In the physical world, we refer to training as consistent practice of a fitness discipline. It can be working toward a specific athletic goal, such as preparing for a marathon or for a college sport or simply getting in shape for everyday life. Training requires discipline, commitment, time and patience to make it a long-lasting, healthy habit.
In the spiritual life, our spiritual practices can be considered a way of ‘training’ to grow in holiness. When we pray daily, or begin any new spiritual practice, such as praying the Rosary or frequenting daily Mass, it requires discipline, commitment, time and patience to make it a long-lasting, holy habit.
I have a pretty set daily prayer routine, and i’m blessed to be able to attend daily Mass a few days a week. About a year ago, I started attending the evening parish Holy Hour at my Church and I really love the praise and worship music that accompanies that hour with the Lord.
It’s funny though — since I started attending the parish Holy Hour, accompanied by music, I was less likely to go to the Adoration chapel for an hour of silence. I drop in when I can, and adore briefly before or after daily Mass, but I noticed when I was in the chapel recently that it was very difficult to quiet my mind for an hour of silent prayer — where previously an hour of silence never seemed like enough time. I was out of the habit of adoring our Lord in absolute silence.
So I would say that I’m in training to re-acquire this important habit. I know that I need the silence to hear the Lord, to read scripture, and to reflect and write in my journal, so I have been getting back into the habit of embracing the silence — working up to an hour, little-by-little, as many spiritual directors recommend. Speak Lord, your servant is listening!
St. John of the Cross said, “It is best to learn to silence the faculties and to cause them to be still, so that God may speak.”
I am in training to quiet my mind, banish distractions, invite God into my heart more fully and to give him time and space to transform me so I can be a stronger disciple.
St. John Paul II said, “We must understand that in order “to do,” we must first learn ‘to be,” that is to say, in the sweet company of Jesus in adoration.”
What a gift it is in this busy, crazy world to have time in beautiful silence with the Lord of the universe to “just be.” We see the example of Jesus in scripture, no matter how busy he was, he went away to be with the Father so that he could be filled up to give himself to others.
From Mark 1:35, “Then Jesus got up early in the morning when it was still very dark, departed, and went out to a deserted place, and there he spend time in prayer.”
So I will patiently train in the silence, adoring our Lord and giving thanks for the privilege of being with him. From Psalm 37:7 “Be silent in the Lord’s presence and wait patiently for him.”