Friends have been inviting us to this prayer service in Royal Oak for a couple months, but last night was the first time we could come. The Taize Service was a very moving, meditative time in God’s presence. There is a slice of the monastic about it all. Set in the beautiful Shrine church, it’s an hour of bathing in powerful, yet peaceful music with performers, not so much performing as leading us from the background in song; some in Latin, some in English, and also times of quiet and prayers. Although taking place in a Roman Catholic setting, this is clearly an ecumenical gathering. Lutherans, Anglicans, Roman Catholics and other liturgical folks would feel quite at home, Evangelicals might have a bit of culture adjustment, but I’m sure most would find it a refreshing internal and external experience. This is no “hand clapping – high tempo time” but a unique opportunity to spend a contemplative powerful hour with the Holy Spirit. – Richard, Tuesday, April 17th
Here is a recent article found on line:
70 years ago in the little village of Taize in southern France, Brother Roger began a humble ministry known as the Taize community. Taize is an ecumenical movement devoted to prayer, reconciliation and following Jesus. Taize is particularly popular with students devoted to a third order (secular) type of monastic lifestyle. Around the world, Taize members pray three times daily, seven days a week. Outside of Taize, France, large Taize worship communities exist in Rotterdam, the Netherlands and Santiago, Chile. The movement is present on every continent.
The Taize community has a presence in Royal Oak, Mich., at the National Shrine of the Little Flower. This quote sums up the Taize purpose. It is taken from Brother Roger’s 2005 letter written shortly before his death.
“Certain summer evenings in Taizé, under a sky heavy with stars, we can hear the young people through our open windows. We remain astonished that they are so numerous. They search, they pray. And we say to ourselves: their aspirations for peace and trust are like these stars, little lights in the night.” – Marilisa Kinney Sachteleben
A bit of a sample of the experience on video:
“Something very interesting at Taizé is that this formula of calming repetition has been taken up in the liturgy; that is, it is not used only in personal prayer, but also in prayer together or common prayer. Some young people, who know almost nothing of mystery, are introduced to it here, and they begin to learn how to pray.” – Olivier Clément
More Music Samples and Information at the Taize Website
Link to Local Information Sheet
Taize Prayer Service – Third Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m.
at National Shrine of the Little Flower – Royal Oak, MI 48067
