Brother Roger of Taizé
Roger Schütz was founder of the Taizé community and a living paradox. Totally identified with the ecumenical “monastery” he had created, humble and stubborn, childlike and cunning, mystical and realist, mild and authoritarian, he was a pioneer in the ecumenical field and never wavered in his self-imposed lifelong mission: to work towards the reconciliation of Christians. In 1940, he visited the village of Taizé, in Burgundy, with the idea of founding a protestant monastic community. He bought two derelict houses and helped the war victims. He was forced to flee from the Gestapo in 1942, after being denounced to the Vichy regime. He returned in 1944 with a group of ecumenically minded friends to set up a community. As he explained: “I discovered my Christian identity by reconciling within myself my protestant origins and my faith in the Catholic Church.”
Five years later, the first brothers took the three traditional monastic vows, in a slightly modified form: celibacy, sharing of possessions and acceptance of an authority. Brother Roger drew up the first rule of Taizé, which was summed up in the phrase: “Preserve at all times an interior silence to live in Christ’s presence and cultivate the spirit of the Beatitudes: joy, simplicity, mercy.” The community did not seek official recognition, and although it was viewed with suspicion by the mainstream churches, both protestant and Catholic, it grew rapidly. The brothers numbered 12 in 1950, 65 in 1965, and more than 100 today.
Schütz steered a careful path between political commitment and revolutionary violence. While Taizé is in favour of aid to the third world and the developing countries, its language remains vague and idealistic. Brother Roger’s charisma was founded on beautiful language, high-flown ideas and moving prayers. He succeeded in channelling the revolt of the 1968 generation into the calmer waters of spirituality. Taizé’s success lies in its idealism. It is not liberal or conservative, Catholic or Protestant. It is idealistic. Its strength is in the poetry of its message, open to any interpretation. Schutz loved paradoxes, and the title of one of his books, La Dynamique Du Provisoire (the dynamism of the ephemeral) says it all. A second strength is its resistance to fashion. It used to be unfashionably opposed to doubt and contention; now it is unfashionably opposed to certainty and a reaffirmation of Christian identity. Its third strength was its founder and guide: Roger Schütz, who was killed on this day in 2005 at the age of 90. The Guardian
Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/8n5p29s7
God is love, and whoever abides in love
abides in God, and God in him. 1 John 4
God of consolation,
even when we feel nothing of your presence,
you are still there.
Your presence may seem invisible
but your Holy Spirit is always within us.
For this, we give you thanks. Amen. Brother Roger, alt.
Music: https://tinyurl.com/ycn4djk5
O Lord, open my lips.
And my mouth will declare your praise.
Make haste, O God, to deliver me;
make haste to help me, O Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Praise to you, O Christ, Alleluia!
HYMN: Taizé
Tune: https://tinyurl.com/ysb5vxkb
Bless the Lord, my soul,
and bless God’s holy name.
Bless the Lord, my soul,
who leads me into life.
Verse (in English):
It is God who forgives all your guilt,
who heals every one of your ills,
who redeems your life from the grave,
who crowns you with love and compassion.
The Lord is compassion and love,
slow to anger and rich in mercy.
God does not treat us according to our sins,
nor replay us according to our faults.
As a father has compassion on his children,
The Lord has pity on those who fear him,
for God knows of what we are made.
God remembers that we are dust.
PSALMS
Psalm 82 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/razmhgg)
1 God standeth in the congregation of princes *
he is a Judge among gods.
2 How long will ye give wrong judgement *
and accept the persons of the ungodly?
3 Defend the poor and fatherless *
see that such as are in need and necessity have right.
4 Deliver the out-cast and poor *
save them from the hand of the ungodly.
5 They will not be learned nor understand, but walk on still in darkness *
all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
6 I have said, Ye are gods *
and ye are all the children of the most Highest.
7 But ye shall die like men *
and fall like one of the princes.
8 Arise, O God, and judge thou the earth *
for thou shalt take all heathen to thine inheritance.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.
Psalm 83 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/vofvsch)
1 Hold not thy tongue, O God, keep not still silence *
refrain not thyself, O God.
2 For lo, thine enemies make a murmuring *
and they that hate thee have lift up their head.
3 They have imagined craftily against thy people *
and taken counsel against thy secret ones.
4 They have said, Come, and let us root them out,
that they be no more a people *
and that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
5 For they have cast their heads together with one consent *
and are confederate against thee;
6 The tabernacles of the Edomites, and the Ismaelites *
the Moabites, and Hagarens;
7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek *
the Philistines, with them that dwell at Tyre.
8 Assur also is joined with them *
and have holpen the children of Lot.
9 But do thou to them as unto the Madianites *
unto Sisera, and unto Jabin at the brook of Kison;
10 Who perished at Endor *
and became as the dung of the earth.
11 Make them and their princes like Oreb and Zeb *
yea, make all their princes like as Zeba and Salmana;
12 Who say, Let us take to ourselves *
the houses of God in possession.
13 O my God, make them like unto a wheel *
and as the stubble before the wind;
14 Like as the fire that burneth up the wood *
and as the flame that consumeth the mountains.
15 Persecute them even so with thy tempest *
and make them afraid with thy storm.
16 Make their faces ashamed, O Lord *
that they may seek thy Name.
17 Let them be confounded and vexed ever more and more *
let them be put to shame, and perish.
18 And they shall know that thou, whose Name is Jehovah *
art only the most Highest over all the earth.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.
Psalm 84 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/qtssfwx)
1 O how amiable are thy dwellings *
thou Lord of hosts!
2 My soul hath a desire and longing to enter into the courts of the Lord *
my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.
3 Yea, the sparrow hath found her an house,
and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young *
even thy altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house *
they will be alway praising thee.
5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee *
in whose heart are thy ways.
6 Who going through the vale of misery use it for a well *
and the pools are filled with water.
7 They will go from strength to strength *
and unto the God of gods appeareth every one of them in Sion.
8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer *
hearken, O God of Jacob.
9 Behold, O God our defender *
and look upon the face of thine Anointed.
10 For one day in thy courts *
is better than a thousand.
11 I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God *
than to dwell in the tents of ungodliness.
12 For the Lord God is a light and defence *
the Lord will give grace and worship,
and no good thing shall he withhold from them that live a godly life.
13 O Lord God of hosts *
blessed is the man that putteth his trust in thee.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.
Psalm 85 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/wzy6e5z)
1 Lord, thou art become gracious unto thy land *
thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob.
2 Thou hast forgiven the offence of thy people *
and covered all their sins.
3 Thou hast taken away all thy displeasure *
and turned thyself from thy wrathful indignation.
4 Turn us then, O God our Saviour *
and let thine anger cease from us.
5 Wilt thou be displeased at us for ever *
and wilt thou stretch out thy wrath from one generation to another?
6 Wilt thou not turn again, and quicken us *
that thy people may rejoice in thee?
7 Shew us thy mercy, O Lord *
and grant us thy salvation.
8 I will hearken what the Lord God will say concerning me *
for he shall speak peace unto his people,
and to his saints, that they turn not again.
9 For his salvation is nigh them that fear him *
that glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercy and truth are met together *
righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 Truth shall flourish out of the earth *
and righteousness hath looked down from heaven.
12 Yea, the Lord shall shew loving-kindness *
and our land shall give her increase.
13 Righteousness shall go before him *
and he shall direct his going in the way.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.
Psalm 82 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-82.mp3)
1 God takes his stand in the council of heaven; *
he gives judgment in the midst of the gods:
2 “How long will you judge unjustly, *
and show favor to the wicked?
3 Save the weak and the orphan; *
defend the humble and needy;
4 Rescue the weak and the poor; *
deliver them from the power of the wicked.
5 They do not know, neither do they understand;
they go about in darkness; *
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 Now I say to you, ‘You are gods, *
and all of you children of the Most High;
7 Nevertheless, you shall die like mortals, *
and fall like any prince.'”
8 Arise, O God, and rule the earth, *
for you shall take all nations for your own.
Psalm 83 (Plainsong Tone II.1)
1 Hold not your tongue, O God; keep not silent, *
but rouse yourself, O God.
2 For behold, your enemies murmur, *
and those who hate you have lifted up their head.
3 They have conspired secretly against your people *
and taken counsel against your cherished ones.
4 They have said, “Come, and let us wipe them out,
that they may be no more a people, *
and that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”
5 For they have brought their heads together with one consent *
and are aligned against you:
6 The tents of the Edomites and the Ishmaelites, *
the Moabites and Hagarenes,
7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek, *
the Philistines with those who dwell at Tyre.
8 Assyria also has joined with them, *
and has helped the children of Lot.
9 But do to them as you did to the Midianites, *
to Sisera and to Jabin at the brook of Kishon,
10 Who perished at Endor *
and became as dung on the earth.
11 Make their princes like Oreb and Zeëb; *
indeed, make all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 Who said, “Let us take for ourselves *
the pastures of God as our possession.”
13 O my God, make them like whirling dust *
and like stubble before the wind,
14 Like the fire that burns up the woods *
and like the flame that consumes the mountains.
15 Pursue them even with your tempest, *
and make them afraid with your storm.
16 Cover their faces with shame, O Lord, *
that they may seek your Name.
17 Let them be disgraced and dismayed ever more and more; *
let them be put to shame and perish.
18 And they shall know that you, whose Name is the Lord, *
are alone the Most High over all the earth.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
Psalm 84 (Plainsong Tone II.1)
1 How lovely are your dwellings, *
O Lord God of hosts!
2 My soul has a desire and longing to enter into the courts of the Lord; *
my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.
3 Indeed, the sparrow has found her a house, and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young, *
even your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
4 Blessèd are they who dwell in your house; *
they will be always praising you.
5 Blessèd is the one whose strength is in you, *
in whose heart are your ways,
6 Who going through the valley of misery uses it for a well; *
indeed, the early rains fill the pools with water.
7 They will go from strength to strength, *
and the God of gods shall be seen by them in Zion.
8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; *
hearken, O God of Jacob.
9 Behold, O God, our defender, *
and look upon the face of your Anointed.
10 For one day in your courts *
is better than a thousand;
11 I would rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God *
than dwell in the tents of ungodliness.
12 For the Lord God is a light and defense; *
the Lord will give grace and honor, and no good thing
shall he withhold from those who live a godly life.
13 O Lord God of hosts, *
blessèd is the one who puts his trust in you.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
Psalm 85 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-85.mp3)
1 You have been gracious to your land, O LORD, *
you have restored the good fortune of Jacob.
2 You have forgiven the iniquity of your people *
and blotted out all their sins.
3 You have withdrawn all your fury *
and turned yourself from your wrathful indignation.
4 Restore us then, O God our Savior; *
let your anger depart from us.
5 Will you be displeased with us for ever? *
will you prolong your anger from age to age?
6 Will you not give us life again, *
that your people may rejoice in you?
7 Show us your mercy, O LORD, *
and grant us your salvation.
8 I will listen to what the LORD God is saying, *
for he is speaking peace to his faithful people
and to those who turn their hearts to him.
9 Truly, his salvation is very near to those who fear him, *
that his glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercy and truth have met together; *
righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 Truth shall spring up from the earth, *
and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
12 The LORD will indeed grant prosperity, *
and our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness shall go before him, *
and peace shall be a pathway for his feet.
PRAYER
God of grace,
you loved the world so much
that you gave your only Son to be our Savior.
Help us to rejoice in your redeeming grace
by showing mercy,
and by walking in the way of justice and peace,
for the sake of Jesus Christ, redeemer of the world. Amen. BCW
THE WORD OF GOD
Moses called out to all Israel, saying to them: “Israel! Listen to the regulations and the case laws that I’m recounting in your hearing right now. Learn them and carefully do them. The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Mount Horeb. The Lord didn’t make this covenant with our ancestors but with us—all of us who are here and alive right now. The Lord spoke with you face-to-face on the mountain from the very fire itself. At that time, I was standing between the Lord and you, declaring to you the Lord’s word, because you were terrified of the fire and didn’t go up on the mountain.”
The Lord said:
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
You must have no other gods before me. Do not make an idol for yourself—no form whatsoever—of anything in the sky above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. Do not bow down to them or worship them because I, the Lord your God, am a passionate God. I punish children for their parents’ sins—even to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me. But I am loyal and gracious to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Do not use the Lord your God’s name as if it were of no significance; the Lord won’t forgive anyone who uses his name that way.
Keep the Sabbath day and treat it as holy, exactly as the Lord your God commanded: Six days you may work and do all your tasks, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. Don’t do any work on it—not you, your sons or daughters, your male or female servants, your oxen or donkeys or any of your animals, or the immigrant who is living among you—so that your male and female servants can rest just like you. Remember that you were a slave in Egypt, but the Lord your God brought you out of there with a strong hand and an outstretched arm. That’s why the Lord your God commands you to keep the Sabbath day.
Honor your father and your mother, exactly as the Lord your God requires, so that your life will be long and so that things will go well for you on the fertile land that the Lord your God is giving you.
Do not kill.
Do not commit adultery.
Do not steal.
Do not testify falsely against your neighbor.
Do not desire and try to take your neighbor’s wife.
Do not crave your neighbor’s house, field, male or female servant, ox, donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.
Those are the words the Lord spoke to your entire assembly with a loud voice while on the mountain, from the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick smoke. He added no more. God wrote them on two stone tablets, then gave them to me.
HYMN: Psalm 103; para. Psalter, 1879, alt.
Tune: Stuttgart https://tinyurl.com/2bxxd29v
1 O my soul, bless your Redeemer;
all within me bless God’s Name;
bless the Savior, and forget not
all God’s mercies to proclaim.
2 God forgives all your transgressions,
all diseases gently heals;
God redeems you from destruction,
and with you so kindly deals.
3 Far as east from west is distant,
God has put away our sin;
like the pity of a father
has the Lord’s compassion been.
4 As it was without beginning,
so it lasts without an end;
to their children’s children ever
shall God’s righteousness extend.
5 Unto such as keep God’s cov’nant
and are steadfast in God’s way;
unto those who still remember
the commandments and obey.
6 Bless your Maker, all you creatures,
ever under God’s control,
all throughout God’s vast dominion;
bless the LORD of all, my soul!
I have the freedom to do anything, but not everything is helpful. I have the freedom to do anything, but I won’t be controlled by anything. Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, and yet God will do away with both. The body isn’t for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body. God has raised the Lord and will raise us through his power. Don’t you know that your bodies are parts of Christ? So then, should I take parts of Christ and make them a part of someone who is sleeping around? No way! Don’t you know that anyone who is joined to someone who is sleeping around is one body with that person? The scripture says, The two will become one flesh. The one who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him. Avoid sexual immorality! Every sin that a person can do is committed outside the body, except those who engage in sexual immorality commit sin against their own bodies. Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you? Don’t you know that you have the Holy Spirit from God, and you don’t belong to yourselves? You have been bought and paid for, so honor God with your body.
HYMN: Fanny Crosby
Tune: https://tinyurl.com/mrx9urfd
1 Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
2 Perfect communion, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight.
Angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love. [Refrain]
3 Perfect submission, all is at rest.
I in my Savior am happy and bless’d,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love. [Refrain]
Jesus said, “Be careful that you don’t look down on one of these little ones. I say to you that their angels in heaven are always looking into the face of my Father who is in heaven. What do you think? If someone had one hundred sheep and one of them wandered off, wouldn’t he leave the ninety-nine on the hillsides and go in search for the one that wandered off? If he finds it, I assure you that he is happier about having that one sheep than about the ninety-nine who didn’t wander off. In the same way, my Father who is in heaven doesn’t want to lose one of these little ones.”
CANTICLE Jeremiah 31:10-14 (Sing the Hours)
Hear the word of the Lord, O nations,
proclaim it on distant coasts, and say:
He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together,
he guards them as a shepherd his flock.
The Lord shall ransom Jacob,
he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror.
Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion,
they shall come streaming to the Lord’s blessings:
The grain, the wine, and the oil,
the sheep and the oxen;
They themselves shall be like watered gardens,
never again shall they languish.
Then the virgins shall make merry and dance,
and young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will console and gladden them after their sorrows.
I will lavish choice portions upon the priests,
and my people shall be filled with my blessings,
says the Lord.
THE PRAYERS BCW
Eternal God,
we thank you for being with us today,
and for every sign of your truth and love in Jesus Christ.
Especially we thank you for
the gift of peace in Christ . . .
reconciliation in our relationships . . .
each new insight into your love . . .
energy and courage to share your love . . .
the ministries of the church. . . .
Gracious God,
we remember in our own hearts the needs of others,
that we may reach up to claim your love for them,
and reach out to give your love in the name of Christ.
Especially we pray for
racial harmony and justice . . .
those imprisoned . . .
strangers we have met today . . .
friends who are bereaved . . .
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread;
and forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
God of mercy,
you reconciled us to yourself in Christ;
and of that good news
your servant Brother Roger was a passionate witness
in and through the community at Taizé;
help us to follow his example
of renewing trust in one another and in you,
that together we may join in harmony to sing your praises;
through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen. FATS
Music: https://tinyurl.com/y9efvwm5
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen. 2 Cor. 13:14
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BCW Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 1993.
FATS For All the Saints, © The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, 2014
The opening description of Br. Roger is adapted from The Guardian obituary: https://www.theguardian.com/news/2005/aug/19/guardianobituaries.religion
The three main scripture readings are © 2011 Common English Bible
The traditional language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern language versions of Psalms 82 and 85 are from the The Book of Common Prayer (1979) and is sung by Ryland Angel. Psalms 83 and 84 are from Book of Common Prayer (2019) as recorded for the St Bernard Breviary https://www.bernardbreviary.com/chant-helps. The canticle is from Liturgy of the Hours as recorded for the Sing the Hours YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/SingtheHours.
Musical links are usually either to artists’ albums posted on Spotify or to recordings made available at smallchurchmusic.com. Audio stripped from YouTube videos is footnoted accordingly above.
Compilation © 2025 Stephen T. Benner. All links worked at the time they were created, but I cannot accept responsibility for their content or any damage resulting from their use. The linked content is under the control of the respective content creators and is subject to change at any time. Any copyright texts included in this compilation are provided for non-commercial purposes related to study or worship. Please contact the respective copyright holders for permission to use the texts in other contexts.
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