NOTE: This is the second in a three-part series on peace, intended to encourage the faithful to look inward and create and support peace at home, in their communities and in the world. In Part 1, Micah Kiel wrote “Blessed are the Meek.” Chris Conway will conclude the series with “The end of nonviolence: A revolution in values.”
Standing still in the midst of a busy world: Peace as an inner disposition of spirit
By Daniella Zsupan-Jerome
When we consider the lack of peace in our world, we most often see this in interpersonal ways — wars, political polarization, or even the daily din of discord in our social media spaces. Lack of peace shows up often in the conflicts we see and experience around us.
Peace does find expression in interpersonal ways. But it does not begin or end there. Most fundamentally, peace is found in our spirit, in the inner disposition that is deeply rooted in God. To gain this inner peace invites some inner work in turn. The ancient hermits and monastics knew this, as they fled to the desert in the third and fourth centuries, to above all learn to sit with themselves in peace. Anyone in our time who has had sleepless nights with racing thoughts knows their struggle and experience to some extent.
Finding inner peace is an immense gift and sometimes encountering it comes in the most palpable ways. Peace found me powerfully in 2016, on the summer day I had the opportunity to visit St. Benedict’s holy cave, the “sacro speco” in Subiaco, Italy. Traditionally revered as the site of the hermit cave where St. Benedict of Nursia resided for some time, today the “sacro speco” is a full church and monastery complex built impressively into the side of a mountain. Sometime in the sixth century, it is to this place that St. Benedict came to learn to sit with himself in peace, and discern more deeply his sense of calling. The holy cave is still there, now enshrined in the lower part of the church complex.
I had been visiting Rome for a conference that summer and decided to take a day trip to Subiaco. It happened to be mid-July, and my daytrip was planned for Benedict’s feast day. Subiaco is about 40 miles east of Rome, an easy drive if one knows how. The first impactful moment of this holy day was navigating a rental car out of central Rome’s morning traffic to Rome’s circular autostrada that surrounds the city, and successfully accessing it through its tollway booth. Plenty of hustle, bustle and some intense moments there. It captured perfectly the noise, chaos and conflict that drives us to the pursuit of peace. I felt kinship with Benedict, who himself fled Rome to Subiaco to seek peace, centuries before.
Riding to Subiaco and entering the “sacro speco” complex brought a gradual transition from chaotic traffic to serenity. I recall the beauty of the countryside and then the “sacro speco” complex nestled in a steep mountainside. The physical ascent to the entry was through a climbing path in the woods. The entry into this place elevated the spirit in more than one way, and the climb brought to mind the inner work each of us are called to when seeking peace. There is work to do to ascend, but with an ongoing invitation to stop, catch your breath, and take in the beautiful surroundings along the way. This too is true in the spiritual life: we are held profoundly by God’s gifts of beauty and grace as we journey toward holiness. If we never catch a glimpse of these graces, our journey will be arduous and perhaps even in peril.
The “sacro speco” complex is beautiful in its art and architecture. One can meander through halls, hallways, passages and courtyards all richly frescoed, telling brightly the stories of our faith. Descending finally to the lower church area I came upon the holy cave itself, an area preserving the natural rock surface with a chapel embracing it. It was a thick stillness, a palpable peace that was present there. In its dim and embracing atmosphere it reminded me of a womb. A single candle was burning on a stand labeled “Europa.” It brought tears to my eyes.
This moment of peace was extraordinary. It was also interrupted quickly, as a group of high school students on a field trip were making their way down, bringing their lively and noisy energy with them. Just as well, I thought. The gift of peace has been made present powerfully that morning on the mountain of Subiaco. May it touch their hearts too.
As I continue to hold onto this encounter with peace, I appreciate more and more the context that held it. That chaotic commute and those boisterous high schoolers are just as much part of the lesson as the profound stillness of the cave. Peace will find us powerfully and the challenge is ours to remain rooted in its presence as life will go on with its inevitable noise, chaos and conflict. “Seek after peace and pursue it,” Benedict reminds us in his Rule, knowing that the moments of graced stillness can transform our hearts to be able to hold the chaotic parts of life with stability.
Daniella Zsupan-Jerome is assistant professor of pastoral theology at Saint Johns School of Theology and Seminary. She also directs Sustained Encuentro, a grant project of the Lilly Endowment’s Pathway to Tomorrow initiative. Her research explores the intersection of social communication, digital culture and pastoral theology. She has served as a consultant to the Untied States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Communications, as an educational consultant to the Catholic Media Association and as a tutor for the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication’s Faith in the Digital Age project. She recently authored a book, “Speak Lord, Your Servant is Listening,” published by Lituggical Press.