If we want to find the ultimate explanation and full meaning of anything we must go back to the Beginning, End and Reason of all things—the Blessed Trinity And this is true of ‘the most holy rule of Silence’ which is called somewhere ‘a beautiful and most useful observance, conducing much to the formation of the religious spirit, to peace of soul and to the love of prayer’.

What do we mean by silence? Several quite different things which we may understand better if we consider the various words which we use as synonyms for silent: quiet, still, tranquil, noiseless, speechless.