Michael F Conrad

The Poetry of Silence Michael F Conrad

A Lay Cistercian reflects on the poetry of silence and solitude as he waits before the Blessed Sacrament. In the past few years, having retired and found myself one day watching the Weather Channel as the highpoint of my day, I asked myself, "Is there anything more to life?" The answer came is several parts, one of which was to begin to vigil (wait) before the Blessed Sacrament at my parish church. It is called exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and gaining in popularity as its counterpart in the World reverts to slandering people's reputation, detracting from their contributions to life, and prevericating against others. Another part of the discovery is that of Lay Cistercian spirituality, based on Cistercian practices and charisms. All of it is rooted in transforming oneself from our false self to our new self in Christ. St. Benedict's Rule is an important part of how we apply this to our individual life experiences. This book is the result of my Lectio Divina (Phil 2:5) meditations before the Blessed Sacrament. Many people look for knowledge from books. I just sit there in contemplation and my mind is so flooded with wonderful and unexpected thoughts that I have to write them down or lose them, much like St. John talks about in John 21:24-25.