Winter 2006, Volume 49, Number 4

Taize Prayer Offered

A communal prayer experience is occurring at Mount Loretto these days known as Taize prayer. This prayer style is modeled after the daily prayer of a monastic community of brothers in Taize, France. This community was begun by one man, lovingly referred to as “Brother Roger.” In 1940, he came to what was then a semi-abandoned village in Burgundy. At 25 years of age, he settled there and offered shelter to political refugees, notably Jews fleeing Nazi persecution. His goal was to follow Christ through his call to community, living the Gospel through reconciliation day after day. Despite his death, the Taize community continues and is now composed of approximately 100 brothers. They come from different Christian traditions, from over 25 countries, and from every continent.

In its desire to welcome everyone, Taize prayer seeks to render itself as accessible as possible. The structure is simple. Besides the meditative songs that are interspersed throughout the prayer, there is the praying of a psalm, the reading of Scripture, a period of silent reflection, prayers of intercession and the Lord’s Prayer. The use of candles, often arranged in the shape of a cross, reminds us that even when we are surrounded by darkness in our personal life or in the world, Christ’s love is a fire that never goes out. The Taize songs are short chants that give the prayer a meditative character. Using few words, the prayer expresses a basic reality of faith, quickly grasped by the mind. As the words are sung over and over, this reality gradually penetrates the whole person and enables those in prayer to keep praying in the silence of their hearts.

This 30-minute ecumenical style of prayer is prayed in the Sacred Heart Chapel at Mount Loretto on the first Sunday of every month at 7 pm. Guests are most welcome to attend.

Please join us for Taize Prayer
December 3, 2006
January 7, 2007
February 4, 2007