This is really sad, as he and Taizé community were among the truly bright lights in global Christianity. Roger's vision to was accept all people, regardless of their particular confession, and recover the kind of community-oriented worship and practice of the earliest Christians. His community (a quasi-monastic community living under a rule) recovered traditional meditiative and liturgical practice, but adapted them to modern minds and ears. Taizé is famous for its music, which many churches in the US and elswhere have adapted into their worship--Jazz masses, contemporary chants, liturgical dance music, among other things. Their style of music and prayer captured the attention of young people especially. It was attuned to contemporary sensibilties, but never resembled the tepid "folk masses" notorious in Catholic churches, or mass-market glurge of so much designated "Christian" music and literature today. Pilgrims came by the thousands to Taizé every year to taste that worship style firsthand, and to experience the life of the community.
Roger's death hasn't gotten a whole lot of play in the mainstream non-religious press. I think that's unfortunate, since many news organizations are now knocking themselves out to cover religious issues, and often promulgating sterotypes of relious people in the process. A consideration of Roger's life would have challenged those stereotypes, and given people suspicious of religion generally and Christianity particularly a more informed and complex view (and in my opinion, a more accurate one) of what faith is about.
Roger was a true "Christian extremist," the sort I wish we had more of instead of this kind.
Hopefully that community Roger founded can continue his mission of reinvigorating and recovering the faith.
Grant him eternal rest, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon him.
No comments:
Post a Comment