IP#498 Fr. Basil Nortz – Holy Silence, Part 2 on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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Fr. Basil Nortz – Holy Silence, Part 2 on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

Fr. Basil Nortz and Kris McGregor continue their discussion the book Holy Silence: A Practical Guide to Recollection in God. It explains the significance of silence in deepening one’s spiritual life, particularly through the concept of liturgical memory, where the events of Christ’s passion and the Eucharist become present realities. He also highlights the necessity of interior silence, noting how distractions, internal conversations, and self-directed thoughts can hinder true prayer. Fr. Nortz stresses that silence enables a deeper union with God and facilitates a more attentive and recollected state in daily life.

The book covers various types of silence, such as the silence of judgment, self-love, emotions, and the will. Fr. Nortz discusses the importance of surrendering to God’s providence, embracing purification, and practicing humility, especially in an era of constant opinions and digital noise. He also addresses the role of sacraments, particularly confession and the Eucharist, in attaining inner peace. The ultimate goal of these practices is to cultivate a profound silence of union, where one experiences God’s presence beyond external circumstances.

To listen to part 1 of our conversation visit here: Fr. Basil North – Holy Silence, Part 2 on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

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Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

1. The Role of Liturgical Memory: How does the concept of liturgical memory deepen your understanding of the Eucharist and its presence in your daily life?
2. Interior Silence in Prayer: What distractions commonly disrupt your interior silence, and how can you cultivate a more recollected heart in prayer?
3. Silence of Judgment and Humility: How does practicing the silence of judgment help you grow in humility and foster a more charitable outlook toward others?
4. The Influence of Self-Love: In what ways can self-love be properly ordered toward God, and how can you guard against its distortions rooted in worldly desires?
5. Surrendering to God’s Will: How can you cultivate greater openness to God’s providence and allow His will to shape your spiritual journey?
6. The Role of Suffering in Silence: How does embracing silence, particularly in times of suffering, draw you closer to Christ and His example in the Garden of Gethsemane?
7. Sacramental Grace and Recollection: How can frequent reception of the Eucharist and Reconciliation help you maintain spiritual vigilance and interior peace?
8. The Presence of Guardian Angels and Saints: How does recognizing the presence of your guardian angel and the communion of saints impact your sense of companionship in the spiritual life?
9. The Influence of Media on Silence: How can you create boundaries with media consumption to foster a more contemplative and recollected spirit?
10. The Silence of Union with God: How does pursuing different forms of silence lead to a deeper experience of God’s love and presence in your daily life?

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You can find the book here.

From the book description:

“Fr. Basil Nortz masterfully builds upon the classic reflections of Sr. Marie-Aimée de Jésus, a nineteenth-century spiritual mystic and Carmelite nun, on the twelve degrees of silence. By cultivating these types of silence, you will find out how you can — even amid your busy days filled with chatter, commotion, and noise — listen to the voice of God.

In these profound pages you will find ways to overcome your fear of silence and discover:

• • Keys to obeying God’s will
  • Kinds of silence that are holy and kinds that are unholy
  • Ten tips on what to do — and what to avoid — to bridle your senses
  • Seven ways to guard your imagination and foster recollection
  • How to direct your emotions with reason and foster silence of the heart
  • Effective ways of responding to injustice

You will learn the one sinful attitude that cuts us off from the merciful forgiveness of God and will acquire ways to stop passing judgment against others. Additionally, you will learn the most important attitude that disposes us to God’s plans and allows us to enter into His love and converse with Him affectionately throughout the day. Moreover, you will find practical techniques for overcoming distractions in prayer and advice from the saints on methods of meditation to develop silence of the spirit.

Above all, you will glean how to maintain peace of soul and live free from anxiety and despair, regardless of temptations or life’s battles. By relying totally on God, you will fearlessly rise after falls and begin again. You will begin to see the loving hand of God in all things, contemplate the light of His presence, and “be still” in the silence of His love.

“Holy silence is what helps the soul acquire the strength necessary to bear the presence of the all-pure God, who is ipsum esse subsistens (subsistent being itself),” explains Fr. Nortz. “The intensity of that fullness, far from inspiring languid inaction, produces a vibrant joyfulness that St. John expresses in the book of Revelation in terms of the saints singing with full voice.” “

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About the Author: Reverend Basil Nortz, O.R.C., is a priest in the Order of Canons Regular of the Holy Cross. He graduated from Christendom College in 1986 with a B.A. in theology. His seminary studies were at the Insitutum Sapientiae in Anapolis, Brazil.

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