Brother Roger of Taize: Essential Writings

Modern Spiritual Masters

by Roger of Taizé, Marcello Fidanzio (Editor)

Brother Roger Schutz (1915-2005) was the beloved founder of Taize, an ecumenical monastic community in France, dedicated to reconciliation among Christians and all peoples. In recent decades Taize became a pilgrimage site for young people from around the world. This book presents the best of his spiritual writings.

Genres: Spirituality, Christianity, Theology

127 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 2006

About the author

Frère Roger (Brother Roger), baptised Roger Louis Schütz-Marsauche, also known as Brother Roger, was the founder and prior of the Taizé Community, an ecumenical monastic community.

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find in his words pure love towards every human and peace. It's like I can almost feel his tone saying or writing these words while I am reading. I am amazed how God has gifted some people with ability to put in simple words and thoughts such a great wisdom which can be understood by everyone no matter how strong we are or aren't in faith. Great book to read day by day by small paragraphs and overthink during day.
Full of wonderful wisdoms to keep in mind on our way towards ecumenism, solidarity and unity with each other and between congregations in Church.

[John Howes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have now completed reading a collection of Essential Writings by Brother Roger of Taize. For some reason, I have had this book on my ‘to be read’ pile for several years, having hardly dipped into in the past. But I am so glad that I returned to it recently.

If you don’t know, Brother Roger founded the ecumenical Taize Community in France in 1940. Since then, it has become a powerhouse of hope and prayer, especially for young people. It seems to me that Brother Roger was a man without any hidden agenda: he was not interested in where you had come from, but in where you were going. He was not interested in what you had done, but in what you were going to do.

He was a generous spirit who pursued a path of peace and reconciliation throughout his life. I noted down and underlined so many sentences and paragraphs from this book, such as:

May God complete in you what God has begun. The Lord Christ comes to help the weakness of your faith…he fulfils for you his promise.

There is so much hope in what he teaches and such seemingly simple advice, such as on how to find peace:

…knowing that we are listened to, understood and forgiven by God. Then, our hearts begin to find healing.

And what is the root of the Gospels for Brother Roger?

Peace and joy are the Gospel pearls. They come to fill chasms of anxiety. Peace… sustains us as we make our way upward toward joy.

Brother Roger also does not deny our anger: sometimes we are right to be angry with God. I have certainly felt this myself.

And sometimes even go so far as to cry out your pain, when trials abound. Dare to use blunt, strong language: God understands it, even if others cannot. Entrust to him now and always whatever disturbs and torments you. And, keep silence in his presence.

This has been an immensely rewarding read. It’s only a short book of about 120 pages but contains so much wisdom. He does not try to give us simple answers, but suggests ways in which to look at the world and its problems. He urges us to ‘rest in God in silence’ and poses the question: What can we reflect of Christ in our lives? Now, that’s a tricky one and quite a challenge.

[Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the dutch version "het hart van taize" with an extra introduction

"Hij bezielt ons... een bezieling die nooit uitgeput raakt en ons genoeg is. "P.24


"Door zijn vergeving begraaft God ons verleden in het hart van Christus en verzacht hij onze geheime wonden. We kunnen God alles vertellen wat ons leven belast" p29 dutch version

Mogen je dagelijks werk en Rust door Gods Woord bezield worden..
Bewaar in alles de innerlijke stilte om in Christus te wonen.
Wees doordrongen van de geest van de zaligsprekingen:
vreugde, barmhartigheid, eenvoud
P.25

Vergeet niet dat God je bovenal liefheeft en heel veel vertrouwen in je heeft. P108


Citaat van Ricoeur uit t boek: ik heb geen enkel antwoord aan hen die zeggen ' er is teveel kwaad in de wereld om in God te geloven.' God wil niet dat we lijden. Van al-machtig wordt God de al-liefhebbende. De enige macht van God is de ongewapende liefde. (Noot p.77)

Luisteren, opdat ze niet alleen uiting kunnen geven aan hun beperkingen en innerlijke wonden, maar ook hun gaven kunnen ontdekken en een leven in (innerlijke) gemeenschap met God, met Christus en de Heilige Geest kunnen ontdekken (p.30)

[Bronagh Demeillers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Br Roger had such a simple and beautiful message of love. His ability to love and say it with his life is captured through his writings. Helpful to understand his childhood suffering and the influence of his grandmother as well as his student days. It all helped to mould him and lead him to hide refugees in the war and seek unity among Christians in his own community and worldwide. It's hard to imagine how many young people came to Taizé and were impacted by his vision of simplicity, unity and love. This collection helped me to understand him but just makes me want to read more.
I didn't get to meet him but saw him in the distance in the church and even from that I knew there was a light within him that I'd never encountered before. A privilege to have "known" him in my lifetime.

[Care · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great snippets from Brother Roger’s thoughts. It was helpful for me to refine which of his writings I wanted to read first.

[Knightgina · Rating 4 out of 5]

lovely nuggets in here from the life of Brother Roger.

[dominikamaria · Rating 5 out of 5]

„Ah, Taizé, that little springtime” ~ Love, and say it with your life ~

[Charis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice selection of extracts from a number of Brother Roger's books, including journal extracts, some short prayers and then some contributions from other people, particularly those received after his death in 2005.
Brother Roger's words have inspired many people, and from reading this book it's easy to see why.

[Colette! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, simple, and soothing. Frère Roger does with a pen what thousands could not do with all the power in the world: bring me peace.

[Maja · Rating 5 out of 5]

my manual to life. i refuse to be separated from it: it goes wherever i do.

[Meredith Kadet Sanderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the content, but I think that this was a very weak anthology.

[Ellen Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

great job of editing some very meaningful excerpts on how to live a life of love and forgiveness from Brother Robgher's writings.