The Virtue Of Silence

Maxima est virtus tacendi, praesertim in Ecclesia. Nulla te divinarum sententia fugiet lectionum, si aurem admoveas, vocem premas. Nullum ex ore verbum quod revocare velis, proferas: sed parcior loquendi fiducia sit. Copiosum quippe in multiloquio peccatum. Homicidiae dictum est: Peccasti, quiesce, ne peccaret amplius: sed virgini dicendum est: Quiesce, ne pecces. Conservabat enim Maria, ut legimus, omnia in corde suo quae de Filio dicebantur: et tu cum legitur aliquid quo Christus aut venturus annuntiatur, aut venisse ostenditur; noli fabulando obstrepere, sed mente admove. Sanctus Ambrosius Mediolanensis, De Virginibus, Lib III, Caput III Source: Migne PL 16.223a

Great is the virtue of silence, especially in Church. Let no meaning of the divine readings escape you. If you would listen, restrain your voice. From your mouth bring no word which you would wish to call back, rather let your boldness be to be sparing of speech. Truly in much speaking there is an abundance of sin. To a murderer it was said: 'You have sinned, be silent, lest you sin again,' 1 that he might not sin any more. But to the virgin it must be said, 'Be silent lest you sin.' Indeed Mary kept, as we read, in her heart all things that were said about her Son, 2 and so, when any passage is read where Christ or His coming is announced, or He is shown to have come, be unwilling to make a noise by talking, but attend with the mind. Saint Ambrose, On Virgins, Book 3, Chapter 3 1 Prov 10.19 2 Lk 2.19