Taize Prayer

"Humans under psychological stress experience raised blood pressure and heart and breathing rates, straining the body and lowering immunity, says Dr. Herbert Benson of Harvard Medical School. In many studies, Benson has found that an opposite response can be elicited by combining two steps: repeating a prayer, word, sound, phrase or movement, and disregarding other thoughts. Meditation, prayer, tai chi and yoga all provoke this healthful state."
-Elena Serocki from Reader's Digest May 2001

Taize prayer is a meditative form of prayer. Through the repetition of musical phrases over and over, your body and your mind slow down enough to be able to listen to the voice of God that is planted deep within you. Don't expect this to happen immediately, however. It takes several times of experiencing Taize before you are able to surrender to its power. The first couple of times you are getting use to the mantras, asking yourself questions about the prayer form and feeling the anxiety of trying to slow down. If you give it some time, you will be amazed when you are actually able to enter into it fully.

Taize prayer is traditionally held in a darkened church and the candles are lit by the participants who help to brighten the night. Anyone may come forward at anytime during the prayer to light a candle. The monastery at Taize, France, has become popular, especially for young adults around the world, and as many at 10,000 people at a time gather to participate in Taize prayer.

One aspect of the prayer involves icons, pictures painted by artists while in prayer, role models of greatness the church has highlighted for centuries. These saints possess an internal vision of divine goodness, and they give us a glimpse of the face of God in the center of humanity. Many times we see icons of Jesus, Mary, the prophets, and the saints displayed during Taize prayer, but we do not worship these icons. They are merely reminders to us that we can shape our lives to reflect the sacred majesty of God. They speak to us of dying and rising in our daily lives through their living example.

This is a prayer form that must be experienced several times before entering into it wholeheartedly. Just like yoga or any other physical routine, you need to become familiar with the mantras so they become automatic. Once this happens, it is incredible how prayerful the experience can be.

Taize prayer is held in the church during lent and other times of the year. Watch the bulletin for dates of upcoming Taize prayer sessions.