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...".