In the frenetic pace of modern society, silence seems almost impossible. Our work, our commute, our homes, and perhaps even our own minds are full of noise.

But your soul is still and quiet. No matter how loud the world is, your soul is a quiet retreat that is always waiting for you.

To go to this retreat of the soul, enter the classroom of silence, so that the world and your own mind and heart are no longer barriers of noise. Cultivate inner silence by spending time in outer silence.

Just as Saint Romanus of Condat built outer monasteries, we can build inner monasteries.

Saint Romanus was born around 390 AD in France. At the age of thirty-five, he felt called to leave the noise of society behind and become a hermit in the mountains of eastern France. There, he immersed himself in silence and built an inner monastery. Only then did he have the clarity and strength to begin building outer monasteries.

His younger brother soon followed him and together they founded several monasteries and a convent to be managed by their sister. Together, the energy, wisdom, and patience they needed to found and oversee these monasteries came from their immersion in silence. They cultivated the inner silence that modeled the outer silence of their monasteries.

Silence was a superpower for Saint Romanus. Not that he found any power of his own in his life as a hermit—no, he found the power of God. God speaks through silence, and gives us the power to do amazing things in the world.

Carve out a few minutes of outer silence each day so that you can build an inner monastery of silence. Drop by a church when it is empty and quiet. Leave the music off on your way to work. Have a television-free evening once a week. Try it. It works.

Also Known As: Drowning Victims, Insanity, Mental Illness

Also Known As: Saint Roman

Feast Day: February 28

Feast Day Shared By: Saint Hilarius