That Most Silent of Saturdays
By Brother Brennan Christ is risen! Recently, a young composer and cellist, Jennifer Bewerse, recognized New Skete as the inspiration for her newest composition, “Inside Silence.” Jennifer visited here several years ago as a participant in the Cello Seminar, a local music theory and practice workshop led by noted musician and teacher Rhonda Rider at the nearby Brown Farm. After witnessing a bit of our life, work, and worship here at New Skete, she kindly credited us with inspiring her current work, and for our “dedication to developing a rich inner self and spirituality through monastic life.” I was really impressed with her impressions, I must say, and with her particular attention to the practice of, as well as the incidental occurrence of, silence—whether it be an intentional silence as in meditation, or unintentional as an “awkward lull” in a conversation. Both can be quite mysterious, yet also of great value, often surprisingly so. Something mysterious can of