Snowstorm Taizé

Southern Ontario was one of various areas hit by an extraordinary snowstorm Sunday. And yet the Taizé at the Cathedral went ahead anyway. Let me tell you about it

“What is Taizé, anyway?”

A question I have often been asked, including yesterday by one of the people who out of curiosity ended up joining us.

“Come and see” is the best answer I have found, because it’s difficult to describe in such a way that fully conveys what happens during a Taizé.

You can share songs from it, like De Noche Iremos, which was the first song we sang yesterday. Taizé songs are written in many languages from around the world which might be intriguing to some, and speaks to its origin in a small town in France, and the way over time the movement drew many thousands of people from everywhere who have come to experience the peace and renewal of the community there.

You can mention there are brief readings and a short prayer time. Perhaps you might talk about the candles that provide that atmospheric element that is an integral part of every Taizé.

Silent contemplation is folded in as a natural ingredient, between the songs and readings, and for about 7 minutes in the heart of it.

It could be that besides actually experiencing it, the best way to begin to understand what it does is to look into the faces of those who have just enjoyed a Taizé, and hear their delighted response in whatever words come up as they seek to say how it was.

For me, my love of this unique kind of gathering began years ago when a woman who was to become a very dear friend of mine invited me to join her in leading the Montreal Taizé. She played the guitar and sang beautifully and I played the flute or harmonized with her as an alto.

I also led one for a while at St George’s in Ste Anne de Bellevue and after moving to Hamilton, for years at the Ascension. And now at the Cathedral, the community has been very open and welcoming to Taizé. I am especially grateful to the music director, who co-leads with me through playing the songs on the piano and singing with a sensitivity that is rare. We also have a guitarist who joins us from the Ascension and is lovely, though he was unable to be with us yesterday because of the extreme weather.

You never know who will be there. Some who attended yesterday had not originally planned to join, and were very new to the experience. We were so glad they were there as they added a dimension that was unexpected and very much in the spirit of why the movement exists. We were also joined by the Dean and two dear members of the choir. The Dean has been supportive from the first day, when the music director and I first experimented with it at the Cathedral last Spring, but I sensed a particular kind of delight from him yesterday that was a great encouragement.

“We must keep doing this,” he said quietly and sincerely.

For one reason and another, we won’t be able to have Taizé in February, but are looking forward to the next ones in March through May before the summer break.

Have you ever been to a Taizé or do have any questions? Feel free to share your thoughts in a comment.