In the heart of every baptized person lies the capacity for great transformation. The gift of the Holy Spirit places in us the call to be holy and to lead others into holiness by our actions.
We become more aware of this transforming power of the Holy Spirit by cultivating silence in our life. Silence is not simply the lack of audible sound waves around us nor the quiet peaceful place we seek to get away. Rather it is a certain interior disposition, a way of living from the heart, wherein we enrich our capacity to hear what Jesus desires most to say to us.
Often Jesus calls the disciples to Himself in an intimate conversation and it is at these moments where He speaks those things that are most important for them to know. Thus, we must strive to cultivate silence so that we can listen to what Jesus wants to teach us through the Holy Spirit about what is most important for our own lives as His disciples.
Cultivating silence then is an important task for the believer. However, no doubt, it is a difficult one; and one made no easier by the increase in noise and business through out every moment of our day.
Here are 5 practical tips to cultivate silence in your life so that you can hear what Jesus wants to tell you most and increase your capacity to be receptive to the movement of the Holy Spirit to be an agent of transformation and sanctification.
1) No car stereo day once a week.
Pick one day a week (Mon-Fri) and make it a day where you do not use your car stereo for music, talk shows, or anything. Let the time you spend in your car be free from the noise of the world and enjoy a peaceful ride free of distractions.
2) Media free evening once a week.
Take one evening a week and declare it to be media free. This means no computer, no smart phone, no tablet, no i-pad or pod. Turn off the TV, the DVD, the Blue Ray, and the radio. Spend the evening with the family. Play a board game, read a book, talk about life, or even (gasp) have dinner together at your home. Make it a long dinner too filled with conversation and learning about each other.
3) Get to Mass 15 minutes early for preparation.
I used to get to baseball games when I was a kid an hour early, to warm-up, stretch, get the line-up, swing the bat a few times and much more. If it's important to warm-up before a game wouldn't it be important to warm-up or prepare for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as we participate in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ? There are beautiful prayers in preparation for the Mass and to do in Thanksgiving. It can be hard to get to Mass early, but if you plan ahead and learn how long it takes to get there no matter how many kids you have you can start trying to make it a habit. You won't make it every week there are always hiccups in the spiritual life but hiccups go away after awhile if you keep trying.
http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayer_before_mass.htm
http://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=2030
4) Jesus I trust in you! Hour of Mercy.
Here's a great way to use your media to help you instead of distract you. Schedule into your calendar at 3:00 pm (the hour of mercy when Jesus breathed his last) the following prayer and pray it at 3:00 every day as a little break from work, school, or whatever. Even if your with a friend or family member stop and pray it and ask them to join.
http://www.theworkofgod.org/Devotns/DivMercy/3oclock.htm
5) 30 Minutes in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
All the other tips tend to have to do with ways to get the noise out but this is a way to try and listen to the heart of Jesus. The Eucharist is the heart of Jesus. In it He communicates His undying love and desire to be with us for all time. Spending time in adoration is to be face to face with Jesus (ad-oratio). We always tend to talk about more intimate things when we are alone with our friends, our spouses, or family members so too it is the same with Jesus. He wants to tell you important things about your life but only if we come to Him can He do so.
God is my rock. In Him I am made strong.
Mary is my refuge. In her I am secure.
We become more aware of this transforming power of the Holy Spirit by cultivating silence in our life. Silence is not simply the lack of audible sound waves around us nor the quiet peaceful place we seek to get away. Rather it is a certain interior disposition, a way of living from the heart, wherein we enrich our capacity to hear what Jesus desires most to say to us.
Often Jesus calls the disciples to Himself in an intimate conversation and it is at these moments where He speaks those things that are most important for them to know. Thus, we must strive to cultivate silence so that we can listen to what Jesus wants to teach us through the Holy Spirit about what is most important for our own lives as His disciples.
Cultivating silence then is an important task for the believer. However, no doubt, it is a difficult one; and one made no easier by the increase in noise and business through out every moment of our day.
Here are 5 practical tips to cultivate silence in your life so that you can hear what Jesus wants to tell you most and increase your capacity to be receptive to the movement of the Holy Spirit to be an agent of transformation and sanctification.
1) No car stereo day once a week.
Pick one day a week (Mon-Fri) and make it a day where you do not use your car stereo for music, talk shows, or anything. Let the time you spend in your car be free from the noise of the world and enjoy a peaceful ride free of distractions.
2) Media free evening once a week.
Take one evening a week and declare it to be media free. This means no computer, no smart phone, no tablet, no i-pad or pod. Turn off the TV, the DVD, the Blue Ray, and the radio. Spend the evening with the family. Play a board game, read a book, talk about life, or even (gasp) have dinner together at your home. Make it a long dinner too filled with conversation and learning about each other.
3) Get to Mass 15 minutes early for preparation.
I used to get to baseball games when I was a kid an hour early, to warm-up, stretch, get the line-up, swing the bat a few times and much more. If it's important to warm-up before a game wouldn't it be important to warm-up or prepare for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as we participate in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ? There are beautiful prayers in preparation for the Mass and to do in Thanksgiving. It can be hard to get to Mass early, but if you plan ahead and learn how long it takes to get there no matter how many kids you have you can start trying to make it a habit. You won't make it every week there are always hiccups in the spiritual life but hiccups go away after awhile if you keep trying.
http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayer_before_mass.htm
http://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=2030
4) Jesus I trust in you! Hour of Mercy.
Here's a great way to use your media to help you instead of distract you. Schedule into your calendar at 3:00 pm (the hour of mercy when Jesus breathed his last) the following prayer and pray it at 3:00 every day as a little break from work, school, or whatever. Even if your with a friend or family member stop and pray it and ask them to join.
http://www.theworkofgod.org/Devotns/DivMercy/3oclock.htm
5) 30 Minutes in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
All the other tips tend to have to do with ways to get the noise out but this is a way to try and listen to the heart of Jesus. The Eucharist is the heart of Jesus. In it He communicates His undying love and desire to be with us for all time. Spending time in adoration is to be face to face with Jesus (ad-oratio). We always tend to talk about more intimate things when we are alone with our friends, our spouses, or family members so too it is the same with Jesus. He wants to tell you important things about your life but only if we come to Him can He do so.
God is my rock. In Him I am made strong.
Mary is my refuge. In her I am secure.
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