the Souls in Purgatory St. Gertrude‘s Prayer for the Souls in Purgatory Eternal Father, I offer You the most precious blood of thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners […]
4 Steps To Reading The Bible
Facebook Pinterest Gmail LinkedIn Print Friendly 4 Steps For Catholics Learning To Read The Bible Books That Will Help You Read The Bible For Catholics The Liturgical Sense of The Readings at Mass – Year A by David L. Gray Food for the Soul: Reflections on the Mass Readings (Cycle A) (Food for the Soul […]
Matins: What is It and What is the Liturgy of the Hours? With Bishop Schneider
Facebook Pinterest Gmail LinkedIn Print Friendly Matins is one of the hours/offices of the Liturgy of the Hours, also known as the Divine Office. Second to the Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours is the official prayer of the Church. That prays the psalms at set times of the day to sanctify time. In this […]
“Sub Tuum Praesidium” The Earliest Known Prayer To Mary
Facebook Pinterest Gmail LinkedIn Print Friendly “Sub Tuum Praesidium” | The Earliest Known Prayer To Mary Latin: Sub tuum praesidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genetrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus1, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen. English: We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God; […]
Prayer To The Sacred Heart Of Jesus | St. John Eudes
Facebook Pinterest Gmail LinkedIn Print Friendly O Heart all loveable and all loving of my Saviour, be the Heart of my heart, the Soul of my soul, the Spirit of my spirit, the Life of my life and the sole principle of all my thoughts, words and actions, of all the faculties of my soul […]
7 Things That Happen When You Pray The Rosary (Graphic)
Facebook Pinterest Gmail LinkedIn Print Friendly 7 Surprising Things That Happen When You Pray The Rosary More Often Read the full article HERE! Subscribe To Our Weekly Newsletter!Our weekly email newsletter includes links to our seasonal content so you can stay connected to the Church’s liturgical seasons and find simple ways to celebrate them and […]
The Benefits Of Prayer For The Conclave
Facebook Pinterest Gmail LinkedIn Print Friendly “I’ll pray.” What better response could we find for any challenge or difficulty? St. Paul tells us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), remaining like the widow petitioning the judge until he heard her request. God is our loving Father, and he wants to hear our prayers, so […]
Where The Heart Is Inclined, The Foot Will Follow
Facebook Pinterest Gmail LinkedIn Print Friendly More Catholic Resources Subscribe To Our Weekly Newsletter!Our weekly email newsletter includes links to our seasonal content so you can stay connected to the Church’s liturgical seasons and find simple ways to celebrate them and grow in holiness. SUBSCRIBE! Thank you for subscribing!
The Fatima Prayer That An Angel Taught The Three Children
Facebook Pinterest Gmail LinkedIn Print Friendly The Fatima Prayer That An Angel Taught The Three Children More Resources On Our Lady Of Fatima Fatima: The Apparition That Changed the World Our Lady of Fatima: St. Joseph Picture Book Inside the Light: Understanding the Message of Fatima The World of Marian Apparitions: Mary’s Appearances and Messages […]
The Anima Christi, Soul of Christ, Prayer
Facebook Pinterest Gmail LinkedIn Print Friendly The Anima Christi (Soul of Christ) Prayer Soul of Christ, sanctify me Body of Christ, save me Blood of Christ, inebriate me Water from Christ’s side, wash me Passion of Christ, strengthen me O good Jesus, hear me Within Thy wounds hide me Suffer me not to be separated […]
Advent Prayer | Henri J.M. Nouwen
Facebook Pinterest Gmail LinkedIn Print Friendly Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas. We who have so much to do and seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day, We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us. We […]
The Mass is Offered for Four Ends | Infographic
Facebook Pinterest Gmail LinkedIn Print Friendly This post is not an article, but a part of our gallery of images. You can share this image in your social media or you can click the “Download” button and send it to your friends. We only ask you to share it in its original version, without editing […]
Nine Elevations Of The Soul To The Sacred Heart Of Jesus
Facebook Pinterest Gmail LinkedIn Print Friendly Nine Elevations Of The Soul To The Sacred Heart Of Jesus Heart of Jesus, perfect adorer of God, teach me to adore Thy heavenly Father with thee and by Thee. Heart of Jesus, inflamed with love for me, inflame me with Thy divine love. Heart of Jesus, victim alone […]
