A young woman who was very ill said to me last year, “I love life.” I remain deeply moved by the inner joy that filled her, in spite of the narrow limits imposed by her illness. I was touched not only by her words, but by the beautiful expression on her face. And what can we say about the joy of children? Recently I saw some children in Africa whose presence, even in refugee camps where so many (...)
At the beginning of September 2016, a stage in the pilgrimage of trust brought together 7500 young Africans in Cotonou, Benin. (1) The theme of this gathering will continue to inspire us throughout the year 2017: together—not alone, but supported by one another—we can open paths of hope—in ourselves, around us and for the human family. One of the questions asked at Cotonou was this: “To nourish (...)
On the road together! In 2017, the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation offers an opportunity to advance towards unity and to go beyond mere cordiality. There will always be differences between the Churches, as well as within each Church. These differences will remain subjects for frank dialogue; they can be an enrichment. But, in all the Churches, over time denominational identity (...)
As migrants arrive, let us go beyond fear! The meeting in Riga organized by the Taizé Community at the end of December 2016 brought together young adults from across Europe.(1) Coming both from member-countries of the European Union and countries that do not belong to it, they had an experience of community capable of uniting people from the whole continent. This Nordic gathering also enabled (...)
Throughout the year 2015, at Taizé, we looked for ways to get involved in new solidarities; these are so urgent today. Across the earth, new forms of distress — migratory, ecological and social — are a challenge for believers of different religions and for non-believers alike. Armed violence is wreaking havoc in the name of inhuman ideologies. While remaining clear-headed, we shall continue our (...)
God of compassion, we thank you for Brother Roger’s life. In a world often torn apart by violence, he wanted to create a community that was a parable of communion. We praise you for the witness he gave to the Risen Christ and for his faithfulness until death. Send your Holy Spirit upon us so that we too may be witnesses to reconciliation in our daily lives. Make us creators of unity among (...)
Letter 2012-2015 Click the image to download or view
The letter “Towards a New Solidarity” (2012-2015) continues to express the essentials of the common journey that is leading us to August 16, 2015, the tenth anniversary of Brother Roger’s entrance into the life of eternity (see the program for the year 2015 below). Here are four proposals in order to be “salt of the earth”.First proposal: Sharing with those around us a zest for life “You are the (...)
The Letter “Towards a New Solidarity”, continues to be the basis of the common journey that is leading us by stages to 2015. It commits us for the coming year to “seeking visible communion among all who love Christ.” Here are four proposals to join in this search.Christ extended his friendship to all, without rejecting anyone. Those who love Christ all across the earth form, in his steps, a large community of friendship. This is called communion. For this reason, they have a contribution to make in healing the wounds of humanity: without (...)
The Letter published last year in Berlin, “Towards a New Solidarity”, will continue to support our searching during the coming three years. We are devoting the year 2013 to finding ways of “uncovering the wellsprings of trust in God.” The “Year of Faith” launched by Pope Benedict XVI points us in this direction. Here are four proposals to help us go further with our searching.First Proposal - Talk together about our faith journey What is the meaning of our lives? How do we deal with suffering and death? Where do we find life-giving joy? These (...)
From the 26th to the 30th of November 2008, 7000 young people from different regions of Kenya as well as from other African countries and other continents met together in Nairobi. It was the second international meeting organized in Africa by the Taizé Community, after one in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1995. This stage in the “pilgrimage of trust on earth” was hosted by more than eighty parishes of the different Churches of Nairobi. Its aim was to help create more fraternal relationships, and to move beyond the mistaken views of others (...)
Since the young adult meeting is taking place in Brussels, headquarters of numerous European institutions, it seemed important to address the following message to the European Union. On 15 December, Brother Alois delivered the message personally to Mr José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, and he sent it to the heads of state and government of the 27 countries of the Union. (...)
Prepared for months with the parishes and families of the city and its surroundings, a Latin American young adult meeting was held in Cochabamba, Bolivia, from October 10-14, 2007. It brought together 7000 participants from the different regions of Bolivia, from all the countries of Latin America and from several European countries. This “Letter from Cochabamba” for the year 2008 was first distributed during the European meeting in Geneva at the end of December 2007. Reconciliation, a fire Together in Bolivia with young people from all the (...)
In the Gospel we hear Jesus call, “Follow me!” Can we respond to him by a lifelong commitment? In all of us there is the desire for future happiness. But we can have the impression that we are conditioned by so many limits that at times we fall prey to discouragement. And yet God is present: “The Kingdom of God is at hand!” (Mark 1:15). We become aware of God’s presence when we face the situations of our life just as they are, in order to create on the basis of what is. No one would want to get bogged down in dreams of an idealized existence. (...)
When he left Geneva in 1940 to found the Taizé Community, Brother Roger was motivated by this intuition: for Christians to be ferments of peace in humanity, they cannot put off reconciliation among themselves until later. Many years afterwards, this is how he described his personal journey: “Marked by the witness of my grandmother’s life, following her I found my own Christian identity by reconciling within myself the faith of my origins with the Mystery of the Catholic faith, without breaking fellowship with anyone.” This road opened by (...)
Thirty years ago, Brother Roger spent some time in Kolkata (Calcutta) with brothers and young people from different continents, living in a poor district and taking part in Mother Teresa’s work with abandoned children and the dying. He brought back the Letter to the People of God, made public during a young adult meeting at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Later on, he wrote several messages and three books with Mother Teresa. This presence in 1976 was the seed of a lasting relationship of our community with the Christians of India. Visits (...)
The afternoon of the day he died, August 16th, Brother Roger called one of the brothers and said to him, “Note down these words carefully!” There was a long silence while he attempted to formulate his thinking. Then he began, “To the extent that our community creates possibilities in the human family to widen…” And he stopped there, too exhausted to finish his phrase. These words reflect the passion that inspired him, even in his old age. What did he mean by “widen”? He probably wanted to say: do everything possible to make more perceptible for (...)
This letter, written by Brother Roger of Taizé and translated into 55 different languages (including 24 from Asia), was made public during the young adult European meeting in Lisbon. It will be used for reflection throughout the year 2005 during the weekly meetings in Taizé as well as those held elsewhere, in Europe or on other continents.“God has plans for a future of peace for you, not of misfortune; God wants to give you a future and a hope.” [9] Today, a great many people are longing for a future of peace, for humanity to be freed from (...)