The Hidden Power of Silence in the Mass: A Guide for Encountering Christ in the Liturgy

by Boniface Hicks

In this game-changing book, Fr. Boniface Hicks, O.S.B., reveals how you can actively listen and open yourself to receive God’s personal love for you in the Mass, where our Lord waits to quench your deepest longing and heal your wounds. Drawing from the wisdom of the saints, modern-day spiritual giants, and his own penetrating reflections, you will learn how to quiet your mind, stretch your heart, and become childlike in the sense of experiencing the sacred mysteries with wonder and awe.

The Mass, as most Catholics are aware, consists of words and gestures through which the Church worships the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit. But as far fewer Catholics know, the periods of silence are more than pauses or empty spaces, as Fr. Hicks explains. They are beautifully textured with prescribed prayers spoken quietly by the priest, meaningful images such as incense and chalice veils, and expectant faith ready to surrender or receive from God in particular ways. Learning how to attune our hearts to these silences can greatly increase the fruitfulness of our reception of grace at Mass.

In these soul-enriching pages, you will explore the various textures of silence in general, the ways in which silence affects your interior life, and how silence can draw you into more intimate prayer. You will also

How our Lady is the supreme model on how to cultivate active and receptive silence
The secret to settling slowly into silence, relaxing, and entering into an inner dialogue with God
Tips on how to commune with God in your heart and on practicing lectio divina
What St. Benedict teaches on developing silence in prayer, speech, activities, and thoughtsFr. Hicks further guides you through each of the nine silent (secreto) prayers of the priest, the silent gestures in the Mass, such as the use of incense and the unveiling of the chalice, and the intentional periods of silence, including during the Liturgy of the Word and after receiving Holy Communion.

You will discover the pattern through which divine life came to earth and how the fire of Christ’s merciful love comes to the soul. Moreover, you will come to understand how your physical silence at Mass fosters your spiritual silence and becomes an “act of love” through self-offering, adoration, communion, and resting in the inexpressible mystery.

Each chapter includes reflection questions designed to foster group discussions so parish members can reflect on and grow together in the way they pray during Mass.

Through such intimate encounter, you will learn to enjoy praying at Mass with your whole heart, mind, and soul and will arrive at a more conscious, active, and fruitful participation in the sacred liturgy.lk

Genres: Catholic, Spirituality, Religion

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 16, 2024

Reviews

[Mary Ellen Barringer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is well worth reading. I will refer to it often. It has given me a diferente perspective on the Mass.

The format is somewhat formulaic and leans heavily on quotes from JPII, Benedict and Francis.

[Peter Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides a beautiful meditation on the parts of the Mass through the lens of prayerful silence. It is perhaps the only spiritual book I have read that incorporates passages of popes, particularly John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis, alongside psychologists like Dr. Conrad Baars and self-help author James Clear. I really appreciated the wide range of voices presented since they were complementary to the points he was making. I didn't care much for having a "call to action" at the end of each chapter as it came across to me as slightly gimmicky and more appropriate for self-help literature than spiritual reading, even if the point of spiritual reading is to apply it to your life. I also thought that his commentary on the scriptural readings on the Old Mass (p. 67) missed the point that the proclamation and praying of the Scripture is itself a manifestation of God in the world through the revelation of the Word, made fully present in the Eucharist. This is similarly recreated in the Jewish liturgy today through the singing and praying of the Old Testament scriptures, and celebrating them as a manifestation of God made present in the world. This focus is diminished when the proclamation of Scripture takes on a primary role of formation and education of the listener, which historically has always been secondary to the worship of God through the act of proclaiming the Scriptures, regardless of the degree to which each individual listener and participant can comprehend the words being proclaimed. Of course, the Church has always held that the teaching and understanding the Scriptures is of great importance, though this is not the purpose of why the Scriptures are present in the liturgy, which is to offer them as gifts received by God back to God in solemn worship.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought-provoking reflections on the different periods of silence in the Mass and how we might be able to pray more deeply during those moments. I love the idea that silence is not wasted time and space, but rather in the Mass it is another potential place of encounter. I also appreciated the insights into the priest’s silent prayers and the use of incense.

[Pablo Tevere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro sobre la Santa Misa interesante y profundo.
Pienso que será útil sobre todo para personas que hayan leído otros libros más introductorios o generales sobre la misa, ya que se enfoca en un aspecto interesante y puntual: el silencio en la celebración de la misa. Muy recomendable.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is meant to be read slowly and savored, letting the wisdom sink in.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was “ok”. It had some good truth nuggets in it and is worth reading.

[Alberto de Albornoz · Rating 4 out of 5]

«María guarda en silencio». Nos invita a que, como la Virgen, encontremos el poder redentor de la Eucaristía a través de los silencios. Además, explica los pasos de la Misa que ayudan a entender ese misterio.