Prayer in the Spirit of Taize

Sundays at 7:00 p.m.
Upcoming dates for the Fall will be published by September.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you.” (John 14: 27)

For several years, parishioners, Catholics from other parishes, and fellow Christians from other communities have gathered at Saint Joseph Church to pray for peace and reconciliation within our households, within our communities, and within our world. We do this by coming together singing simple songs and chants, entering into silence, opening ourselves to the Lord’s presence, and drawing closer to the heart of God. This prayer is modeled on the daily prayer of the Taizé Community in France, an ecumenical monastic community founded by Brother Roger Schutz in the 1940s, whose very existence “is a ‘parable of community’ that wants its life to be a sign of reconciliation between divided Christians and between separated peoples.”

Though you may not be familiar with the prayer, you will be most familiar with the simple songs that are part of the ritual. “Jesus, Remember Me,” “Bless the Lord,” and “Eat This Bread” are just a few of the songs that are part of our Sunday worship; these and many more were composed so that people could be drawn closer to an awareness of God’s presence through repetitive prayers. Think of the repeated rhythms of the rosary, or if you practice meditation, the repeated word or phrase that keeps one grounded in intention. The prayer also encompasses a service of light, the reading of Scripture, and a period of communal silence. In many parishes that offer this prayer, families bring their children to form them in devotional prayer and to instill a practice that is easily joined to one’s spirit. Young adults, for whom the brothers of Taizé have a special ministry, are also drawn to its beauty.

Our world is too familiar with war; our cities and neighborhoods struggle with violence; our politics engage aggressive rhetoric instead of dialogue; and even our households may be in need of compassionate acts of reconciliation and love. The faith-filled community that has gathered to pray in the spirit of the Taizé community is a witness among those who gather for the prayer; it is a time and place where the seeds of peace and justice may be sown in our hearts. And it also witnesses beyond the time of prayer when it slowly changes our own hearts and forms us in the spirit of Christ who came through closed doors after his resurrection and said, “Peace be with you.”

Little by little, this intentional community of prayer grows, and your presence can help it to flourish! Bring your families, your children, and anyone who may need to share in a time of prayer, song, and silence that opens us up to the spirit of Christ’s peace and unity.

For more information about this prayer or to be added to an email reminder list, please contact me, Bob Valle at [email protected] or 630-964-0216.

Together, may we grow “in the peace of God that surpasses all understanding.”  (Philippians 4:7)