Comments on: Br. John of Taize will come to Ithaca http://www.cornellsociety.org/2007/09/br-john-of-taize-will-come-to-ithaca/ Unity in charity, diversity in truth Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:48:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: killian http://www.cornellsociety.org/2007/09/br-john-of-taize-will-come-to-ithaca/#comment-19994 killian Tue, 25 Sep 2007 17:13:13 +0000 http://www.cornellsociety.org/2007/09/br-john-of-taize-will-come-to-ithaca/#comment-19994 Many thousands of people of all denominations pray in this style of prayer that can unite Christians in our commonalities, all over the world. I read recently that Mother Teresa's nuns organized a service using Taize songs upon the anniversary of her death. Like most things in life, I wouldn't accept the spectrum of liturgical and reading interests of one person as reflective of an institution. (Who of us could be saved in that case?). I think that if anyone were to dig deeper, they would find that the community and the brothers are very respectful and have no agenda other than to encourage Christians to live their faith and to pray. With respect to Catholics, some might be intrigued to know that Scott Hahn likes a book written by one of the brothers about marian spirituality. Additionally, some Catholics (as well as Protestant) have benefited in their attempts to grow in holiness by books written by Brother John of Taize, available at Daughters of St. Paul bookstores, Paulist press, Alba house, GIA, as well as amazon. Christians devoted to praying the rosary might find solace in Taize chants in Latin, possibly, such as Magnificat. As it so often is when we search after our faith, trying to follow after it loyally and with sincerity, openness, I have found that looking into the nuts and bolts of the encouragement of the Taize community has been a surprisingly joyous opportunity. If you are near Cornell, notwithstanding the unfortunate conflict of scheduling the prayer on the same night as rosary, I would encourage you to attend the talks. Whereas I wouldn't necessarily encourage a Catholic to attend call to action meetings. I am confident that you will not walk away from a talk with seething resentment towards the church but rather a strengthened hope in the goodness of the church, a more profound appreciation of the life of Our Saviour at work in it. best regards Many thousands of people of all denominations pray in this style of prayer that can unite Christians in our commonalities, all over the world.
I read recently that Mother Teresa’s nuns organized a service using Taize songs upon the anniversary of her death.
Like most things in life, I wouldn’t accept the spectrum of liturgical and reading interests of one person as reflective of an institution. (Who of us could be saved in that case?).
I think that if anyone were to dig deeper, they would find that the community and the brothers are very respectful and have no agenda other than to encourage Christians to live their faith and to pray.
With respect to Catholics, some might be intrigued to know that Scott Hahn likes a book written by one of the brothers about marian spirituality. Additionally, some Catholics (as well as Protestant) have benefited in their attempts to grow in holiness by books written by Brother John of Taize, available at Daughters of St. Paul bookstores, Paulist press, Alba house, GIA, as well as amazon.
Christians devoted to praying the rosary might find solace in Taize chants in Latin, possibly, such as Magnificat.
As it so often is when we search after our faith, trying to follow after it loyally and with sincerity, openness, I have found that looking into the nuts and bolts of the encouragement of the Taize community has been a surprisingly joyous opportunity.
If you are near Cornell, notwithstanding the unfortunate conflict of scheduling the prayer on the same night as rosary, I would encourage you to attend the talks. Whereas I wouldn’t necessarily encourage a Catholic to attend call to action meetings. I am confident that you will not walk away from a talk with seething resentment towards the church but rather a strengthened hope in the goodness of the church, a more profound appreciation of the life of Our Saviour at work in it.
best regards

]]> By: Clara http://www.cornellsociety.org/2007/09/br-john-of-taize-will-come-to-ithaca/#comment-19617 Clara Fri, 21 Sep 2007 07:21:13 +0000 http://www.cornellsociety.org/2007/09/br-john-of-taize-will-come-to-ithaca/#comment-19617 I know almost nothing about Taize, and have no first-hand experience, but the Doctor and I were a little surprised to see that a Baptist church near our home is now offering Taize sessions. Didn't sound to me like something I'd expect Southern Baptists to get into. I know almost nothing about Taize, and have no first-hand experience, but the Doctor and I were a little surprised to see that a Baptist church near our home is now offering Taize sessions. Didn’t sound to me like something I’d expect Southern Baptists to get into.

]]> By: Will http://www.cornellsociety.org/2007/09/br-john-of-taize-will-come-to-ithaca/#comment-19553 Will Thu, 20 Sep 2007 02:33:10 +0000 http://www.cornellsociety.org/2007/09/br-john-of-taize-will-come-to-ithaca/#comment-19553 Went to a few Taize style evening things a few lents ago. Had no idea what it was, but found it mildly rewarding. I don't quite understand the animosity Brian... Went to a few Taize style evening things a few lents ago. Had no idea what it was, but found it mildly rewarding. I don’t quite understand the animosity Brian…

]]> By: Brian T. http://www.cornellsociety.org/2007/09/br-john-of-taize-will-come-to-ithaca/#comment-18943 Brian T. Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:40:59 +0000 http://www.cornellsociety.org/2007/09/br-john-of-taize-will-come-to-ithaca/#comment-18943 Curly N. Moe - if you haven't heard of Taize, all I can say is that you've been more fortunate in your Catholic formation than most of us! The Catholic chaplains at my old university were enthusiastic Taize-ites, and apart from arranging week-long trips to the HQ in France they also made sure that chaplaincy excursions ended with Taize-style services, complete with chanting and vapid prayers that sounded like they had been thought up by members of Call To Action. Iosehphe - I've heard of many young Poles going to Taize, they seem to make up the lifeblood of the place. And while I certainly think it's sad that these young people, coming from a Catholic country where most priests are at least tolerably orthodox, are going there and being exposed to that nonsense, I nevertheless think it unfair to cast doubts on the sincerity of their Catholicism. (Forgive me if I've misread you, but that's what you seem to be doing in your paragraph on your Polish friend.) Traditionalists can oppose that kind of worship without opposing the worshippers. A heterodox Jesuit is one thing, a sincere but mislead Polish youth is another. I even know a Polish student who is a great fan of - gasp - liturgical dance. She is nevertheless one of the most fervent and good-living Catholics I know. Curly N. Moe - if you haven’t heard of Taize, all I can say is that you’ve been more fortunate in your Catholic formation than most of us! The Catholic chaplains at my old university were enthusiastic Taize-ites, and apart from arranging week-long trips to the HQ in France they also made sure that chaplaincy excursions ended with Taize-style services, complete with chanting and vapid prayers that sounded like they had been thought up by members of Call To Action.

Iosehphe - I’ve heard of many young Poles going to Taize, they seem to make up the lifeblood of the place. And while I certainly think it’s sad that these young people, coming from a Catholic country where most priests are at least tolerably orthodox, are going there and being exposed to that nonsense, I nevertheless think it unfair to cast doubts on the sincerity of their Catholicism. (Forgive me if I’ve misread you, but that’s what you seem to be doing in your paragraph on your Polish friend.) Traditionalists can oppose that kind of worship without opposing the worshippers. A heterodox Jesuit is one thing, a sincere but mislead Polish youth is another. I even know a Polish student who is a great fan of - gasp - liturgical dance. She is nevertheless one of the most fervent and good-living Catholics I know.

]]> By: Curly N. Moe http://www.cornellsociety.org/2007/09/br-john-of-taize-will-come-to-ithaca/#comment-18926 Curly N. Moe Fri, 14 Sep 2007 05:25:57 +0000 http://www.cornellsociety.org/2007/09/br-john-of-taize-will-come-to-ithaca/#comment-18926 With all due respect ... I have no idea what you are talking about here. Please, quite sincerely, some background for those of us who don't know about this Taize business. With all due respect … I have no idea what you are talking about here. Please, quite sincerely, some background for those of us who don’t know about this Taize business.

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