Here I am, after 16 days away from the technological civilization. The funny thing is that not in a single moment I missed anything similar to a computer. That may seem odd, but I found it very healthy.
Lost in the meadows of Burgundy, France, the small village of Taizé is, since 1940, the home of the community of Taizé, a monastic order unique for its “culture of the provisory” and advocation of christian reconciliation. Everyone is welcome to Taizé, as long as he/she agrees to respect difference. That means that Taizé is an ideal place for the survival of multicultural and multiconfessional (and sometimes inter-religious) dialogue. The lifestyle is very simple, either for those who live there (brothers, and other people who stay there for years) and for those who decide to spend one week, two weeks or even months of their vacation time. Meals are simple yet nutritionally complete, and most people live in tents or barracks, during their stay in the community. The “Church of Reconciliation” is the perfect example of versatility of the community: blind-like walls separate the greatest part of the building in small rooms, used for the activities, and, at the time of the prayers, the walls are raised and the capacity of the church suddenly rises to 5000 people. There aren’t any benches, but only carpeted floor, where people sit, lay or kneel, according to their will.
Taizé impresses for its respect in what concerns to different cultures and creeds. Although the community is targeted to christians, it’s not very hard to find someone who is an agnostic or atheist, passioned by the lifestyle and communitarian sense that we find there. The eucharist is celebrated in the catholic way, and the prayers are based on biblical readings and reflexion, very much in the evangelical manner. The chants spread from soft english-spoken to more latin compositions, crossing the territory of J. S. Bach, and borrowing many elements (and even complete songs) from the orthodox tradition. There are songs in english, french, german, portuguese, romanian, spanish, catalan, italian, polish, lituanian, greek… well, Taizé is the only place in France where most people don’t know french. Although it is the “official” language of the community, and despite being the one used for conversations between the brothers, most young people prefer to use english. However, the brothers always make sure that everyone understands what’s happening, either by translating themselves or asking someone to do it.
It’s been more than one year that Fr. Roger, the founder of the community, died in disturbing circumstances, during the night prayer. The echoes of that unexpected death are, as expected, still audible. People want to know what happened, why it happened, if what was presented in the newspapers was really true… well, one year after, it looks to me as a senseless act of a distorted mind. It may happen to anyone of us… in both sides of the story. The loss of Fr. Roger was inevitable, as with any other human being. The circumstances of his death may look unfair, provided that he was not the head of a movement or the advocate of any revolutionary idea… Roger Schütz-Marsauche is often compared to Mother Theresa. In the time when he was able to, he would live for some time among people who deal with poverty everyday. Taizé has brothers all around the world, working with unfavoured populations. During the second world war, several jews found a safe place in Taizé, and after the war, the community would receive german prisoners of war in sundays. In the other side, although he rejected to formulate new theologies, Fr. Roger was a front figure of the ecumenical movement. He was an advocate of christian unity, and believed that love could easily surpass differences. It’s a pity that most clerical figures cannot achieve the same clearness of thought.
Well, I believe I have managed to share my always-evolving opinion about the community of Taizé and its lifestyle. Maybe next time I’ll stay for a little longer time. Thank you for your attention.
Have fun…