Brother Roger stabbed to death at Taize

[roisin]

I was shocked to hear this news today. I visited Taize several times as a student/teenager, and have read several of his books.

[Gillian76]

Never been but I love the music.

[roisin]

bump

[cod]

Message withdrawn

[roisin]

LOL at you.
This is a sad thread you're supposed to be posting your condolences, not popping in to say "Hi"

PS Hi Cod

[cod]

Message withdrawn

[roisin]

Yes our computer died, and dh and I played a game of chicken as to who would crack first and admit to being unable to live without the internet! I won

Now really has no-one else heard of Brother Roger?

[cod]

Message withdrawn

[QueenOfQuotes]

• gosh how awful. I've heard of him, we have a Taize service every 5th Sunday (in those months that have 5 Sundays) and our Vicar, and lots of others that come to the Taize service have been there.

[Lonelymum]

You what?????

I spent half my 20s at Taize - or so it seemed.

IS this for real??????????

[roisin]

You and me both Lonelymum.

It happened during evening prayers. It's just unthinkable; absolutely horrific.

[Lonelymum]

Well I am in tears now. I just can't believe it.

[Lonelymum]

HELLO??? HELLO????

Are we the only people who know this guy? This is an absolute tragedy and the most shocking thing I have heard EVER!!!!!

[Lonelymum]

About to be on BBC1 news now.

[LeahE]

My mother called and told me. It seems so unthinkable.

[Lonelymum]

Utterly meaningless killing.

[QueenOfQuotes]

I don't know if anyone here would be able to/want to but buses from the UK to his funeral

[Tommy]

I have been speechless with shock about this news since I got an email from Taize this afternoon.
I spent 18 months there from 1989-91 so Taize and Brother Roger have been a huge influence on my life. I've done a fair bit or crying too, Lonelymum. I can't believe that a man whose whole life was devoted to peace and reconciliation could be killed in such a violent way in the church that he built and opened up to so many young people. A good, holy, old man killed liek that while he was saying his prayers.
I am completely shell shocked and crying while I write this too.
He is at peace now, at least, but I can't imagine what the rest of them are going through - just so so sad.

[Lonelymum]

QofQ, I wish I could take advantage of the coach offer you brought to my attention. If I had no children, I would have booked a place immediately.

Tommy, your post has started the flood gates for me too. If you spent so much time there (as I did too) I know you must feel the same way as me. Your words exactly echoed my thoughts lat night. The Church of Reconciliation will never seem like the same place to me again.

Poor Brother Roger, to have his life eneded like that, and those poor remaining brothers and the pilgrims there at the time, left with such brutal memories.

Feel very very sad today.

[Tommy]

I mentioned to DH about the funeral and he kindly pointed out that I don't have a passport.....
I went out shopping lat night and when I came home DH was trying to find out how I could get one before Mondya evening. He siad if I went to the office in the morning on Monday I could get one and then go to the funeral in the evening.... sweet of him to work out how I could go but thinking about it now I realise that it is a bit impractical so I will say a prayer for him and light a candle on Tuesday.

Still shocked about it TBH, I keep looking at the different news sites - not quite believing that it could have happened.

[Lonelymum]

Me too. That is nice of your dh to be so understanding. I nearly went into my church to light a candle for him but I had dd with me and didn't want her to ask questions.

Tommy, what is the Taize website/email address? I would like to record some sort of message if that is possible.

[Tommy]

Taize

Here it but I didn't notice any message board or anything. I just emailed [email protected] - that will get to them.

I am hoping that something will be done locally for him - a requiem mass or other service - even if it was in London I would definitly go.

[Tommy]

they have added a condolence bit now

[Lonelymum]

That is great Tommy, and such a moving announcement. How good Christian folk can maintain such serenity in the face of such pointless violence is beyond me, but I honour them for it.

[Lonelymum]

Oh Tommy, I have just been reading the whole website and they now do meeting for parents with children! (aged 0-14). I would really like to go back and take my children there, but how to persuade dh? I know your children are young still, but have you considered this? Know anyone who has done it? Do you suppose this is mainly peopled by those pilgrims who went as young adults back in the 80s and 90s?

[Tommy]

They always had meeting for families LonelyMum! The families either camp or are (or certaibnly were in my day) put up in some houses in the next villages. They were great - groups for different age groups as well as parents. I certainly knew lots of people who came to them.
Actually, after I decided not to go to the funeral, DH suggested we went there next summer! Big shock as he is not religious at all - I think he is trying to understand what big shock this was to me. I do talk about my Taize experience a lot to him - I guess because it formed me. At my wedding my Dad said in his speech that Taize was the place that made me the "confident and competent person that she is".... which was rather sweet as my dad had been a bit against me going there for such a long time.