He spent his time thinking deep thoughts, meditating, reading and walking the grounds of the lakeside retreat. There were several 30-minute group sessions each day where the priests discussed spiritual topics for attendees to ponder, e.g. “What would life be like if Christ had not risen from the dead?” Fred was also asked to write an introspective report about himself and where he came from, dating back to his earliest childhood memories.

In the end, Fred said his vow of silence was surprisingly easy to keep. And he found the experience extremely enlightening and uplifting. “It gives you a rare chance to think deeply about your life. The first week back, I was really on fire with new ideas.”