The Taizé Community is an ecumenical monastic order founded in 1940 by Brother Roger Schutz, a Swiss Reformed Protestant (1915-2005; for biographical information see: http://www.respectance.com/BrotherRoger/ ). Seeking to establish sanctuary for people suffering from discouragement and deprivation of livelihood following the fall of France in World War II, he located the community in the small village of Taizé just north of Cluny, the birthplace of western monasticism. His early publications, providing discernments for a Christ-centered communal life, prompted young men to join him, coming from Reformed, Anglican and Roman Catholic backgrounds. Currently, the number of brothers exceeds 100. Roman Catholic sisters from several orders assist although they are not formally members of the community. In the 1960s, young people from around the world made, and continue to make, pilgrimages to Taizé; the number of visitors can reach more than 5000 in summertime and on Easter. Taizé is most widely known for its unique style of music-centered worship that emphasizes the meditative nature of communal life. The music features repetition of simple phrases, typically drawn from the Psalms and other scriptural sources; the repetition serves to encourage meditation and prayer. Numerous recordings are available from a variety of sources; provided here are several examples of Taizé music. We hope you will find them meaningful.

Wait for the Lord

Wait for the Lord, his day is near

Wait for the Lord, be strong take heart

Jesus, Remember Me

Jesus, remember me

When you come into your kingdom

Mon amê se repose” (“My soul rests”) Psalm 62:1

Find its rest and peace.

“Nada te turbe”

Nothing can trouble nothing can frighten; those who seek God shall never go wanting.
Nothing can trouble nothing can frighten; God alone fills us.

“Bless the Lord My Soul”

Bless the Lord, my soul, and bless God's holy name.
Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life. (Ps 104,1)

“Veni Sancte Spiritus”

Come, O Creator, Spirit blest, and in our souls take up thy rest.
Come with thy grace and heavenly aid, to fill the hearts, which thou hast made.
Great Paraclete! To thee we cry, O highest gift of God most high!
O fount of life O fire o love! And sweet anointing from above.
Thou in thy sevenfold gifts art known, the finger of God's hand we own,
The promise of the Father thou, who dost the tongue with power endow.
Kindle our senses from above, and make our hearts o'erflow with love,
With patience firm and virtue high, the weakness of our flesh supply.
Drive far from us the foe we dread, and grant us thy true peace in stead;
So shall we not, with thee for guide, turn from the path of life aside.
Oh! May thy grace on us bestow the father and the son to know,
and thee through Endless times confessed, of both the eternal spirit blest.
All glory, while the ages run, Be to the Father, and the Son,
who rose from death, the same to thee O HOLY Ghost eternally.

“Bleibet hier”

Stay here and watch with me; watch and pray.

“Ubi caritas”

Where charity and love are, God is there.

Where charity and love are, God is there.
Christ's love has gathered us into one.
Let us rejoice and be pleased in Him.
Let us fear, and let us love the living God.
And may we love each other with a sincere heart.
Where charity and love are, God is there.
As we are gathered into one body,
Beware, lest we be divided in mind.
Let evil impulses stop, let controversy cease,
And may Christ our God be in our midst.
Where charity and love are, God is there.
And may we with the saints also,
See Thy face in glory, O Christ our God:
The joy that is immense and good,
Unto the ages through infinite ages. Amen.

“In resurrection tua”

Let heaven and earth rejoice in your resurrection, O Christ.

“Psallite Deo”

“We Adore You, Lord Jesus”

“Let Your Servant Now Go in Peace”

“Come and Fill Our Hearts”