Nun Myths Debunked: Vow of Silence
People tend to have a lot of misconceptions about the life in the cloister, and as nuns we hear many of the same errors time and time again. More often than not, such “myths” are simply due to lack of knowledge; after all, for most people the world within the monastic enclosure seems just about as familiar and accessible as the surface of Mars!
If you’ve ever wondered what life is really like for cloistered nuns, then our new blog series is for you. Introducing …
Myth #1 — Nuns take a vow of silence
Such silent, somber nuns …
“Why would a talkative young woman like you want to enter a cloister? Don’t you know they take a vow of silence? You’ll never be able to speak again!!”
This is one of the most common “nun myths,” and also one of the most easily answered. No, nuns do not take a vow of silence — if you have any doubts on that point, just stop by our monastery some time during recreation!
With that said, the monastic tradition does place a great value on silence. We seek to talk as little as possible outside of recreation periods, and every new candidate is taught how to close doors and walk down stairs quietly. Why this emphasis? Silence in the monastery is not an end in itself, but rather a means to greater recollection and prayer. If we spend all our time talking, we miss the “tiny whispering sound” of God’s presence throughout our day.
Have you ever tried to incorporate deliberate times of silence in your day? If not, you might consider spending just 10 minutes a day in quiet prayer — alone with God, phone off, in a place where you’re unlikely to be disturbed. You might be surprised at how much you grow to cherish these times of silence … and you may even want to make them longer as you grow in intimacy with Our Lord!