Be Still
“Be still, and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10
“For God alone my soul waits in silence.” (Ps. 61:1)
“When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.” (Rev. 8:1)
Silence is the sacrament of the world to come.-St. Isaac the Syrian
From solitude and silence are born tender contrition, and meekness; the activity of this latter in the human heart may be compared to that quiet water of Siloam, which flows without noise or sound, as the Prophet Isaiah speaks of it: 'the waters of Siloam that go softly' (Is. 8:6)- St Seraphim of Sarov
True wisdom is gazing at God. Gazing at God is silence of the thoughts.- St Isaac the Syrian
Love silence above all things, because it brings you near to fruit that the tongue cannot express. First let us force ourselves to be silent, and then from out of this silence something is born that leads us into silence itself. May God grant you to perceive some part of that which is born of silence! If you begin with this discipline, I do not know how much light will dawn in thee through it.- St Isaac the Syrian
If you place all labors of this discipline [solitary life] on one side and silence on the other, silence will outweigh them.- St Isaac the Syrian
Silence is a mystery of the age to come, but words are instruments of this world- St Isaac the Syrian
What watering is to plans is exactly the same as continual silence for growth of spiritual knowledge.- St Isaac the Syrian
What is happiness? It is to live as well as we do now, with L., just the two of us, savoring every hour- morning coffee; two, three hours of quiet in the evening. No 'special' conversation. All is clear, and therefore so good!... As one approaches the essence of a thing, fewer and fewer words are needed. In eternity, in the Kingdom, only 'Holy, Holy, Holy' will be needed, only words of praise and thanks, only prayer and the brightness of fullness and joy.- Fr Alexander Schmemann