Silence is Not a Vow (Not Even for Monks)
“There are times when good words are to be left unsaid out of esteem for silence.”
— Saint Benedict
A common misunderstanding of Trappist monks and nuns is the erroneous belief that they make a “vow of silence.”
In fact, no such vow has ever been part of Christian monastic life, Cistercian or otherwise.
Theologically speaking, a vow is a sacred promise made…
