By now most of y’all have probably noticed a difference in the music at Mass since Lent began. I’m not talking about the Gloria or Alleluia not being sung. I am referring to the increase in silence in the Liturgy. The Church calls for more solemn music to be played during Lent, but also more silence. One of the things the Church asks us to do is to only play instruments to support singing. In other words, no instrumental music is allowed during Lent. The Church wants silence during Lent.
Why does the Church ask this? Firstly it is penitential. We become accustomed to having instrumental and upbeat music throughout the calendar, that we have to be intentional in doing this. We have to use our will in order to deprive ourselves of things during Lent, which includes having a less celebratory tone in the Liturgy. Not singing the great songs of praise, the Gloria and the Alleluia, indicates this to us.
Having silence is more penitential. It also should cause us to be more reflective and meditative in the Liturgy. When there is silence in the Liturgy it is intentional. This does not mean that we should simply wait until something happens next. We should promote a reflective heart, pondering on what we have just heard or seen, or meditating on Christ. It is an opportunity to unite our hearts to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
This day and age we do not know what to do with silence, so we fill it up with action or noise. We cannot sit still as a society anymore. Silence has become antithetical to us, so much so that we call silence awkward. But contrary to what our culture thinks, silence is productive. Flowers and plants grow in silence. Babies in their mothers’ womb grow in silence. We need silence as human beings, and I think now more than ever our culture needs silence to break up the noise, whether its mental noise, spiritual noise, or actual noise. Why are Manresa Retreats so popular? I think a large part of this is that they are silent. There is a healthy disconnect from the world that allows the men who attend those retreats to hear God’s voice. And God’s voice can only be heard in the silence.
This is the most important reason for promoting silence in the Liturgy. Silence protects the sacred. Silence allows a meeting between God and the human heart. Silence is the spiritual match maker, which sets up Christ with the human heart for a personal and intimate encounter. Our culture is so loud that the voice of God is drowned out. Silence helps us to listen for and hear God’s voice. This is why silence is important in the Liturgy, and why the Church calls for more silence during Lent.
In a sense, I hope the increase in silence at Mass has disturbed some of you. It can be shocking at first, especially if we are not used to sitting in silence. Persevere in patiently sitting and waiting, reflecting inwardly in what is going on. Just Elijah heard God’s whisper in the silence, we, too, can meet God in the silence as well. And this can become life changing.