Taizé: Chercher un sens à la vie

by Olivier Clément

La Communauté oecuménique de Taizé accueille chaque année des dizaines de milliers de jeunes pour chercher ensemble un sens à la vie. Dans cet ouvrage, le théologien orthodoxe Olivier Clément jette un regard particulièrement pénétrant sur cette recherche. « J'ai reçu le baptême dans l'Église orthodoxe mais, au long de ma recherche, je n'ai pas pu ne pas rencontrer Taizé. J'ai été touché au coeur par les textes brefs et lumineux de frère Roger, certains réunis en volumes que l'on aime emporter avec soi, peut-être comme on emporte une gourde d'eau fraîche dans le désert. Bien vite, j'ai découvert non seulement la pensée, mais aussi la force créatrice de frère Roger et de ses compagnons, cette aimantation qui attire à Taizé, chaque année, des jeunes par dizaines de milliers. [...] Taizé est un lieu où l'on pressent autre chose. Ne craignez rien, Taizé ne s'approprie personne, ne prétend pas être l'Église, seulement le seuil et le signe de l'Église en perspective de réconciliation. À Taizé on s'éveille à l'amitié, au silence, à la prière... On y trouve un sens à la vie. Et l'on rentre chez soi avec le goût irrépressible de cet éveil. » AUTEUR Olivier Clément (1921-2009) était écrivain et théologien, professeur à l'Institut de théologie orthodoxe Saint-Serge à Paris. Auteur de nombreux ouvrages, il s'efforçait en particulier de faciliter la rencontre entre l'Orient et l'Occident chrétiens. Il était lié d'amitié avec frère Roger, fondateur de la communauté de Taizé (1915-2005). Les deux protagonistes sont maintenant décédés mais ce livre n'a rien perdu de son actualité. Nouvelle édition du livre publié chez Bayard en 1997 et épuisé depuis longtemps. Inclut une lettre écrite par frère Roger à l'auteur, et une nouvelle préface par frère Alois, prieur de Taizé.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Christian

128 pages, Paperback

First published February 13, 1997

About the author

Olivier Clément was a French theologian and convert to Orthodox Christianity who taught at St. Sergius Institute in Paris.

He was born in 1921 in the south of France. In his youth he was a non-believer. As he grew to maturity, he became influenced by a number of Orthodox theologians in France, notably Vladimir Lossky and Nicholas Berdiaev, eventually receiving baptism at the hands of Fr Evgraph Kovalesvky, later Bishop Jean-Nectaire of Saint-Denis.

Although a committed school teacher, Clément was most devoted to his work at the St Sergius Institute and to his writing. His work was wide-ranging — from poetry to literary criticism, philosophy to theology, and extended to book-length interviews with figures such as Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras and one of his successors, Bartholomew.

The most widely distributed of Clément's many books was perhaps his introductory work on the Orthodox Church in the popular Que sais-je? series, first published in 1961 and now in its seventh edition.

Clément also enjoyed friendship and entered into dialogues on major spiritual themes with a number of imminent personalities including Patriarch Athenagoras, Pope John Paul II, the priest and theologian Dumitru Staniloae, and the brother Roger of Taizé.

Modest, kindly and balanced, and supported faithfully by his wife Monique, Clément worked selflessly to unite Christians of different backgrounds, to unite France’s various Orthodox communities, and to inspire readers and listeners with a love of the Orthodox tradition which, he believed, would enrich the whole Church.

Reviews

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finalmente decidi pegar num dos livros que a minha tia-avó me deu e compreender "Taizé", eu idiota achava que era uma pessoa, não, não é uma pessoa.
Taizé é uma comunidade que foi fundada em 1940 pelo irmão Roger.
É uma comunidade dedicada à reconciliação (estão presentes pessoas de variadíssimas culturas).
Em Taizé as pessoas focam-se na oração e meditação cristã, dão valor ao silêncio e não tentam preenche-lo com os ruídos do nosso mundo, que acabam por preencher esse silêncio com nada.
O silêncio é preenchido com música, frases simples, fáceis de compreender por todos (e claro são ditas em variadíssimas línguas), ao repetir variadas vezes as frases isso irá ajudar as pessoas a focarem-se na sua meditação e oração.

Estava à espera de um livro um pouco mais profundo onde o autor explicasse a sua experiência e aquilo que sentiu... Não sei, senti que o livro começou muito bem e senti-me muito tranquila mas no final comecei a sentir que faltava mais qualquer coisa.

[Lyndsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Taize. the utopian society that is working and functioning in today's society. I have traveled to Taize when I was a freshman in college, when brother roger was still with us. His writing and community he has created is deep and moving, for those who go there seeing a community with their brothers and sisters in christ. Prayer and meditation.

Although the food was a bit on the limp side.

If he could. I say he should become a saint

[Blue_pingu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un livre intéressant pour approfondir sa foi si la spiritualité de Taizé nous parle. Le regard orthodoxe et les pères cités apportent un complément bienvenu surtout quand on est catholique et qu'on les connaît moins.

[Nikos Amanatidis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great translation!

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half reads like an ad for taizé but the second half moves into more general thoughts on faith that I found much more interesting.

[Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

My first experience with Taize was an actual pilgrimage to a Reservation in South Dakota. During that time, I had been blown off my feet and fell in love with the movement. Therefore, I had high hopes for this book. In truth, it's not bad... it just could use some work. The author makes a lot of huge claims with adequately supporting them.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent.