The Silent Protagonist

I am sure you have heard of the saying that a pen is mightier than a sword, and that may be right as words can injure us more deeply, than a sword’s wound, but among those powerful instruments to injure or to reach a human being is silence. No pens, no swords, but silence. How can that be? It is usually silence what breaks marriages, friendships and many times, silence is a sign that something bothers us. Well, let me share some short considerations before continuing with our Silent Protagonist’s story.

If silence is powerful, it may be a male subject as language therapists research, shown than a woman speaks an average of 20,000 words per day, while a male only speaks 7,000 words per day. So, when a woman spends all day at home by herself, by the time the husband arrives home, he will have to listen to about 19,500 words. That is why my husband sends me to work every day ??! Just kidding.

What about men? Let’s say the husband is the one who had a presentation at work, and he used 6,993 words at the office, by the time he gets home he has only seven words to say: “hi, is dinner ready? I am tired”.

This silence at that house is destructive. So, we do not see how silence can be powerful as all we know that if the wife is talking to her husband and the only answer she gets is silence, well, well, that will not make her happy, and consequently will lead a not happy life. Not happy wife, not happy life. Maybe that is why my husband at times replies to me with a “umm”; “aha”; “ok”, so “we” can keep going with “our” conversation.

Well, I hope at least you smiled while you were reading this story, but Who is the Silent Protagonist? How can a protagonist be silent? After all, it is common knowledge that a protagonist is the main character of a story who takes part in most of the dialogues. The more lines a character gets, the more active participation has in the story. This is a reality of our world where we cannot deny, that is noise, the one that has taken over our way of life. This reminds me that part of the gospel where Jesus says: “My kingdom is not from this world” (John 18, 36). Our Silent Protagonist is from this world but has a heart from Jesus’ kingdom. It is Mary’s silence that makes her a protagonist at Christmas time, at the crucifixion, at Easter and at an ordinary life.

The Silent Protagonist is the mother of God made man. The Bible tells us very few words said by Mary, and it is more her silence than her words that makes her a living creature of two worlds; an example of piety and loyalty to all of us; a wife who trust and does not complain; a mother who loves God’s will even when she sees her son dying; a woman of faith who meditates and not question the events; a disciple who follows unconditionally the Father’s words. Mary, A woman who does not ask why? Why me? like many of us ask ourselves when disgraces knock at our door that same question: why me?

It is Mary’s silence that makes her a protagonist in the story of our salvation as Christians. Her silence is not hollow, it is deep in belief, even when she does not see. Her silence is deep in love, even when only suffering surrounds her life. Her silence is the foundation of her greatness. Mary’s silence distinguishes her among all believers.

Mary is a loving silence of living faith wrapped in prayer.

Mary invites us to pray, to give moments of silence to our heart.

In that moment where we could complain, go to our silent room in our heart. In that moment when people insult us, go to our silent room in our heart. In that moment when a dear one goes to heaven, go to our silent room in our heart; and live that silence with joy, with thankfulness, with calm and trust in our Lord.

Like Mary, keep in silence and pray. We may never understand the why of our sufferings: health, loneliness, death, financial problems, but like Mary, silence and pray will give us the peace, the generosity and the faith to go through all these circumstances in our daily lives.

Every day is an opportunity to grow our silence room in our hearts; to pray, to make us co-protagonist of our plan of salvation. The Silent Protagonist is after all our mother too. Let’s approach her, hold her hands, rest in her heart, feel loved, feel in peace while she holds you. Our worries are hers too; our dreams are hers too. As a good mother she knows us better than ourselves. Ask her for guidance, for her company; implore her to always stay by your side, to bring you closer to Jesus.

Today let us give each other the gift of silence in peace and trust.

May the peace of silence reigns in your home always!