Taizé, Burgundy

Today I arrived in Taizé, a good place for my next relaxing day. After the mountains of Auvergne was the last day quite smooth en hilly.

Taizé is my favourite place, since 37 years to pass by, now and then. Since WW2 there lives an oecumenic community and since the roaring 60s many young people, from all over the world, come here every week to experience their common belief and have discussions around themes.

Since '71 in principle nothing has changed only the facilities have grown more professional to be able to receive thousands of people every week. Since 20 years the church can hold, I estimate, 10000 people. In '71 there were army tents where now are buildings, but the youth is still the youth, with a few older youths, like me.

Groups olf people, standing, sitting, eating, talking, singing.

The prayers are impressive in its simplicity. Short sentences sung in multi voices or canon, with only a guitar as support.

The athmosphere is of great sence of community.

The community seems to grow, I think now about 150 monks. 3 years ago I was here on the day that Frère Roger Schütz was stabbed by a knife and murdered in the evening prayers. You could not imagine this. 95 years old. The actual prior is much younger, I think 40.

I am very glad to be here and to take a day off.

 

I was writing this in the aftermath of the evening prayers. Difficult to tear oneself loose, but I had to ride down the hill along the darkest road I know. Even with the best lights on the bike an adventure. At last I have asked a friendly cardriver to stay just in front of me, so that I could use his lights. That went pretty fast downhill.