“The Holy Spirit does not speak to a distracted, chatty soul. Through His quiet inspirations, He speaks to a focused soul — to a soul that knows how to be silent.” (Sister Faustina Kowalska)
Is what Sister Faustina says here surprising? Certainly not!
How can the Holy Spirit communicate with us if we are not ready to listen? It’s inconceivable that He would forcefully stop our chattiness and distractions. Both attitudes contradict the path of discipleship. We humans already have difficulty communicating with those who are unwilling to listen. How much more does this apply to the Holy Spirit, who wishes to communicate divine things meant to admonish, shape, and strengthen the soul!
These words from the Polish sister should remind us to withdraw as much as possible from the external chatter and its distracting mechanisms in this world. They only reinforce our tendency toward superficiality.
It is different when we seek silence. Overcoming our inner restlessness and reining in our “inner chatter” may take time and effort. Yet this is an important step in preparing our soul to listen. When we walk this path, we are already following the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Our soul will find delight in silence and become better able to receive and understand the “gentle guest of the soul.” Thus we find our way deeper into silence. We realize how easily superfluous words can limit the work of the Holy Spirit. We begin to cover our mouths so we can hear more. That alone would be a great step forward on the path to becoming listening children of our Heavenly Father.