21 December, Antonio, Cardinal Bacci: Meditations For Each Day

A CHRISTMAS NOVENA

VI. The Silence of the Divine Infant

1. Jesus Christ is the Eternal Word of God made man, the infinite and substantial image of the Divine Intellect. Nevertheless, the Divine Infant whom we adore in the stable at Bethlehem is mute and silent. The voluntary humiliation of the Son of God is such that He, the Word of God, cannot utter a single human syllable. By this chosen silence, however, He teaches us many things. In the first place, He teaches us humility and self-denial. He teaches us, moreover, to recollect ourselves in the presence of God, so that it may be easier for us to speak with Him, and for Him to make known what He requires of us. The silence of prayer brings forth divine consolations and inspirations to holiness.

Do we love to be silent? It is not necessary to become hermits, but it is essential from time to time to place ourselves quietly in the presence of God. God cannot make Himself heard through the noise and confusion of the world, whereas He speaks clearly to the soul, which seeks the silence of prayer. In any case, if we go about looking for the gossip and idle chatter of the world, it is almost impossible not to offend God. “Avoid profane and empty babblings,” St. Paul urges us, “for they contribute much to ungodliness.” (2 Tim. 2:16) “If anyone does not offend in word,” adds St. James, “he is a perfect man.” (James 3:2) “The tongue is a little member,” he continues, but goes on to emphasise that it is capable of doing either a great deal of good or a great deal of harm. “With it we bless God the Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made after the likeness if God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not to be so.” (James 3:5-10)

There are two main lessons which we should learn, therefore, from the silence of the Divine Infant. We should learn to love recollection, and we should learn to make proper use of the gift of speech, which can be an equally powerful weapon in the cause of good or in the cause of evil.

2. Evil always attracts a great deal of attention, whereas goodness operates in silence. The reason why evil creates such a stir is that it is the work of pride and of ambition. It wants to be seen and to be applauded. Good work, however, is done for God. It does not seek the world's applause, but only the approval of God. When an enterprise sets out to look for publicity, there is reason to fear that it does not come from God but is prompted by human motives. As a result, it will prove sterile.

If we sincerely desire to please God, we shall work in silence. We shall not aim at our own worldly interests, but shall seek our own spiritual good and that of our fellow-men. If it is God's will that our good work may shine also before men, let us remember that this is for the glory of God and in order to give good example to our neighbour.

3. Let us kneel in spirit before the Holy Infant. He is silent, but His heart beats with love for His heavenly Father and for the afflicted human race which He has come to redeem. Let us adore God in the Mystery of His silence, and let us ask Him to favour us with His inspirations and graces. Let us ask Him to teach us to be like Him so that our hearts may be closed to the vain attractions of the world and open to the influence of the supernatural. Let us ask Him to help us to employ the gift of speech in order to adore, praise and thank God, and to draw down His blessings on ourselves and on our fellow-men. May the words which we utter exercise a prayerful and fruitful apostolate, for it was chiefly for this purpose that God endowed us with the gift of speech.