Tossa de Mar, Catalunya, Espana
February 25, 1997
Hola Amigos,
este magnifico en Espana.
Mais if faut returner au France pour parler de Taize.
"De noche iremos, de noche, que para encontrar la fuente, solo
la sed nos alhumbra, solo la sed nos alhumbra!" (We are wandering
through the night, only the thirst for the fountainhead keeps
us going).. A typical song of Taize, now sung in Spanish, is repeated
often by about 100 people, who have gathered in the building of
the brothers of the Taize Communaute. Frere(Brother) Roger, 81
years old by now, is walking through the tight rows to exchange
a glance with each of us. His eyes are awake, intense and still
mild as he is ending his invitation at 11 p. m. on a Saturday
night.
Marie, a gentle retired woman is sharing a part of her life with
us as she finds herself on the dinner table with 6 young Germans
and a French. She was born into a not practicing Jewish family
in Vienna in 1920. Her parents send her to England at the age
of 15 to protect her from the Nazis in Germany. Years later, they
tried to escape as well, but needed to be hidden in Holland -
as Anne Frank and many others - and were as well found and sent
to a concentration camp were they died. Marie married an English
conscientious objector and they invited a German war prisoner
for Sunday's lunches until he was released. This was done out
of the wish to reconcile.
Jonas, a Swedish priest who is looking like a Viking, is sharing
an anecdote he was told by one of the old brothers: Two of the
brothers were very late for the prayer and rushed into their robes
to barely make it in time. One was extremely tall and slim, the
other short and good natured. Finding themselves in the robes
of the other one and looking really funny, they attended the service
this way. "But this cannot happen nowadays anymore, because the
young brothers are so serious" added the old brothers as he looked
around to see if one of those was in hearing distance.
Taize, well known for it's constant trial for reconciliation
and ecumenical approaches, was and is untieable connected to Frere
Roger. Born in 1915 to a Swiss Protestant priest, he inherited
a love for the poor and searching for God. However, studying theology
didn't mean to him to go into theoretical observations. In his
early 20's he wrote in his diary "the stronger the urge for communion
or the more one wishes to progress in a spiritual life of communion
with God, the more essential it is to confront that life with
everyday realities and to clasp it to the heart of human distress."
In 1940, when France was overrun by the German troops, he bought
a house - receiving a private loan with the regular interest rate
- in the divided country, very close to the demarcation line.
This house was situated in a very small and poor village in Taize,
Burgundy. Trying to make a living by growing his own food, eating
snail soup and other hardships, he was still able to offer food
and shelter to refugees, especially Jews. Moreover he lead some
illegally into Switzerland. All of this was done in the desire
to live and share with the poorest, which meant for him following
Christ. Two years later he had to stop these activities because
the Nazi police paid visits to him after he had been denounced.
Roger Schutz and three of his friends returned right after the
liberation of France. They looked for the poorest people around
and found them in two war prison camps for Germans. So they offered
them what they could, despite the hostility some French felt for
such behavior. The four lived by their created guidelines, which
originated in the monastic rules of all times. Soon three others
joined them and they discovered that they could not give themselves
totally within their annual commitment. Being Protestants did
not stop them from giving lifelong commitments then.
Convinced that the divided church is the wounded body of Christ,
they began dialogues with churchmen from different confessions.
A constant relationship with all consecutive popes was established
as soon as the late 50's.
At the same time, more and more, especially young people, came
to attend their prayers. Though the brothers hadn't asked them
to come, they still welcomed them and put up very simple facilities
to host them. By 1960, a German peace organization offered to
help with the building of a church. This "Church of Reconciliation"
was constructed after the diploma plans of one of the brothers
who is an architect.
It didn't take long before the church was too small and walls
had to be torn down to add more room when needed. Up to a few
thousand young people per week have been coming to Taize for 30
years now. Many of them were frustrated with their church and
parishes, but the brothers put great effort into avoiding a "Taize
movement". At one time they were seriously considering to leave
Taize and the visitors behind.
To keep in touch with the poor, the brothers had always supported
themselves, taking no gifts - not even personal inheritances -
and in the mid 50's they established the first fraternity in another
area. Back then two brothers worked in French mines until the
authorities made them leave. Fraternities in the poorest slums
in Algeria, Brazil, India, Kenya and New York City existed for
a number of years or still do.
Their ecumenical search has been successful to a certain point.
With the allowance of the different churchleaders, Catholics,
Anglicans and Orthodocs have joined the community which holds
almost 100 brothers by now. It also shows at the prayers where
elements like the eucharist, icons etc. are used.
The prayers at Taize are unique. Simple songs in up to 10 different
languages are repeated 5 to 20 times. After the evening prayer
quite a few people remain for sometimes a couple hours to keep
on singing. The church itself is designed simply with love for
details. Big orange clothes at the head side and many candles
stored in open bricks mix with the colors of the stained glass
windows.
Guests are asked to announce their visit and arrive on Sundays
to stay for a week; a lot of French use the short distance for
weekend stays though and it is also possible to come just for
an overnight stay or stop in during the day. A regular visit works
around the following schedule:
8.15 AM morning prayer
9.15 AM breakfast
10.00 AM bible introduction and discussion groups
12.20 PM midday prayer
1.00 PM lunch
2.00 PM song practice (optional)
3.00 PM meetings (discussion groups or practical work)
5.00 PM snack
7.00 PM dinner
8.30 PM evening prayer
11.30 PM bed time
There are also one time occasions like regional and intercontinental
meeting. Guests are asked to follow the schedule to share the
brothers life and have the opportunity to have a meaningful visit.
A less strict schedule led to a growing party crowd years ago.
The dudettes (Keni and Misha) were most of all impressed by
meeting people from so many different countries. They felt an
unusual trust for everybody was sharing somewhat similar questions
and searching. The first time in their life encounter with three
prayers a day gave them a nice rhythm and furthermore they enjoyed
the peaceful atmosphere and songs in the church. Moreover they
liked their work in the church - watering plants, scraping off
wax etc. . The food was simple, but well received by them and
they always got enough. They even liked the Friday lunch in silence
- in prayer for the poor in the world; be it materially or spiritually.
As for myself, visiting the Taize Community was very special.
I returned there the first time after being rejected in my wish
to join in the summer of 92. At that time, I appeared with my
backpack - holding pretty much all my belongings since I had given
away everything except clothes, pictures and letters - without
ever talking to any of the brothers about my possible desire to
taste monkshood.
Looking back I can well understand and appreciate the rejection,
but I still had some unresolved feelings around the issue. This
time I was able to experience again why I was so drawn to Taize
on my four earlier stays while recognizing that it wasn't my calling.
Most impressive of all was to see - and read about - how these
men were totally committed following their heart - for them following
Christ. Following their calling by giving a lifelong commitment,
which includes poverty. They finance themselves through their
own work and give away whatever they may have to spare. And while
they are monks they are of this world as is observed easily by
how they support the young first of all, though they haven't asked
them to come and though it meant an incredible change of their
lives.
People of all ages are welcomed of course, but youth is most
excited about their constant search, flexibility and tolerance.
Even though Taize exists for almost fifty years as a monastic
community, it has become surprisingly little of an institution.
Some elements of it cannot be denied, but they are few compared
to what I see at Waldorf schools or any other institution I know
of.
Next to that I was deeply touched by the tranquillity of the
church. It became my favorite place for writing my journal and
reading Frere Roger's biography; besides the prayers, of course.
And a stay in Taize cannot be without meeting many from different
nationalities. This time I encountered with Norwegians and Swedish
first of all. The closeness reached within a week was just amazing,
though it was not a first time experience at all. Hopefully, I
will be able to make it up north before the contacts have devolved.
Americans, Germans and English helped me to some more moving experiences.
And I still wouldn't want to miss the French, Spanish, Mexican,
Brazilian. It is just great to learn words like "hi, thank you,
yes, no, blessings on the meal" in many tongues.
Knowing that "the boundaries of my monastery are the open skies",
I also felt reminded of my last year's teacher Denis' advice to
me: "An ounce of flexibility is worth more than a ton or even
two of strength!" Obviously, I don't really like that at times,
but my work as a travel teacher with the dudettes is demanding
it again and again. "Letting go of all the things that hold us
prisoners..." and "give it away..." seems too hard a task to even
try at times. However, the brothers and some others have shown
me clearly once again that there are those who "tryyyyyyyyyy just
a little bit harder...".
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