When a person is not at peace within himself and, if a believer, has not real faith in the peace of Christ; when one is lonely or has chosen isolation from others in the search for peace; when in time of stress one tries to withdraw for meditation and prayer, but does not succeed; when there arises in oneself a crowd of arguing thoughts and voices like a deafening roar imperceptible to the senses; then there comes the fear of being alone and the desire to seek company of any kind.
Being with others is not in itself a guarantee of spiritual peace, of calm and of psychological balance, unless one meets to meditate and pray together. And even then, if we are not able to lay aside those worries, sad thoughts and deep resentment for the period of meeting, community worship little avails those who remain profoundly alienated. However, staying together provides a better chance of victory over the whispers and shouts of anxiety and fear. A sort of relaxing occurs in the experience of community, leading the spirit to ever increasing simplicity, pushing open the door of the heart with faithful courage so that He may enter and chase away disturbing and confusing voices.
Silent worship becomes little by little a spiritual exercise this does not require retirement from the world at fixed times with special formulas, but rather is ever present for the believer in every time and place. It is ever more precious when the creature of God feels the distance from the Creator.
Frino di Ghiffa, 2 IV 1992
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