2015 is a significant year for the Taizé Community, which is an ecumenical monastic order. They will be celebrating 100 years since the birth of their founder, Brother Roger. But 2015 also marks ten years since his assassination.
BROTHER ALOIS
Prior of Taizé
'There were three thousand people in the church. And an ill person was coming, but very calmly, very silently, was coming close to him. And [the ill person] took a knife and cut the throat, so he lost a lot of blood and he died very quickly. And this violent death was terrible for us. But it was also a shock that put us together, that united all the brothers, and that we knew immediately, now we all have to continue what Brother Roger started in Taizé.â?
Brother Roger started a small monastic community in the French village of Taizé during World War II. It would eventually become an ecumenical group uniting Catholics and Protestants across Europe. The organization now has a presence in 30 countries.
BROTHER ALOIS
Prior of Taizé
'It was war time, but he said: 'I want to start a community in a difficult situation. There is so much violence and Christians are fighting against each other.''And this was his vision in the beginning: to form a small community of Christians from different backgrounds, different churches, who live reconciliation and peace.â?
The community has just 100 people, but much larger groups come to prayer meetings. Late last year, 30,000 people, most of them young, joined the community for prayers in Prague.
BROTHER ALOIS
Prior of Taizé
'They don't belong to our community. We don't create a movement of young people. They just are there for one week and then they go. And we tell them, 'Go back to your parish, there is the place, and don't refer to Taizé but to your parish.'â?
Brother Alois met twice with Pope Francis. And during his trip to Turkey, the Pope highlighted the importance of the movement.
POPE FRANCIS
November 30, 2014
'It is precisely the young who today implore us to make progress towards full communion. I think for example of the many Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant youth who come together at meetings organized by the Taize community. They do this not because they ignore the differences which still separate us, but because they are able to see beyond them; they are able to embrace what is essential and what already unites us.â?
August 16th will mark the 10th anniversary of Brother Roger's death.
The community is also organizing other meetings throughout the year. In the summer, they will commemorate the organization's 75th anniversary and the 100th anniversary Brother Roger's birth.
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