When you go for a quiet walk and observe others walking with earphones on, you wonder what they are afraid of.

At church people talk right up to the moment the service starts — and resume talking the moment it ends.  You wonder why they came.

One can be arrested for polluting public air or water — but less likely for “noise pollution” (loud parties etc.). It’s so hard to police. Noise-makers are addicted to noise, often inebriated with alcohol or something else — they react with violence.

* * *

You could join the “Right to Quiet Society” organisation, which campaigns against noise pollution (www.quiet.org).

I wouldn’t.

Once we start talking “rights”, we’ve joined in the rat-race ourselves where he who shouts the loudest, (campaigns the hardest, clamours the most persistently) wins.

“Rights” are a bad way of thinking.

* * *

For what is left of Lent, you might give up canned noise.

Try not exposing yourself to electronically-transmitted sounds for 40 days.

You’ll find yourself praying without even meaning to . . . plus having more time for regular prayers.

* * *

Attend the Old Mass.

Most of the time the building is silent.

God is there.

Not only do you know in your head that he is there.

You can feel his presence in the quietness.

* * *

Blessed Mary MacKillop, renowned busy campaigner for children’s educational rights etc., spent long hours, silent, before the Blessed Sacrament in the chapel every day.

The original “Rule” for her Josephite Sisters said, “Silence shall be kept in every room, except during recreation in the community room. If necessity obliges, the Sisters may speak in other places, but in a whisper, and as briefly as possible . . . .  The hearts of the Sisters should be fixed upon God, and every occasion removed which would keep them attracted to external things . . . .”