Vow of silence
Actually, canon law doesn't include “vow of silence”, since unlike formal vows of poverty, chastity, etc., silence is a discipline and often referred to as "Observance of Silence".
St. Seraphim of Sarov is reputed to have said "Silence is the Cross on which we must crucify our ego" (but in Russian, of course), something that might have been easy when he was a solitary hermit, but soon he became extremely popular and many pilgrims visited him for guidance. He undoubtedly echoed the words widely attributed to St. Francis of Assisi; "Preach the gospel, and if necessary, use words."
Trappist Monks, famous for their contemplative silence, follow the Scriptures so that the voice of the world might be shut out and the voice of God might be heard.
But none of these Christian monks invented the idea.
Pythagoreans from around 530 BC took the practice of silence seriously; breaking the vow of silence carried the death penalty. And the priestess-guardians of the sacred Roman fire, the Vestal Virgins, lived in silence for years at a time.
Vidar, son of Odin was the Norse god of silence and there was a minor Roman goddess of silence called Muta, from which we get the word 'mute'.
In Benedictine, Trappist, Carthusian and other monastic traditions, the monks observe silence outside designated times.
So on a 29th February during dinner, the abbot nodded to the first monk on his left to speak. And that monk said "This soup is rather salty."
No further words were spoken for another four years.
Then four years later, the abbot nodded to the second monk on his left to speak. This second monk said "Well actually, I think this soup could benefit from a little bit more salt."
And nobody spoke for another four years.
Then a further four years later, the abbot nodded to the third monk on his left to speak. And this third monk said "I wish you two would stop arguing!"
See other Pagan items adopted by Christianity.
Odin and Sun worship: Sun Cross
