"A Christian can realize himself called by God to periods of silence, reflection, meditation, and 'listening'. We are perhaps too talkative, too activistic, in our conception of the Christian life. Our service of God and of the Church does not consists only in talking and doing. It can also
Consist in periods of silence, listening, waiting. Perhaps it is very important, in our era of violence and unrest, to rediscover meditation, silent inner unitive prayer, and creative Christian silence."

--Thomas Merton, On Christian Contemplation