A Quick History of Taizé
Founded in the 1940s by Brother Roger, today the monastic community of Taizé, France is home to over 100 celibate men from approximately thirty nations. The membership is composed of Catholics—and some Protestants—who wish their simple life to be an example of reconciliation between divided Christians (ecumenism) and separated peoples (interspirituality). International Taizé communities have been established on every continent, including Asia, Africa and Europe and the Americas. At the heart of the Taizé experience in every locale is group meditative prayer and singing.
A Quote from Taizé's Website
"Brother Roger has said many times how important a role music and singing have played in Taizé from the very beginning. There are pages here on meditative singing and learning the songs in the way they are intended to be sung. There is an outline for a typical 'prayer with songs from Taizé,' pages on the value of silence; how to arrange the place where the prayer will take place, the use of icons in worship…"—Taizé A Quote from Lighthouse Trails' Website
"Taizé is an ecumenical sung and silent participatory prayer service designed to achieve a contemplative state through music, song and silence. Practicing the silence with icons, candles, incense and prayer stations, this very contemplative community is attracting young people from around the world.
'Short chants, repeated again and again, give it a meditative character,' the brothers explain in a brief introduction printed in the paperback songbook. 'Using just a few words, [the chants] express a basic reality of faith, quickly grasped by the mind. As the words are sung over many times, this reality gradually penetrates the whole being.'"—Lighthouse Trails
Parting Thoughts for My Daughter
So my dearest friend, since you're a committed Christian, I'll let you follow the links and come to your own conclusions. A Taizé service might well be appealing and seem harmless enough. But should you participate? Honey, I’ll let you decide.
Much love and big bear hugs,
Mom :~D
Related
1. "Further Thoughts on the Growth of Meditation"
from the Lighthouse Trails Research Project
"Taizé is an ecumenical sung and silent participatory prayer service designed to achieve a contemplative state through music, song and silence. Practicing the silence with icons, candles, incense and prayer stations, this very contemplative community is attracting young people from around the world.
'Short chants, repeated again and again, give it a meditative character,' the brothers explain in a brief introduction printed in the paperback songbook. 'Using just a few words, [the chants] express a basic reality of faith, quickly grasped by the mind. As the words are sung over many times, this reality gradually penetrates the whole being.'"—Lighthouse Trails
Parting Thoughts for My Daughter
So my dearest friend, since you're a committed Christian, I'll let you follow the links and come to your own conclusions. A Taizé service might well be appealing and seem harmless enough. But should you participate? Honey, I’ll let you decide.Much love and big bear hugs,
Mom :~D
Related
1. "Further Thoughts on the Growth of Meditation"
from the Lighthouse Trails Research Project
2. "The Danger of Centering Prayer" by Catholic
Rev. John D. Dreher
Rev. John D. Dreher
3. "Is Jesus the Only Way?" from Chrysalis
Have you ever attended a Taizé service? Your impressions?
10 COMMENTS:
emom: just wanted to let you know i sent a link from your previous post to a friend of mine that is encountering a lot of stuff similar or the same as this....
she was really blessed. thanks again for always sharing your heart.
xo
I've never heard of it before. I'm happy for the research you have done on this, it gives us a heads up to what our youth are attracted to. hmmm
Interesting, but not for me. Thanks for explaining this.
Hugs.
I have never heard of this before. I am glad to have more knowledge of it now. So many things that look harmless can actually inflict the most harm.
e-mom, shining the light of God's word on these fads of super-spirituality that are NOT really NEW or Awakenings (which I keep hearing) but rather the same old tricks and poisonings to sleep, is a great way to lovingly and in truth expose these things. Your spirit of gentleness is obvious, yet you're putting the truth out there and letting it speak for itself.
I have never been to anything like this, but I hear about it, and the few times I've gone looking for what all this is about on the internet it's just flat scarry!
Bless you!
Sheila
wow just read both posts at the same time. Very interesting. I have never heard of this before. Thanks for the info. It is scary all that is out there.
Much love,
Angela
I've been to a taize before... through the Catholic church.. same place I was told that "Jesus was just a man" and the "Bible was only a book" needless to say I changed churchs after my term was done!
Roo: Oh... it's such a blessing to know that. Thanks for stopping by. I will pray for your friend. :~D
Connie Marie: Yes, Taize seems to have a strong appeal to post-modern youth.
Linnet: Good! So glad it's not for you. :~D
Becoming Me: When one doesn't know the Scriptures, it's easy to be deceived.
Sheila: You're so sweet with your remarks. Right, when we are armed with Scripture then there's really no debate. They speak for themselves. :~D
Angela: Thanks for reading both posts at once! That's a lot of information to take in. Hugs.
Amydeanne: Thanks for speaking up... and for embracing the Truth. Be blessed!
No, but thank you so much for enlightening me to it.
Lori
Lori: You're welcome. :~D
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