--- title: Silence and Solitude and Anna the Prophetess description: Colleen Spiro recalls how her life changed when she began taking advantage of opportunities for prayer.  image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/silence%20and%20solitude-CSpiro%201231%202.jpg --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/silence-and-solitude-and-anna-the-prophetess#) [FAITH](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/faith) # Silence and Solitude and Anna the Prophetess Dec 31, 2020 11:30:00 AM  |  by [Colleen Spiro](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/colleen-spiro) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/silence%20and%20solitude-CSpiro%201231%202.jpg) *Colleen Spiro recalls how her life changed when she began taking advantage of opportunities for prayer. * > And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. (Luke 2:38)   There was a time in my life when I was able to spend many moments in prayer. In a chapel. Sitting before the Blessed Sacrament. It was really a perfect opportunity for me. I was working as a parish secretary. The parish was small at that time. We did not have a church building. We had an “all-purpose” building that we used for Masses and socials and meetings and faith formation classes. In one small corner of the building there was a small chapel with a confessional. Several chairs with kneelers. And the Tabernacle. During the week, I would drive my two boys to school and then I would go to the chapel. I had about 45 minutes to pray before I had to go to open up the office. I was often the only one in the chapel. #### Silence and solitude. What a gift. I did this for many years until my boys went to high school and my hours changed at work. The all-purpose building became the parish hall and a church was built farther across the parking lot from the office. There was a Blessed Sacrament chapel in the church. I often spent my lunch hour praying in the chapel. I look back on those years with joy and gratitude. I know I can pray anywhere. I know I can find time to pray in my everyday life. In the midst of this pandemic I have plenty of quiet hours when I can pray. But I look back on those days when I spent a lot of time alone and in silence before the Blessed Sacrament as the beginning of my prayer life, when God became number one. A time when I knew with all my heart that I was not alone. I eventually became a spiritual director. Called by God to help others find God’s presence in their own lives, it is important that I have a deep prayer life. I cannot do that ministry without praying daily. I cannot speak “about the child” to all who are awaiting redemption, if I am not praying. And if I am not spending both quality time and quantity time in prayer.  > [CLICK TO TWEET > I look back on those days when I spent a lot of time alone and in silence before the Blessed Sacrament as the beginning of my prayer life, when God became number one. #catholicmom](https://ctt.ac/90NSC) This gospel reading tells us that Anna never left the temple, but “worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.” I pray that God will continue to help me pray night and day. I pray that I will never leave His temple, His Church. If we want to recognize Jesus in our lives, then we must spend time in prayer every day. Anna recognized the Savior because of all the time she spent in prayer. Can we ignore that? Do we recognize the Savior daily? Do we give thanks and speak to others about the child to “all who are awaiting redemption?” *God, thank you for the gift of Your Son. Thank you for teaching us to pray so we may recognize the Savior in our everyday lives.* ![silence and solitude-CSpiro 1231](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/silence%20and%20solitude-CSpiro%201231.jpg?width=1800&name=silence%20and%20solitude-CSpiro%201231.jpg)   --- Copyright 2020 Colleen Spiro Image ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fsilence-and-solitude-and-anna-the-prophetess%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fsilence-and-solitude-and-anna-the-prophetess%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fsilence-and-solitude-and-anna-the-prophetess%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Silence%20and%20Solitude%20and%20Anna%20the%20Prophetess) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fsilence-and-solitude-and-anna-the-prophetess%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fsilence-and-solitude-and-anna-the-prophetess%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Colleen Spiro](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/Contriubutors/COLLEEN%20SPIRO.jpeg) ### [Colleen Spiro](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/colleen-spiro) Colleen Spiro is a Catholic mother, grandmother and a deacon’s wife. A certified spiritual director, Colleen loves to share her faith and encourage others through her retreats and writings. You can read her reflections at her website, [Catholic Prayer Life](http://www.catholic-prayerlife.com). ## Related Blog Articles [ Jesus Stands On Our Shore Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/09/28/jesus-stands-shore) [ Surprised by God... Again Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2013/09/23/surprised-by-god-again) [ Parish Secretaries Can Help Keep the Doors Open Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2013/05/27/parish-secretaries-can-help-keep-the-doors-open) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to receive our free daily digest email. Copyright © 2026 CatholicMom.com. All Rights Reserved.