Contemplative prayer is silence

"the 'symbol of the world to come'
or 'silent love.'

"Words in this kind of prayer
are not speeches;
they are like kindling that feeds the fire of love.

"In this silence,
unbearable to the 'outer' man,
the Father speaks to us
his incarnate Word,
who suffered, died, and rose;
in this silence
the Spirit of adoption enables us
to share in the prayer of Jesus."
Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 2717