Another silent night, muffled in fresh snow, the clear sky dazzling alight with stars. I walk over to the adoration Chapel for evening prayers, in this comforting silence, detached from the "whirligig of time" and noise of modern culture, to embrace a bit of Poustinia with my Lord.
Below is an interesting article by John H. Armstrong regarding Catherine Doherty's writings about Poustinia and her work at the Madonna House in Ontario
which our facility was modeled after:
"Poustinia: Encountering God in Silence, Solitude and Prayer
The title
of this book bears the Russian word for “desert.” At the center of Catherine’s
lifelong journey was her experience of the desert. She writes, in the opening
chapter, “For the mystery of men in the midst of the world, nature, technology,
and urbanization, is intrinsically a Divine Mystery” (Poustinia, 4). But, this
great mystery is not to be found in the world as such. “It seems strange to
say, but what can help modern man find the answers to his own mystery and the
mystery of him in whose image he is created, is silence and solitude—in a word,
the desert. Modern man needs these things more than hermits of old” (Poustinia,
4, italics are in the text).
If we are
to effectively bear witness in today’s busy marketplaces, where we are
continually bombarded with ideas that challenge our whole person, we need
“silence.” If I have discovered anything that sustains me, and I am a novice at
the practice really, it is this hunger for silence and the need to make it a
regular part of my pilgrimage. She writes, “If we are to be always available,
not only physically, but by empathy, sympathy, friendship, understanding, and
boundless caritas, we need silence. To be able to give joyous, unflagging
hospitality, not only of house and food, but of mind, body and soul,
we need silence” (Poustinia, 4).
we need silence” (Poustinia, 4).
True
silence is man’s search for God. True silence is “a suspension bridge that a
soul in love with God builds to cross the dark, frightening gullies of its own
mind, the strange chasms of temptation, the depthless precipices of its own
fears that impede its way to God” (Poustinia, 4-5). In silence the speech of
true lovers happens. In silence the soul can meet with God. And true silence is
the key to a burning heart that stays alive to God and grace.
Silence
does not call for special places, though I’ve found several that help me.
Catherine Doherty is right when she
concludes that deserts, silence and solitude are “not necessarily places but
states of mind and heart” (Poustinia, 5). Such deserts can be found in busy
cities as well as in places where we live each day of our lives. These
can be “tiny pools of silence” (Poustinia, 6). The prophet says, “I will lead
you into solitude (the wilderness) and there I will speak to you” (Hosea 2:14).
True silence is not always the absence of all speaking but it is always the act
of careful listening. The mere absence of noise is not poustinia. Noises
can become the echo of God’s presence but if we are filled with ourselves and our
agenda we leave true silence aside. In silence we learn to repeat God’s
intimate words, often words learned from Scripture that we’ve learned in the
desert.
But how do
we achieve this silence, this poustinia? Doherty answers, “By standing
still!” (Poustinia, 7, italics in text). Stand still and look into the
motivations of your soul. We were born to be saints and lovers. The Lord died
to make us such and this we must strive for by faith. We must stand still and
pray that the mighty wind of the Holy Spirit will clear out “all the cobwebs of
fear, selfishness, greed, and narrow-mindedness” (Poustinia, 7-8).
But there
is a danger here that is too often missed. We fail to distinguish between
prayer and solitude. This is, in my view, the danger to evangelicals in
particular but all people in general. I believe Doherty is correct when she
writes that prayer and solitude are “two different aspects of the spiritual
life” (Poustinia, 10). Prayer is contact with God. Without it life dies.
Solitude, on the other hand, is a special vocation. Some can enter it for only
brief times. This is my experience. Others are clearly called to it more
permanently or as a unique vocation for life.
But prayer
is first, like silence, a journey inward, as are all pilgrimages of the Spirit.
I must journey inward to meet the Triune God who dwells within me. This is why
I do not need a special spot to pray. “Prayer is a contact of love between God
and man” (Poustinia, 10).
It is good
to have periodic solitude. Indeed, this is what Doherty experienced and called
others to as a Christian. But you can have solitude in many places and ways. A
quiet room is helpful but might not be accessible. Prayer is a full-time affair
but solitude is a temporary thing, unless you are one of those rare people
called to it permanently. The desire for solitude is good but it must be
understood. Poustinia is one of the best attempts to explain what it
is and why it matters that I’ve yet encountered. You might not be ready for a
book like this but if you are I encourage you to read it with much care and
very slowly.
John H
Armstrong"
It's no wonder that Catherine Doherty's process for Canonization and Beatification to become a Saint is currently under consideration by the Vatican.
If you are looking for your poustinia, come see us at,
The Mary Theotokos Retreat Center
Newark, VT.
It's no wonder that Catherine Doherty's process for Canonization and Beatification to become a Saint is currently under consideration by the Vatican.
If you are looking for your poustinia, come see us at,
The Mary Theotokos Retreat Center
Newark, VT.
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