Vow of silence

A vow of silence is a vow taken to avoid the use of speech. Although the concept is commonly associated with monasticism, no religious order takes such a vow, and even the most austere monastic orders such as the Carthusians have times in their schedule for talking.

In monasteries of the Western Christian tradition, the so-called "Great Silence" is the time during the night hours – usually after Compline until after the first canonical hours in the next morning – wherein speaking is more strictly prohibited.[1]

Recently, the vow of silence has been embraced by some in secular society as means of protest or of deepening their spirituality. Silence is often seen as essential to deepening a relationship with God.[2] It is also considered a virtue in some religions.[3]

  1. ^ E. Obrecht, Silence, in The Catholic Encyclopedia, New York: Robert Appleton Company. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13790a.htm
  2. ^ Sarah, Robert Cardinal (2017). The Power of Silence:Against the Dictatorship of Noise. Ignatius Press. ISBN 978-1621641919.
  3. ^ Macadam, Heather (2002). The Weeping Buddha. New York: Akashic Books. pp. 99. ISBN 1888451394.