It was in the year 374 that St Ambrose became Archbishop of Milan. During this time he was renowned for his care of the poorest and most vulnerable in his diocese, and also for his work on the liturgy – many of the Office hymns we sing are termed ‘Ambrosian hymns’.

He said: ‘Bind up thy words that they run not riot, and grow wanton, and gather up sins for themselves in too much talking. Let them be rather confined, and held back within their own banks. An overflowing river quickly gathers mud’. These are words we can all relate to and which can bring us real progress in our spiritual life, through our development of silence, which gives God the space to work within us.

Today, let us take time to root ourselves in silence, and listen to the words which God speaks within; and may He bless you in so doing.