Resistance Podcast #268: Holy Silence vs. the Age of Noise w/ Fr. Basil Nortz, ORC

About this sermon

Is constant noise keeping you from hearing God? Fr. Basil Nortz, ORC, joins Steve Cunningham of Sensus Fidelium to discuss holy silence, interior recollection, and the spiritual habits that help us turn toward God in a distracted world. Drawing from his book *Holy Silence* and his conferences, Father explains that silence involves much more than turning off the television or putting down the phone. It means ordering our speech, senses, imagination, emotions, judgments, and will toward God. This conversation explores how Catholic spiritual wisdom can help us resist rash judgment, moderate our consumption of news and podcasts, respond to injustice with prudence, and find greater peace in prayer. Father also explains the difference between holy silence and quietism, why anger must remain governed by right reason, and how humility and charity should guide our response to the faults of others. In this discussion: • What holy silence means—and why sound itself is not the enemy • Our Lady as a model of interior recollection • Obedience, conscience, and the limits of human authority • Guarding our speech, eyes, and ears • Recognizing distraction disguised as curiosity • St. Thomas Aquinas on anger and the passions • Humility, suffering, and freedom from disordered self-love • Interceding for others while remaining faithful to Catholic truth • Using spiritual reading as an ongoing examination of conscience Holy silence is a lifelong practice: learning to pause, listen, pray, and respond with greater confidence in God. 00:00 Opening 00:45 Introducing Fr. Basil Nortz and Holy Silence 01:38 What is holy silence? 03:46 Sound, sacred music, and spiritual noise 04:41 Our Lady: A model of holy silence 06:11 Holy silence versus quietism 09:07 Obedience, judgment, and moral limits 12:18 Living in an age of noise 14:26 Silence and the indwelling Trinity 15:17 Job and the discipline of speech 18:34 Needless words and continual prayer 20:22 Reverence and friendship with God 21:33 Accountability for our words 23:39 The humility to say “I don’t know” 24:53 Custody of the eyes 28:03 Letting beauty lead us toward God 29:19 Custody of the ears: News, podcasts, and curiosity 31:24 St. Thomas Aquinas on anger and the passions 34:18 Just anger and prudent action 36:03 The Desert Fathers on mercy and repentance 37:19 Humiliation, self-love, and union with Christ 39:09 St. Bernard on responding to injustice 40:32 Silence of judgment and online outrage 42:51 Judging according to the Church’s teaching 43:47 Interpreting others with charity 45:23 Intercession, accusation, and responsibility 46:57 Correcting pastors with respect 47:40 Pause, reflect, and listen to God 49:08 Spiritual wisdom and secular leadership 50:42 The book and accompanying conferences 51:28 A lifelong examination of conscience 53:10 Final blessing https://sophiainstitute.com/product/holy-silence/ref/41/ For Fr's conferences https://store-opusangelorum-org.3dcartstores.com/On-Holy-Silence--ALL-3-Conferences--MP3_p_207.html #HolySilence #FrBasilNortz #CatholicSpirituality #InteriorSilence #CatholicPrayer #SensusFidelium #SpiritualLife 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴

Topics

• Holiness