frère Roger (1915–2005)

I learned of Brother Roger and Taizé only after Brother Roger's recent murder during a communion service. I am fascinated by this ecumenical community and their approach to Christianity. This book is written in the form of meditations, letters, and prayers, and definitely is not for sitting and reading all at once as I did. While it is illuminating on the subjects of Christ, communion, ecumenism, and Christian life, it amazes me that I already know everything. I guess this illustrates show more Brother Roger's teaching about how it is all within each person whether Christian, a believer or a non-believer.

"If your attention wanders, return to prayer as soon as you realize the fact, without lamenting over it. Should you experience your weakness even in the very hear of the prayer, do not forget that in you the essential has already been accomplished." p. 16

"In regret the inner self disintegrates. Far from being stimulated, our spirit becomes sterile when it keeps on reconstructing a situation that is over and done with, giving itself over to fruitless brooding. Some people have had a childhood that encourages unconscious remorse. We would all like to begin over again and do better. But is there anything we do really well? We live and work in the realm of the approximate. Regret sterilizes the impulse to create. Regret debilitates." -p. 34

"'We will not put history on trial; we will not ask who was wrong and who was right.'" - p. 58

"The world of today needs images more than idea. No idea can be accepted unless it is clothed in visible reality, otherwise it is only ideology." p. 61

"The road to unity does not involve protests. Those who want to criticize the faults of others from without can only imprison them in themselves." - p. 63 show less

Brother Roger foumd a unique way to speak
to the youth of Europe and the world and then
more broadly also to all Christians in a way
which is post-ideological, true to the Gospels,
simple and profound.

This edition of the rule of Taize is the latest revision (published after brother Roger's death). Interesting to learn more about the spirituality and commitments of Taize.

This book contains a hundred prayers that seem to emanate from the silence of the heart. You will find each prayer short and sweet! There are prayers addressed to God who is all mercy and love, to Jesus and to the Holy Spirit. These prayers exclude sentiments ranging from compassion and trust to hope and surrender.