Silence and Simplicity in the 21st Century

Pope Francis greets Abbot General Eamon Fitzgerald during an audience with Trappists at the Vatican Sept. 23.

I've spent time in monasteries and convents across the continent, and a couple of them have been Cistercian or Trappist. Thomas Merton, the contemplative author  may be the best known Trappist monk, and I chatted with an elderly brother in New Brunswick about his time in the same monastery in Kentucky with Merton. The Trappists lead an austere life, with an emphasis on silence and simplicity. I appreciated this commitment when I would visit with them for a couple of days or longer. I could sense the underlying life of prayer both liturgically and individually.

A few days ago Pope Francis encouraged a gathering of Trappist leaders at the Vatican to share these values with the world.

“This element of spiritual and existential simplicity,” the pope said, “preserves all its worth as a witness in today’s cultural context, which too often leads to the desire for ephemeral goods and illusory artificial paradises.” The Trappist dedication to prayer, he said, is “an expression of your love for God and a reflection of a love that embraces all of humanity.” Being contemplatives, he said, is a process or journey in which the monks and nuns become “men and women of prayer, ever more pervaded by love for the Lord and transformed into his friends.



This is an interesting observation for Pope Francis to make. He is an activist in many respects and engaged with the world. Yet he understands the importance of solitude and prayer, the communion with God which informs our social activism. This is a good reminder for the United Church, where we haven't put much emphasis on the contemplative life.

Thoughts?