What is Taize Prayer?
The contemplative prayer form that has become known as “Taize Prayer” takes its name from the Taize Community of France, an ecumenical religious community founded in the 1940s by Brother Roger Schutz.
“…Men and women of today are implicitly thirsting for the one essential reality: an inner life, signs of the invisible. Nothing is more conducive to a communion with the living God than a meditative common prayer with, as its high point, singing that never ends but continues in the silence of one’s heart when one is along again.”
-- Brother Roger of Taize
Singing or chanting the simple musical phrases is perhaps the most distinguishing characteristic of this unhurried form of prayer. Chanting as prayer has its roots in the monastic tradition of the Church; however, the music for Taize Prayer is simple enough for all to sing readily. The chants are repeated over and over, similar to a mantra or praying the Rosary, with the purpose of quieting the mind and heart in order that the song may become prayer. The ebb and flow of chanting and silence is punctuated by a fairly long period of silence following a reading from Sacred Scripture.
“…In the depths of our being Christ is praying, far more than we imagine. Compared to the immensity of that hidden prayer of Christ in us, our explicit praying dwindles to almost nothing. That is why silence is so essential in discovering the heart of prayer.”
“…Although God never stops trying to communicate with us, God never wants to impose anything on us. Often God’s voice comes in a whisper, in a breath of silence. Remaining in silence in God’s presence, open to the Spirit, is already prayer.”
-- Brother Roger of Taize
The Taize Prayer Service here at Our Lady of Sorrows lasts approximately one hour. The Church usually opens fifteen minutes beforehand for those who wish to arrive early for some quiet prayer. Song books are provided.
The Service follows a simple format: