TAIZÉTaizé: Advent, a time for watching and a time to start moving
For the last two Sundays, the crib outside the Church of Reconciliation has shown passing visitors that the season of Advent has begun! It is also marked in Taizé by the responses and hymns during the prayers, and the Bible readings from Isaiah at the morning prayer.
A group of students from the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey came for three days, with their director, Romanian Orthodox priest Ion Sauca. Last Sunday, the light from Bethlehem arrived in Taizé before being carried throughout the region by a group of Scouts, as Christmas gets nearer. The same day, the Eucharist was celebrated by Father Maroun from Lebanon, with a deacon who prayed and sang in Aramean, the language of Jesus.
The time of Advent is also marked by the preparation for the next European meeting. The essential of the preparation is taking place in Berlin, but several projects connected to the meeting are being prepared in Taizé, among them the decoration for the prayer halls and the booklet that will be used throughout the meeting. Then, during Christmas night, it will be time to set off for Berlin.
Several young people spending a longer time in Taizé have been sent these last weeks to various countries: France, Germany, England, Portugal, Netherlands, Poland, Lithuania. Among them, Daniel from Slovakia and Lorenz from Germany wrote on their return from Rotterdam:
“Just one year ago, the preparation team of the European meeting was in full activity looking for families to welcome the thousands of young people getting ready to set out for Rotterdam…”
One year later, we returned to Rotterdam to visit people who had taken part in the preparation and who are still active in their churches; we also took part in regular meetings of local communities in the city and the surrounding area.Through these visits, as we ask what really counts in our lives, without always finding a response, we have already grasped how essential are the values of trust, peace of heart, solidarity, simplicity.”
7500 young adults at All Saints
During the All Saints vacation, seven thousand five hundred young adults spent some time in Taizé. Among these, over a thousand Germans, three hundred and fifty Swedish, two hundred and fifty Spanish, fifty Belgians and a small number of people who came from even further a field.
As every year, the most numerous at this time of year are the French: five thousand came at All Saints and another seven hundred arrived for the “11 November” weekend. They came from many regions, from the Belgian frontier to Corsica. In addition to the priests, pastors and lay group leaders, eleven French bishops also accompanied the young people of their dioceses.
During his weekly meeting with the young people, after the “pre-festive” Eucharist for All Saints, Brother Alois said
“In spite of the diversity of our backgrounds, Christ unites us in one same communion. We can live this like a small experience of that great community which we celebrate at All Saints, a community that brings together around Christ all those who are following him today and all those who have gone before us.”
Indignation, passivity or commitment?
Salva (Spain)
For a very long time, people considered our generation as a “lost generation”. Many of us grew up in a period of opulence, in a time where life was fast and appeared to be moving continually towards a “well-being” where it could be hard for us to see principles and values otherwise than as a brake on the race to success.
On the other hand, taking part in this workshop in Taizé on “Indignation, passivity or commitment?” showed me that this “lost generation” is waking up. We came together to share the problems experienced or observed around us, and to discuss and reflect on the possible solutions and to understand how to set change in motion.
The revolutions of the “Arab springtime” or our more modest but just as important “Spanish revolution” are examples of the possibility young people have, if they get organised, to make themselves heard.
I would like to thank all those who took part in these meetings during the summer weeks, and also the Member of the European Parliament who took part silently in one of our workshops; he gave me the impression of being heard – whereas we so often feel ourselves far away from this political class.
Silence of the heart
Joakim (Kenya)
I spent three months in Taizé and during my stay it was very interesting to to meet so many young people from different countries in the world. During my week in silence, I understood that God really can speak to me if only I was capable of receiving his call. This happened when I understood the true signification of the expression “silence of the heart”. Now I can share this experience with my compatriots in Kenya, in our parish.
Moments of intense sharing
Clement (France)
« So much fervour and agitation under the bells of Taizé! The group leaders are trying their hardest to make themselves heard as 300 young adults get themselves into line for the souvenir photo, the photo we shall keep for a long time. It will recall the innumerable high points of this All Saints at Taizé. The adventure begins at the start of the afternoon on Sunday 23 October, when “the hill” welcomes the first pilgrims, with joy and hope firmly in their hearts. For these three days, 3200 young people experience intense times of sharing and times of prayer where the fervour and the energy of faith are felt by everyone, in communion.
The practical jobs are performed with good humour and commitment. After the theme workshops, the young people leave amazed by their meetings and they are smiling after the Bible sharing sessions. Hope, trust, joy and peace: four words the young people use to describe their experience during this time of All Saints. Among all the voices, one stands out saying, “Do not worry! God loves you! Peace be with you! »
Brother Alois is in Assisi for the inter-religious meeting organised by Pope Benedict XVI for the 25th anniversary of the same day launched by Pope John Paul II. In Taizé, the brothers and the young people prayed in communion with those gathered in Assisi:
God of peace, be praised for the meeting of believers of all the religions in Assisi today. Although you are invisible to our eyes, you accompany each human being. You give us your peace and it brings us into communion with each other. And already your love can radiate through our lives.
Buddhist monks from Korea in Taizé
In the course of a visit to France for cultural, academic and inter-religious exchanges, the Very Venerable Jaseung, president of the largest Buddhist monastic order in Korea – the Jogye Order (seven thousand monks, six thousand nuns) – expressed the wish to spend the day of 29 September in Taizé. Accompanied by ten other monks, he attended the Community midday prayer and shared the brothers’ meal. Discussions with Brother Alois, the Prior of Taizé, centred on the theme: how is it that the monastic life makes it possible for men of very different traditions nevertheless to be so close? Possibilities of collaboration were envisaged for the future. The next inter-religious meeting in Assisi, in which the Venerable Jaseung and Brother Alois will take part, was evoked as a sign of hope.
An exchange with Rev.Olav Fykse-Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches
Friedemann (Germany)
During a time of sharing with young adults from many backgrounds, Mr Fykse-Tveit expressed his joy at being able to meet young people of different denominations and cultures in Taizé. For him, coming to Taizé meant experiencing ecumenical reality.
Apart from practical questions concerning the work of the WCC and its member churches, different images of ecumenism were shared during the meeting: How can we all come together in one body of Christ? Isn’t the Kingdom of God « justice and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit »? How can these components of the Kingdom of God be offered to everybody – without exclusion? And how can we react in the face of the threats that are experienced all around the globe? What can each one of us do to contribute to peace?
Beyond the frontiers of culture, nationality and even faith, it is up to us to accept, to respect and to love the Christians of other Churches. Called to be one, we can share ideas, problems and solutions in order to learn from one another, and to create unity in the diversity of God’s family.
All through the summer discovering “solidarity between all human beings”
During the month of August, Taizé welcomed thousands of young adults for week long meetings that were “very international and ecumenical”! One evening, Brother Alois said to the young adults gathered in the Church of Reconciliation, “During these summer weeks we are so numerous, coming from so many countries, and from different continents. The joy of being together makes us feel that solidarity among all human beings exists, and that it is possible to take on responsibilities for one another.”
The Feast of Transfiguration
Like every year, this important feast in the Orthodox calendar was celebrated on 6 August. All through the summer, young Orthodox have taken part in the meetings in Taizé, coming mainly from Romania, Serbia, Ukraine and Russia. A large icon of Christ was brought by young people from Sarajevo (Bosnia-Herzegovina) and placed in the choir of the church.
The 15th August weekend
On their way to Madrid, many groups from around the world made a halt in Taizé. For several days, there were up to 4500 young adults on the hill. The day after the 15th, the brothers marked the death of Brother Roger six years ago. Brother Alois recalled his life during his weekly meeting with the young people.
Summer meetings
Among the outstanding visits during the month of August was that of the secretary general of the World Council of Churches, Pastor Olav Fykse-Tveit, who came just after the visit of Pastor Martin Junge, secretary general of the World Lutheran Federation. From Rotterdam there came the previous and the new bishops, Mgr van Luyn and Mgr van den Hende, and Pastor Plaisier, of the Dutch Reformed Church. A delegation of Protestants from China also visited Taizé, led by Pastor Shen Xue Bin, president of the Protestants of Shanghai and vice-president of the Protestants of China.
A meal in silence
In July, following the tragic attacks in Norway, the brothers and the young people kept the victims in their prayer. The first Friday after the tragedy, everybody took part in a silent meal. A week later, the same invitation was made to everyone, to express our solidarity with those suffering from famine on Somalia, in Kenya, in Ethiopia and in North Korea.
Steve (UK)
- One of the most amazing things I have experienced was Friday’s meal in silence. There was nothing to force this silence. The people were asked by bro. Alois to take part in this act of solidarity and willingly thousand people made a very small sacrifice which left a very big impression on many who I have spoken to since. Fore me there were three particularly interesting things:
- The power of a simple idea shared with many can become something both beautiful and powerful Everyone was able to understand the needs of the other without words. I was helping to coordinate the distribution and our team, the volunteers distributing and the crowds understood how to co-operate instinctly.
- And finally... no one can measure or even try to measure what ideas that came from that hour in silence will go on to become concrete actions that change the lives of people in difficult situations. We leave this in the hands of God.
A meeting with Pastor Junge
Jessica (New Zealand)
I was privileged recently to attend a discussion here in Taizé with Pastor Martin Junge, secretary general of the World Lutheran Federation, and a group of young people from all around the world. He shared about his work, family and faith and how he balances these elements in his daily life. We talked about ecumenicism and the need for this not to just be discussed, but actively practiced amongst Christians. Pastor Junge said that the starting place is understanding other churches and why they live their faith the way they do. This is important at the higher levels in the organization of the church, but also at the individual level amongst Christians.
I was also inspired by his call to young people to take a more active role in their church – to discuss with their church ways to make faith more accessible to young people. What touched me most was the joy he showed living his faith. Even with the demands of his job requiring him to frequently travel, be away from home and be in different cultures to his own, he always finds a church and people with whom he can pray and share the joy of his faith.
Workshop on Latin America
Roads to trust
Sigrid (Denmark)
"How is it possible that we Christians say we love everyone when we do not even like each other?" a 12 year old girl asked me a few years ago. Her simplicity and spontaneity deeply touched me and revealed a desire in me, which I think is common to many young people—the unity of Christians. It is hard to understand why we often look at what divides us instead of seeing what unites us. There is so much life in different Churches and we could really enrich one another. We, the youth, do not know much about theology, and it may be because of this that we are clearly excluded from discussions to live unity. This is what we do in Taizé, where simplicity and spontaneity give us the joy of sharing and praying together. Here already we walk on new paths to trust.
Indignation, passivity or commitment?
Michal (Poland)
During my week in Taizé I had an opportunity to take part in an interesting workshop about young people, their possibilities and power to change the world. I understood that no matter where we are from, we are facing the same problems as other peoples of our age. In a world filled with political arguments, I never wanted to take part in the social life of my country. But after this workshop, I realized that beyond the political prejudices that I have as a young person, I have the power to start creating a “new world” beyond intolerance and general ignorance. If I will start doing even small things in my own small society, other people will join me. Because we are the future of this world, together we can create new societies based on a common desire to live in peace.
Taizé: the big summer meetings
Since the start of the month of July, the big summer meetings in Taizé have continued week by week. Among the very numerous countries represented, the presence of young adults from Palestine and from Israel, and from Belarus, have been noteworthy, as well as numerous volunteers who have come from all five continents for several weeks.
Among the workshops proposed, following the protest movements among the youth of several countries, since the start of the summer a meeting is held on the theme: “Being indignant and being involved… exchange on the place of young people in society today.”
Throughout the summer, the crafts developed by the Taizé brothers living at “Mji wa Furaha”, the “City of Joy”, on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya, are on display at the exhibition in Taizé. In addition, a few kilometres from Taizé, in collaboration with Brother Daniel and on the initiative of the city council of Cluny, 66 ceramists from the region present their work and lead workshops on the theme “Everyone has their creativity”. Till mid September.
Concern for others in a society that can be so individualistic
Esther (Spain)
Last May, in Madrid, my city, as in all the cities of Spain, with people of all ages, including many young, we went out into the streets to protest, for our views to be taken into account, to be heard.
I am hopeful to have discovered that we were able to form a "community of citizens," by meeting and organizing ourselves to make ourselves heard by our leaders, from Europe and the world. The movement, bringing together tens of thousands of people, was able to find an echo in the media, but it also helped form local assemblies, to identify and address small problems and difficulties in neighborhoods, or more specialized meetings on issues like the environment or proposed legislation. In my opinion, this indicates a concern for others in a society that can be so individualistic.
We understand that every little help is important to attain a more just society; like in Taizé, each job, even the least visible, helps us all feel "at home." I do not know if we can "change the system," a basic idea in this movement of the "outraged." But to realize that we live better by getting to know and helping each other already seems essential to me: it will have been worth it.
The word "communion" took on its full meaning
Agathe (France)
A personal encounter with God, clear evidence of his love, is what I was missing all this year and I was able to find in Taizé. Thanks to the many discussions during the times of sharing, or outside of them with people of all backgrounds, I had clear proof that God was in everyone and he was there to help us open our heart to him and to others, and also to speak about our faith and our lives without wearing a mask, to remain in love and trust. The times of prayer and the Eucharist for me were a very personal moment between God and me but also a time of sharing where the word "communion" took on its full meaning.
A new way to seek God
Michael (Denmark)
This week in Taizé opened my eyes to an entirely new way to seek God. It is much quieter and simpler than at home, and I discovered a completely different face of God. During the meetings and prayers, I spoke with God as if he were right next to me. I had never experienced that before.
The joy of life with others
Yeseul Kim (South Korea)
Before my first visit to Taizé, I found it hard to open up to others. Sometimes, I even encountered difficulties in my exchange with God, despite my regular presence at the Catholic Mass, which I have attended every Sunday since childhood. I came to Taizé to find a way to break down these barriers in my life, despite my fear of leaving my family and friends, and to share my life with people I did not know. Now I feel better and am more relaxed than before. It is not always easy to live in community but, little by little, I feel the joy of living by discovering myself and becoming more open to others.
From Ascension to Pentecost
In Taizé the Feast of the Ascension was celebrated with over 4000 visitors from many countries, including some who had come from the far North of Sweden. As Brother Alois said when he met to all the young people together:
“Here, for prayer, we have the happiness of coming together with many others. Singing together awakens a prayer deep within us and unites us in one single communion.”
Speaking of the importance of trust between peoples, Brother Alois mentioned the recent visit of one of the brothers to Tunisia:
“People there told him how important it was for them to know that in many countries of the world people were attentive to them and were supporting them.”
The following week began with 300 participants but the church was full once again for the Pentecost weekend. On the Saturday evening, a brother from Germany made his life commitment in the Community. The next morning, a choir from DR Congo introduced the Eucharist for Pentecost.
Reflecting on our life in the sight of God
Blaze (United States)
To be perfectly honest I was very nervous when I first arrived at Taize. I had only heard about the community from a friend and I really had no idea what to expect. It was not until the first evening service when all the brothers and visitors began worshiping together that I felt a peace that filled me.
The two weeks before I was in Taizé, I was working at the Cannes Film Festival where everyday was a high stress, "go go go" environment. Needless to say I was craving some time to be still and reflect on my life and the decisions ahead of me. At Taizé I was encouraged to reflect on life, in a way that brings us before God.
Meeting with Olivier Abel the philosopher
Stefan (Germany)
During a meeting between the French philosopher Olivier Abel and young volunteers staying for a time in Taizé, all five continents were represented. Our exchange began by recalling the Fathers of the early Church who created small isolated communities, in the desert, at a time of great social disquiet – like today – in order to be witnesses and mediators of the new world of God. They wanted to draw attention to the reality of the Kingdom of God through their common life. Isn’t this also the fundamental idea of life at Taizé: being leaven or yeast in the society and the Church of the present day?
“Just as you do to the least …”
Claire (France)
My stay in Taizé was an opportunity to stop and think, to deepen my faith and to ask myself some questions… I hold onto a sentence of Jesus which to my mind sums up the Christian faith, “Just as you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, you do it to me.” (Mt 25).When I get home, I want to go towards my neighbour just as simply and deeply as I have done in Taizé. I have realised that you go to a person’s heart with simplicity, not with the superfluous. I met many people with whom I shared a real friendship which I wish to continue afterwards. If there is one unforgettable moment I experienced it was the procession to the cross on the Friday evening. I was impressed and overwhelmed by this moment.
Taizé: from Russia to North Dakota, a great diversity of backgrounds
The two last weeks in Taizé were marked by the presence of several groups from very diverse backgrounds, finding their unity in prayer together. The visit of a group from Ukraine provided an opportunity for the other young people to experience an orthodox liturgy in the village church. The following week, the presence of people from a parish in Moscow which hosted several of the young people who took part in the pilgrimage at Easter, brought another occasion for an exchange between the eastern and western Christian tradition.
Another important event was the diocesan gathering of 1400 children from the region, for a day. Their joy, their curiosity and their will to explore and to share brought much life to the hill during a a week that was relatively quiet.
The cultural diversity is quite tangible, thanks to visitors from Finland and several other European countries as well as Native Americans from the USA; a group from South Dakota have become regular yearly visitors to Taizé. During the day, everyone talks, shares and prays together and the climate of openness is visible right into the evening, when they celebrate their faith and their communion with songs, dances and games from their countries.
Easter at Taizé: “By his resurrection Christ brings us together”
Throughout Holy Week, more and more young people arrived in Taizé to take part in the celebrations of the Passion and Resurrection. In all, more than 9000 young adults from throughout Europe and other continents came during the two weeks, before and after Easter. For the brothers and for all the visitors, this has been from day to day a true ascent to the joy of Easter. As Brother Alois said before his departure for Moscow,
By his resurrection Christ brings us together, from different Christian faiths and different nations. You young people can help ensure that the light of Easter, the light of the resurrection, keeps shining even in the difficult situations that humanity is passing through.
Easter approaches, preparations speed up
Young people from many countries continue to arrive in Taizé. In the Spring sunshine, they have helped to set up the large tents, installed the floorboards in the marquees where the Bible introductions will take place. Among them a very enthusiastic group from California were very active. After the winter, the big kitchen has been renewed and prepared, ready to open next week. At Oyak, the new ice creams are already a big success!
During these last weeks, we continued to pray for the victims of the earthquake in Japan and all those who are enduring the consequences. One Sunday, the prayer was particularly in communion with young people in Japan who organised prayers with the songs from Taizé in ten different cities of the country. Each week, we also pray for the peoples of North Africa, the Middle East, and the Ivory Coast.
This is the time of year when young people from other continents arrive in Taizé (this year the first are from Madagascar and Taiwan) to stay for several months, seeking for meaning in their lives and with the desire to help the community welcome the young people who will come for Easter and afterwards. Others have recently been sent for a time to Romania, Poland, France, and Belarus to visit young Christians in these countries and to share with them the love of Christ.
These images are intended to illustrate the preparations before Easter
Taizé: Lent has begun
After three busy weeks in February, the end of the winter calm has returned to Taizé. For everyone present, the season of Lent enables us to turn towards God, as we were reminded during the evening prayer on Ash Wednesday, by the words addressed to all those who received the ashes on their foreheads: “Trust in the Gospel.”
As Easter approaches, the group of volunteers gets bigger: some of them come to spend the weeks of Lent at Taizé, others prepare to stay for a longer time. There is a great diversity among them: young adults from Latin America and the Pacific have joined up with very numerous Europeans. And when they come together their joy is so communicative that it is sometimes difficult to hold back an Alleluia!
Visitors came from all over Burgundy to take part in the “open days” of the ceramics workshop. Like many potters who offered the same welcome throughout France, the brothers spent their weekend explaining their different tasks: from the preparation of the clay to the glazing, including the decorating and the firing. Since the brothers earn their living entirely through their work, this was an important aspect of the life of the community that exceptionally was being presented to the public.
From Japan to Libya, from Pakistan to the Ivory Coast, the world news is followed attentively in Taizé. The victims of the earthquake and the tsunami in Japan were mentioned several times in the intercessions during evening prayer over recent days during which four people from Japan - a pastor, a volunteer for a year, and two other young visitors - were present.
The spirit of unity is realised through life
Igor (Belarus)
A few days before the start of spring, I came to Taizé for the first time. I got to know the place and this encounter has touched me very much. Here, ecumenism and the spirit of unity are realised through life; thus, the misunderstandings disappear. It is a good experience for each Christian to learn to better understand the others. And also to discover how God expresses himself in the different cultures and traditions.
Being in silence is learning to listen
Élise (France)
At the start of my week’s retreat, breakfast in silence (with a background of classical music) is not as strange as I had thought… I worried all night that I would burst out laughing in the middle of the meal, but in fact everything is fine. Then the Bible introduction begins. I begin to understand that silence is not an aim in itself. So I will not spend the week in silence just to prove to myself that I am able to so, or in order to talk less in the future. Being in silence is leaving room for something else, it is learning to listen.
When I visited the village church in Taizé, I was aware of how dark it was, but dark not in a sad way. It was dark rather in order to emphasise the few objects and designs that were lit up. And it came to me that this was rather like my week of silence: I am not closed in, isolated, in a sad way. For me, the only words I utter are magnified by this; I like the fact of telling myself that the only words I pronounce are the words of the songs and the prayers.
God invites us to trust him, to turn ourselves towards him, constantly. And perhaps it is that which the silence makes possible. Turned away from worrying about our words all the time, we can turn towards God. In not speaking, we can listen in the depths of ourselves to the message of love of Jesus. I who thought I was going to spend a week reflecting on how to change in order to welcome God, I discover that God wants to speak to me now, just as I am.
In February too, visitors from many places
In the middle of February, a group from the Paris region were in Taizé for a week. They came from very diverse backgrounds and they had a very relaxed manner. They made many friendships among the other young adults present and they helped a lot with the daily jobs. On the Sunday morning, the bishop of Saint Denis, their diocese, presided at the Eucharist.
During the following week, groups from Korea, France, Germany, the USA and Austria took part in the youth meetings. They shared together on the Letter from Chile – joy, compassion and forgiveness - and on how to live out these Gospel values in everyday life.
During this period before the start of the big meetings, the young people staying in Taizé for a longer time have been reflecting with the brothers on the Bible introductions for this year. Each one was able to give their opinion on the formulation of the questions and on the presentation of the texts, adapted according to the different ages, and also propose their ideas for questions and reflection.
Everyone in Taizé has prayed in the Church of Reconciliation in communion with the people of the countries of North Africa, as well as for the victims of the earthquake in New Zealand.
This week, preparations have started for welcoming those who will come over Easter, with the setting up of the large tents and the opening up of the first extension of the church, making it possible to welcome all the young people for the three prayers. Given the number of participants, the meal distribution takes place outside, in spite of the winter cold.
In the cold of winter, another year of meetings has begun
At the beginning of February, the young adults who help with the organisation of the meetings in Taizé had an opportunity to reflect together in some depth on the three themes of the Letter from Chile: joy, compassion and forgiveness. After an introduction by one of the brothers, small discussion groups made it possible to share with the others and to pursue a personal reflection.
Although the winter continues on the hill of Taizé, week by week the number of young adults continues to increase. High school and university students from Belgium, young people from Poland and the Czech Republic have been in the majority these last weeks. A priest from New York who comes originally from Kerala led a workshop on the Christians in that part of South India, underlining the cultural diversity of the language and of the liturgical music.
The yearly council of the brothers took place during the last week of January. It ended with a prayer during which the brothers who have made their life commitment recalled their commitment by prostrating themselves on the ground to express the offering of their lives. Many people from the region came for the occasion to pray with the brothers. Brother Alois prayed with the words, “At this time, when for many throughout the world anxiety for the future becomes more threatening, and when the church is badly shaken, you open up a way for us: making our life of contemplation deeper. In this way we shall be more and more the brothers of those whom God confides to us.”
In January, the Sisters of Saint Andrew, who have been sharing in the welcoming of visitors to Taizé for over forty years, elected their new superior general, at Ramegnies-Chin, in Belgium. Sister Dinorah is succeded by Sister Agnes, who has lived for many years in Taizé, welcoming the young people.