News from Taizé
The Feast of the Transfiguration celebrated at the height of summer
Throughout the summer, the meeting have brought together between 3000 and 4500 people each week. Earlier this week, the icon of the Transfiguration was placed in the choir of the church to mark this feast, celebrated on the 6th August. As every year, it’s in early August that the number of participants in the weekly meetings reaches its peak. The Church of Reconciliation and its extensions were too small for the 4000 visitors, and a second place of worship was opened in a tent nearby.
This week the young participants come from 75 different countries. There are of course many Europeans each week, but there are also groups coming from the United States, Israel, Korea. In the last few days visitors from Haiti and China were given an especially warm welcomed. Bishop Rivière, the Bishop of Autun, the diocese where Taizé is located, came to visit the community. The Secretary General of the Global Fund against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria led several meetings around the theme of global solidarity, springing from the theme of Brother Alois’ letter for 2012.
We have put several young people’s testimonies online, like Marta from Ukraine: "Young adults and children, we could all could spend a few day in prayer, singing, sharing and silence that we sometimes need very much. It was a sharing of experience and invaluable advice, but also funny stories - here, we share everything, what unites people from different countries and continents. Common life here in Taizé is built by each and every one. And we are all on the same path to God."
The Church of Reconciliation is 50 years old
The Church of Reconciliation, where the Taize community celebrates common prayer together three times a day, was inaugurated 50 years ago, on 6th August, 1962, the Feast of the Transfiguration. It was built by young Germans, under the auspices of a German organization "Aktion Sühnezeichen" who wanted to create signs of reconciliation in the countries that had suffered during the World War. In France they chose Taizé for this project. To mark the occasion Brother Roger, founder of the community, wrote: "To those who come, should we offer stones to contemplate? After being here in this Church of Reconciliation, rather than carry the memory of the walls, may they remember the call for reconciliation ... The one that seeks and acts for reconciliation wins an openness of heart and mind, and even in his old age becomes young."
Solidarity with South Sudan
To mark this 50th anniversary Brother Alois, Prior of Taizé, has juste announced an initiative to show our solidarity with South Sudan, just coming out of 20 years of war. "Through Operation Hope, which supports various projects on different continents we will support the disinherited children of the town of Rumbek for the next three years." To take part see information available on our website.
Prayer
Christ Jesus, on this feast day of the Transfiguration we praise you for the many believers who, since 50 years, have come to join their prayers with those of our community in this Church of Reconciliation. Grant that, though our lives, we may all be bearers of reconciliation, there where we live, in our familes, among those around us, between separated christians, between the peoples of the earth.
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