What is Taizé Prayer? Taizé is a meditative prayer service that incorporates simple, repetitive song and chant, scripture readings, and periods of group silence in a setting of peace and soft light that fosters communion with God. Through Taizé, participants can worship in a community setting, yet remain open to the voice of God and discover the prayer within themselves. Christians of all traditions share in this ecumenical form of prayer. Taizé Prayer is meditative common prayer. Gathered in the presence of Christ, we sing uncomplicated repetitive songs, uncluttered by too many words, allowing the mystery of God to become tangible through the beauty of simplicity.

Worship in the Spirit of Taizé

People are handed a bulletin and a candle as they come in the door, where they gather quietly in the gently lit worship space. At the front, a few lighted candles sit amongst Christian symbols or icons. People sit during the first few songs, which usually are sung in English, but may also be in Latin, French, or Spanish. These are songs of adoration praise or petition to the Lord. Two or three different songs are sung to begin. Then all stand, and a few (usually the children) come to the front to light their candles. They then walk to the first rows, sharing their light with the person on the end, who turns to his neighbor, and shares the light.

When all the candles are lit, the cantor utters a few words of prayer, and everyone raises their candles and sings "Alleluia" with the cantor.

A Scripture reading follows. And, as the people sing gently again, each person comes to the front to stand their candle in a pot filled with sand, and then return to their place. When all have surrendered their candle, quietness descends, and the people sit in silent prayer for ten minutes.

The cantor ends the silence by beginning a song, which everyone sings. A time for prayer for those near, and those far away, and for all the things that are on our hearts follows, with all the people joining in with "Kyrie eleison." This time of prayer is ended with the people joining hands and praying the Lord's prayer together.

A final hymn ends the service, and everyone is invited to share the Lord's peace with their neighbor.

Taizé Beginnings

Taizé Prayer is an ecumenical form of prayer modeled after an international, ecumenical community founded in the 1940's by Br. Roger in Taizé, France.

At the heart of daily life in Taizé are three times of prayer together. Since the late 1950s, many thousands of young adults from many countries have found their way to Taizé to take part in weekly meetings of prayer and reflection.

Everything began in great solitude. In 1940, at the age of 25, Brother Roger left his native Switzerland in order to live in France, the country of his mother. For several years he had borne within him a calling to begin a community where reconciliation between Christians would be lived out in daily life. A community where "kindness of heart would be a matter of practical experience, and where love would be at the heart of all things."

He wanted this community to be present in the midst of the suffering of the time, and thus it was that he made his home in the small village of Taizé, in Burgundy, just a few miles from the demarcation line which cut France in two during the first years of the war. There he was able to hide refugees (Jews in particular) who had fled the occupied zone in the knowledge that they could find refuge in his house.

After the war he was joined by others, and on Easter Day, 1949, the first brothers of the community made their commitment to a life in celibacy, to community of possessions, and to simplicity of life.

During a long silent retreat in the winter of 1952-3, Brother Roger wrote "The Rule of Taizé" which expressed the "things necessary for living in community." Today the Taizé Community is made up of over a hundred brothers, Catholics and from various Protestant backgrounds, coming from more than twenty-five nations. The community's existence is in itself a sign of reconciliation between divided Christians and divided nations. The brothers are committed for their whole life to material and spiritual sharing, to celibacy, and to a great simplicity of life. The above information was adapted from the Taizé Community's website at http://www.taize.fr/en.

Right at the depth of the human condition, lies the longing for a presence, the silent desire for a communion. Let us never forget that this simple desire for God is already the beginning of faith.

. . . .Brother Roger