Taizé Community - A unique place where prayer meets silence and sharing

Today, I wanna write you about one magical place named Taizé.

Since August 1997 (my very first time), I already visited this place for more then 20 times... And one thing I can assure you all, all of those journeys brought me, and took me to "different places". For every time I travel by bus from Portugal. It is a 23 hours journey (if you take the "express" way), or 48 hours if you travel in a organized group, and you visit different places and cities in the way.

The photographs that you are about to see in this publication, are a set of chosen ones from the many years that I have been going there, approximately from 2004 to 2017.

Church from the Ameugny, the village next to Taizé

I ask for your understanding of the low quality of some of the photos, but they are very special for me, since they bring so many good memories.

Let me write a little bit about Taizé. Taizé is on small village that became one of the most important sites of the World in Youth Pilgrimage.

It is located in the Eastern part of France, in the region of Saône-et-Loire that is a department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. All the Provence area is so flourishing and green when it comes to the end of Spring!

The houses, and the surrounding flowerbeds are som picturesque, that it's practically impossible not to become in love with them... The natural warm colors of the stone that houses are mode from, transmits the perfect idea of the villagers hospitality and sympathy.

The Taizé community is a ecumenical Christian monastic fraternity, that has more then one hundred brothers, from Catholic and Protestant traditions from more then 30 different countries. The community was founded back in 1940 by Brother Roger Schültz, a Reformed Protestant.

Detail of a tile present in a exterior house wall

Cross present in the Eastern part of the Community, on the way to Ameugny

He pondered what it really meant to live a life according to the Scriptures and began a quest for a different expression of the Christian life. A year after his decision, Schütz though for himself:

The defeat of France awoke powerful sympathy. If a house could be found there, of the kind I had dreamed of, it would offer a possible way of assisting some of those most discouraged, those deprived of a livelihood; and it could become a place of silence and work.

Because his native Switzerland was neutral and thus less affected by the war, Schütz felt as if France would be ideal for his vision, seeing it as a "land of poverty, a land of wartime suffering, but a land of inner freedom."He settled in Taizé, which was a small, isolated village just north of Cluny, the site of a historically influential Christian monastic foundation.

The Church of Reconciliation

Detail of the pinacle with the Bizantic Cross

The stained glass side widows handmade by the brotherhood

The main Church Altar with the representation of the Pentecostal Biblical episode

Photograph taken before one of the three daily prayers

This ecumenical community welcomes more then 100,000 young people (and less youth in the Passport, like me) from all over the world, and invite them to participate in the community routines, where they are 3 daily prayers, Bible studies, small group sharing, and communal works.

Every daily and mundaine task is done with a small help from the pilgrims

For about 2 hours per day, we all invite to help the community

...doing this kind of group work, makes bonds between elements strong, and buil up some character by communicating with others

...everyone's work is appreciated, not matter how small or light might be

With this close proximity to one simple way of living through a week, the younger one are invited to discover the time for them selfs, as long has the very needed time to listen to other opinions, cultural diferences with simplicity, kindness and reconciliation in their souls.

Bible reading is present, but it isn't mandatory. All want to learn a little bit more about the Scriptures with the help of Brothers. Their teaching in the morning lectures, and on workshops are opened for apply,and everyone is invited to be present

The Cloches de Taizé. The Distinguishable sound that they produce 3 times per day, 15 minutes before prayers, is like a gentle, and in the same way, strong call for you to move to the Church

As you can see the Reconciliation Church has a center point location, in the top of the Village, and everyone passes by, even not in the prayer times. Some activities take place inside, since it is possible to divide it in smaller rooms with the help of partitions

Outdoor activities are far preferred when it comes to choose where to stay for sharing and meeting with your small groups

As I said, the Bible it is important (so you can understand some cross-references, and the context), but not mandatory, small flyers are distributed in the beginning of the morning Bible lecture, so you can get along with the Lecture of the day, and the questions proposed by the Brothers to the groups

Even after the death of Brother Roger, who I had the huge honor of meeting, and be blessed from, the community stood loyal to his own believes and simple root principles. Imagine how great it would be if you could turn off your mobile (connecting it once or twice a day to get some news from home), disconnect from internet, radio, television or newspaper (you can have newspapers and radio, of course, if you want. But I prefer to disconnect from the outside that I left behind, and reconnect with myself and with the "other" during the week. I know that religion is something you can't speak from your heart truly, only by experiencing it you would understand it.

Saint Ettiene Source

Wooden bridge over the Lake of Saint Ettiene Source

The Silence Garden. Located in the Source Saint Ettiene

Being with your groups is possible, but for my own experience, the best is to stay alone... Your time would be much more valuable here when you remain with your thoughts and prayers

The garden is named " Garden of Silence", since it is mandatory to remain in silence and apreciate the nature by herself

As a Catholic from Portugal, the main reason that I love so much about Taizé, it's the prayer tranquility and simplicity. You can have small bench to sit down, but almost everyone sits on the carpeted floor. That "proximity" with the "ground" give your spirit all the "fuel" that needs to put all the distractions that we all have back in our churches. The simplicity, Architectural, and spacial disposition of simple decorative elements hand-made by the brotherhood are part of the truly unique weekly experience that you live trough.

Besides the "indoor" ambiance, all the nature that surrounds this hill is mystical with every inch ready to be praised by the ones that pass by.

There is something special just to lay down your back in the small side road wall, and synthesize all the vitamin D you can get wile recovering from a invigorating walk

The time and space it's all there... All you have to do it's to open yourself to new experiences, and to the humble and quiet voice of tranquility.

The meals are distributed in lines, and with the help of volunteers (off course), and there is no fast lane over here...

But I might say that there are some commodities for the adults (or youngest elders... Ahhaha). When you are over 29 years old, you are invited to stay and have your meals in a different Community area. There, the quantity of the food that you can have it's a little bit bigger, has well the options, and the cues for picking your meal are substantially smaller. I might consider a true benefit for the old geezer like me :) !

This tend is named tent F, and all the meals besides tea time snack, as well the Daily Bible Lectures are under the roof of this sturdy campaign tent

The small details are everywhere

It's not uncommon that some one hand pick some wild flowers to make colorful center table

Very frequently, during the late Summer time, at the second part of August, the region suffers from a frequent sudden weather changes, and the "plans" that you could have for your afternoon, transform in a under the roof activity (but always with joy and iteration) .

But, has I said, the forecast for the week might surprise you, since in one day it's raining dogs and cats...

...and on the very next day it's a perfect Summer day!

This is the front part of the food distribution line in the youth area. As well the space is versatility and serves for different pourposes

The vehicles used for caring goods, garbage, or transport persons somehow resembled the ones that we could see in one Cuban street, but from European old car models (from the 90's)

When the day slowly comes to the end... You have the comfortable inside feeling that you filled your daily journey in the place called Earth with positive energy, and strengthened to face the adversities that you are going to find back in your home.

The thing that most impressed me it's not possible to capture with a lens. The long life friends that I've made, the words shared, the inner growth by listening to the others is something that you have to live for yourself.

I hope that this post was interesting for you. I'd tried not to speak about religion "directly", but the path that everyone makes in this week pilgrimage it's unique and much beautiful!

Thank you so much for your attention. I hope that the quality of the photos didn't made your experience very "bumpy", but has I said, they were taken many years ago, when my photographic skills and techniques were much more underdeveloped.

God bless you all🙏🏽

Stay safe!