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TAIZ PRAYER SERVICE
By LINDA M. LINONIS
villa maria, pa.
Across illuminated by candles creates a poignant and powerful image. That is the basis of a Taiz prayer service.
Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center regularly conducts such prayer services.
Sister Ardath Blake, spiritual director, said, “Taiz is the cross by candlelight.”
The setting should be fairly dark so nothing detracts from the cross, which is the focus.
“The cross, candlelight, word of God and chantlike singing” are the essentials of the special service.
Sister Ardath said participants usually do the chanting of responses while the choir sings the verses.
At Villa Maria, the folk group from Church of Notre Dame in Hermitage, Pa., adds melody and song to the otherwise relatively quiet service.
The service generally follows the same order of recitation of a segment of Scripture, silence, song, reading from the Old or New Testament, silence, a reading from the Gospel and extended period of silence.
“People can walk up to the cross and pray,” Sister Ardath said.
Sister Ardath said she believes in encouraging people to reflect on how they may have “discovered our gifts through other people.” She said it’s often through interactions with others that we realize our own gifts and talents.
“People help us become more alive,” she said.
Along those lines, Sister Ardath said she believes the benefit of Taiz prayer revolves around the “gathering of people.” Sharing in prayer interspersed with silence is a powerful experience. She said feedback on the services has included comments about “a sense of wholeness and peace.”
The services, she said, also provide a group opportunity to pray for peace, and personal prayer requests.
About 70 to 90 people usually attend the Taiz services at Villa, which are scheduled four times a year.
In the fall, ordinary time in the liturgical year, the theme focuses on why it’s important to bring the mystery of Christ into our daily lives.
Sister Ardath said the service during Advent centers on anticipation of the birth of the Saviour while the Lenten service offers motivation to restore balance in our lives.
The service in the spring celebrates the Resurrection and new life. That service is scheduled from 7 to 8 p.m. April 24 in Magnificat Chapel.
After the services, participants gather again for fellowship.
Villa Maria has had Taiz services since the early1990s.
Information from www.taize.fr notes that Taiz prayer takes its name from the town of Taiz in the south of Burgundy, France.
In 1940, Brother Roger founded an international and ecumenical community there. Brother Roger, who was from Switzerland, had answered a calling to create a community where simplicity and kindness would be lived as Gospel realities.
During World War I, Brother Roger’s grandmother had helped many people, and he followed that example during World War II and offered many people refuge.
Brother Roger bought a house in Taiz , and one of his sisters, Genevieve, came to help him.
In 1945, an association was formed to help take care of young boys orphaned by the war.
Gradually, other young men arrived and joined the original group.
On Easter Day 1949, the first brothers committed themselves to celibacy, to material and spiritual sharing and to a great simplicity of life.
Brother Roger died Aug. 16, 2005, at age 90.
The community of brothers live by their own work. They do not accept gifts or donations for themselves.
Some of the brothers live in small groups among the very poor.
Prayers are featured three times during the day in Taiz .
The worship includes songs of praise and Scripture reading.
Candles often are used during prayer times to symbolize Christ as the light of the world.
The brothers encourage contemplation during the times of silence, which are important elements of the prayer sessions.
Meditative singing, which expresses a basic reality of faith in a few words, also is an essential part.