Frere Roger, founder of the Taizé cummunity, murdered during Service

[Proteus_MST]

Frere Roger, who founded the ecumenical community in Taizé (FR) was stabbed yesterday by a romanian woman, while he held a prayer service in front of 2.500 youths.

Although first aid was administered immediately, he died shortly thereafter because of his wounds.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4158886.stm

To all those who don´t know him (which might be a lot of people outside of europe )

Frere Roger was the founder of the ecumenical community of Taizé, which he and some other (protestant) brothers built without much outside help (mostly by their own hands work).

The Taizé community welcomes christians of all denominations (but also atheists ) and all countries all over the world.
Especially during the 80s/90s it became known espacially among european youths and many traveled to Taizé to stay for a week and take part in workshops, meditations and services.

Frere Roger lived in what he believed and by founding the community and by his own presence, Frere Rogers has done a lot for bringing people of different countries together.

IMHO he deserves to be canonized much more than for exanmple JP II (but it won´t happen, as Rogers was a Protestant and not a Catholic (although he had good contacts to JP II and now Benedict XVI))


I´m sad and wonder why this woman killed him.

[Jon Miller]

Taize is good

I enjored the ones I went to

I thought it was catholic?

JM

[Sava]

who?
founder of the what?

[Proteus_MST]

Originally posted by Jon Miller

I thought it was catholic?

There are some people who believe this.
But no, Taizé was a community in which the ecumenical principles were reality and catholic brothers and sisters served together with their protestant counterparts.

As for Brother Roger, yes, he was indeed a protestant, which is the reason why it is so remarkable, that Ratzinger gave him the communion during the service for JP II.

Originally posted by Sava
who?
founder of the what?

May this document help you understand

http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/taize/taize.txt

[Ben Kenobi]

Interesting. Proteus, do you have the specific references from either pope wrt Taize?

[Proteus_MST]

He seems to had especially close ties to JP II, knowing him even years before he became pope:

http://66.249.93.104/search?q=cache:OeRbP_wMhzEJ:www.taize.fr/en_article1776.html+Pope+Taize&hl=de

As for Benedict:
Here´s a source about Frere Roger receiving communion from Ratzinger:

http://amywelborn.typepad.com/openbook/2005/04/no_panzer_pope.html

and the BBC-Article hints that there had might have been mail contact between them, after Ratzinger became pope.

Pope Benedict XVI, due to travel to Cologne on Thursday for World Youth Day, said he was particularly dismayed at news of Brother Roger's death as he had received "a moving letter from him" only this week.

btw. the official Homepage of Taizé has now published an orbituary notice (after it was down for most of the day because of too much traffic)

http://www.taize.fr/

[Last Conformist]

Is it known why she stabbing him?

[Ben Kenobi]

Hey, thanks for the prompt response.

So our Papa Ratzi did give him communion. I dunno if you understand what a big deal that is to Catholics. Very interesting, and certainly worth more attention.

Thanks for bringing it to mine.

[Proteus_MST]

Originally posted by Last Conformist
Is it known why she stabbing him?

Not yet.
It is known that she bought the knive the day prior to the service, so it seemed to be a planned crime.
And according to her own words she tried for half a year unsuccessful to contact Frere Roger.
Maybe she was mad at him for this

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
Hey, thanks for the prompt response.

So our Papa Ratzi did give him communion. I dunno if you understand what a big deal that is to Catholics. Very interesting, and certainly worth more attention.

Thanks for bringing it to mine.

Yep,
I remember Pope JP II being somehow strict about the matter.
He supended (or even excummunicated?) a catholic priest who, against papal orders, dared to take part in an ecumenical communion.

[Proteus_MST]

Today the funeral took place.
Sadly I only saw the last 30 minutes. But it was very moving, as the coffin was carried out of the church by some brothers of the order and the communaute constantly sang "Confitemini domino"
and didn´t stop singing even as the coffin was away.
Very melancholic and very moving.
Here some infos about the funeral (page and links)

http://www.taize.ch/temp/en_article2531.html

Those were the religious and civic leaders who took part:

http://www.taize.ch/temp/en_article2533.html

(a lot of religious leaders of all christian confessions, even some from the USA )

[Ben Kenobi]

I remember Pope JP II being somehow strict about the matter.

He supended (or even excummunicated?) a catholic priest who, against papal orders, dared to take part in an ecumenical communion.

I'm not sure. In any case, there have been ecumenical services between Catholics and Protestants, but they are very rare and special.

In my own case, I'm happy now not to have to worry about this any more since I can receive communion in the Catholic church whenever I want.