Shock, sadness follow murder of Taizé founder Brother Roger

[LiviaOlivia]

Shock, sadness follow murder of Taizé founder Brother Roger

Episcopal News Service
Issue:
Section:
ENS 081705-1
Posted: Wednesday, August 17, 2005

The 90-year-old founder of the ecumenical Taizé community, Roger Louis Schutz-Marsauche—known to the world simply as Frère Roger or Brother Roger—died August 16 during evening prayer in the Church of Reconciliation, struck down by a knife wielded by a mentally disturbed Romanian woman who emerged from the crowd of 2,500 worshippers. Taizé officials said the woman had arrived two days earlier at the community, located near Macon in Burgundy, France. A local prosecutor said the woman, reportedly 36 years old, bought the knife the day before. "It would appear for now there is little doubt that this was premeditated,” he told reporters, adding that she was not "unbalanced enough to justify psychiatric care." People at the service grabbed the woman and turned her over to police.

~snip~

"This is an indescribable shock. Brother Roger was one of the best-loved Christian leaders of our time, and hundreds of thousands will be feeling his loss very personally, and remembering him in prayer and gratitude,” said Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. "But the shock and trauma for the community at Taizé will be heavy - and it will be for all the young people who witnessed this event. All of them are in our prayers."

“The news of the death of Brother Roger has saddened Anglicans around the world, and we are especially shocked by the violent manner of his death, which was in stark contrast to his lifelong ministry of peace and reconciliation,” said the Rev. Canon Kenneth Kearon, secretary general of the Anglican Communion. “The Taizé community which he founded, whose witness to ecumenism and reconciliation especially among young people will be his lasting memorial, has influenced Christian worship and spirituality worldwide, and it is to that Community that I extend our prayers and heartfelt sympathy at this time.”

~snip~

The Taizé community, founded in 1940 by Brother Roger when he was 25, became a safe haven for political refugees and people of all faiths, among them Jews fleeing the Holocaust. Since the late 1950s, thousands of young adults from many countries have come to Taizé to take part in weekly meetings of prayer and reflection. More than 100 Taizé brothers, committed to material and spiritual sharing, celibacy, and simplicity of life, make visits and lead meetings in Africa, North and South America, Asia, and in Europe, as part of what they call “a pilgrimage of trust on earth.” Eight years ago, Brother Roger designated Brother Alois to succeed him as the person in charge of the community.

~snip~

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_64258_ENG_HTM.htm?menu=undefined

[flamingyouth]

1. Oh no - I hadn't heard about this!

This is awful!!! I've enjoyed many Taize services through the years, and I'm just in shock to read this. :(

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. May Brother Roger

be at peace. I hope all his followers keep up his good work.

[JaneGat]

3. Taizé community is one of the most beautiful places to be

on Earth, humble and welcoming. I was there for several weeks quite a few years ago, and was moved by the devotion of people from the surrounding areas who walked great distances, or rode mules to the community for services. It is a tremendous shock to imagine that this could have happened at Taizé, and my heart goes out to the brothers.

[Mrs. Overall]

4. Very sad....

I love Taize music and have been to several services that were very powerful.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. What a shock to read about this in this morning's paper

I occasionally attended Taizé services in Portland, and there's definitely something about them that makes you feel enveloped in peace and love.

(For those who don't know: a Taizé service consists of meditations chanted to simple tunes, repeated until it feels right to stop.)