Malta Monk: Finding God in the Chaos

Silent Retreat: A Maltese Monk’s Perspective on Christian Spirituality

In the heart of Rabat, Malta, nestled between the bustling streets and ancient ruins, lies the Silentium, a retreat house run by the Discalced Carmelite Friars. Here, Father Mark, a soft-spoken Maltese monk, spends his days in prayer and contemplation, offering spiritual guidance to those seeking solace in the chaos of modern life. His perspective on Christian spirituality is a refreshing reminder of the ‘greater, more important issues’ that often go unnoticed in our daily routines.

Finding Solace in Silence

Father Mark believes that the key to understanding Christian spirituality lies in silence. In a world filled with noise – from the hum of traffic on Triq San Pawl in Rabat to the constant chatter of social media – finding silence can be a challenge. Yet, it’s in this silence that we can truly listen, not just with our ears, but with our hearts. “It’s in the silence that we can hear God speaking to us,” Father Mark explains, his voice barely above a whisper.

At the Silentium, retreats are designed to help individuals experience this silence. They offer a space for reflection, away from the distractions of daily life. Here, one can find a sense of peace, a sense of belonging, a sense of purpose. As Father Mark puts it, “It’s about finding God in all things, even in the midst of chaos.”

Spirituality in the Everyday

For Father Mark, Christian spirituality isn’t something confined to the walls of a church or a retreat house. It’s something that should permeate every aspect of our lives. “It’s about how we live our lives, how we treat others, how we see the world,” he says. It’s about finding God in the everyday – in the laughter of children playing in the square in Mdina, in the beauty of the sun setting over the Grand Harbour, in the kindness of a stranger.

This perspective challenges the notion that spirituality is something separate from our daily lives. Instead, it suggests that spirituality is something that should be integrated into our everyday existence. It’s about finding the sacred in the secular, the divine in the mundane. It’s about seeing God in the face of every person we meet, whether they’re a fellow Maltese or a tourist exploring the Three Cities.