The Word of God is only really answered in silence. Living in silence - and enduring the silence - often requires courage. If you live for God in this way, you continually come up against yourself. God himself confronts them with their own reality. It is however the only way to recognise personal weaknesses and to have them purified by God.
In order to enable contemplation everywhere and at all times, the monks cultivate a general climate of silence. The peace and quiet created by the regularity of the daily schedule also helps here. Quiet and regularity also help the peace in the community, which is essential for finding God in others and living in his presence.
The path of silence is not easy however. The father abbot supports the monks through spiritual instruction. Although a brother of the brothers, for the monks the abbot represents Christ in the community. Sometimes the brothers teach each other. For Saint Benedict, they meet Christ in every other brother.
