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Our Lady of Silence


Synopsis


Pope Francis has often spoken about the damage we can do by speaking ill of others and about the value of listening to God in the silence of our hearts. The icon of the Mother of God with her finger pressed to her lips has been placed in a prominent position in the Vatican offices by the Holy Father. In this booklet, Fr Emiliano Antenucci gives a brief history of the meaning behind this icon, followed by a rich selection of devotions to Our Lady of Silence, enabling us to pray this devotion with the Holy Father.

Summary

Chapter 1: The Silent God

* Introduces Father Michael Martin, a priest haunted by a mysterious experience.
* He is sent to investigate an abandoned monastery in Spain, known as La Santa Silencio (Our Lady of Silence).
* A young girl named Maria leads him to the monastery.

Example: Father Martin recalls a moment during a thunderstorm when he felt a profound sense of God's absence.

Chapter 2: The Shadow of the Past

* Father Martin explores the monastery, uncovering its dark history as a place of violence and abuse.
* He meets a group of monks living in the ruins, including the enigmatic Brother Thomas.
* Maria warns him not to speak a word within the monastery walls.

Example: The monks' faces are etched with pain and secrets, hinting at the monastery's troubled past.

Chapter 3: The Voice of the Dead

* Father Martin encounters a series of unexplained phenomena, including visions and disembodied voices.
* He suspects the presence of supernatural beings.
* Maria becomes more withdrawn and protective of him.

Example: A hollow voice echoes through the monastery corridors, calling out Father Martin's name.

Chapter 4: The Secrets of the Labyrinth

* Father Martin delves deeper into the monastery's labyrinth, discovering hidden passages and ancient inscriptions.
* He experiences a profound spiritual awakening, but also grapples with inner demons.
* Brother Thomas reveals a dark truth about Maria's past.

Example: A cryptic message carved into a stone slab reads, "The truth lies buried beneath the silent stones."

Chapter 5: The Unveiling of the Shadow

* Father Martin uncovers the horrifying truth behind the monastery's violence and the identity of its long-dead tormentor.
* He confronts his own complicity in the horrors that have occurred.
* Maria emerges as a powerful force, revealing her supernatural abilities.

Example: The ghost of a young woman appears, revealing her role as the monastery's true victim.

Chapter 6: The Triumph of Silence

* Father Martin and Maria face their destiny, breaking the silence that has haunted the monastery.
* The spirits find peace as the truth is revealed and the darkness is exorcised.
* Father Martin returns to the present, his faith transformed by the transformative experience.

Example: The monastery is bathed in a golden light, symbolizing the redemption and healing that has taken place.