Such terrible news greeted us as we reached Cologne Cathedral today, that Brother Roger of Taize had been killed last night by a woman during evening prayer. Such impossible news can only be disbelieved for so long, before it has to sink in. How could anyone have any hatred for such a man of peace, prayer and God? Of course there is no way, and the person who did it must have been ill. We were at the Cathedral for our scheduled pilgrimage and tour, but I no longer felt like seeing the beauty within. As I toured inside, groups from various countries sat around in silent circles, or listened to the serious speech of one solemn leader. People kneeled at the huge cross and prayed silently, one with a hankerchief in her hand. Outside, the normal fever pitch of these days had dulled down to merely sporadic moments of singing, and Taize music filled the air for the pilgrims who walked along their way to the Cathedral.
It was three years ago that I had experience of Brother Roger speaking with such soft tones into the hushed Taize atmosphere, speaking with such a tenderness that could give the impression that he was side by side with Jesus. He talked of love, unity, peace amongst people and the peace of God. His prayer was one of simplicity and profundity, silence, song and the word of God. It was easy for young people to love him, hungry as they are for sincerity in a world of soundbites and selfishness.
4 comments:
I cannot believe the news about Brother Roger - I haven't heard it actually from any other source but then I haven't seen any news today. I don't even know what to write - i'm stunned, it is just so hard to take in.
Unbelieveable.
Thinking of you on your trip.
Fionnuala.
Belfast Telegraph Home > News
Irish pilgrims to accompany Pope as he opens 'Catholic Woodstock'
By David Quinn
17 August 2005
A group of 30 young people from the Galway diocese will accompany Pope Benedict XVI as he arrives by boat in the centre of Cologne tomorrow for the start of his four-day visit to Germany, his first foreign trip since his election.
More than 350,000 Catholics from all over the world, including about 2,000 Irish, have already converged on the historic city and the surrounding areas to take part in World Youth Day, a week-long "festival of faith" aimed at reviving Catholicism among young people.
Pope Benedict flies to Cologne tomorrow at lunchtime and at 3.30pm Irish time he will set out on a 20-minute journey by boat down the Rhine from the home of the Archbishop of Cologne, Cardinal Joachim Meisner, to the cathedral in the centre of the city.
About 500 young people will be with him on the Papal boat including 30 from the diocese of Galway led by Fr Frankie Lee. Six will sit with the Pope on the journey.
A flotilla of other boats will follow, including vessels representing each of the continents. Another 30 members of the Galway group will be among the hundreds of young people on the "Europe" boat.
Father Lee said the Galway delegation would be on the Papal boat because of "the close links that have been developed between the dioceses of Galway and Cologne over the years".
He said the Secretary of World Youth Day, Fr Ulrich Hennes, was "a frequent visitor to Galway."
Fr Lee described the opportunity to accompany Pope Benedict on the boat as "a great honour -we are absolutely thrilled."
He also said that on Sunday, when the Papal Mass to close World Youth Day takes place, the 30 young Galwegians who will be on the Europe boat tomorrow, will sit close to the altar where the Pope will concelebrate the Mass.
In the lead up to World Youth Day, the 2,000 Irish present have been taking part in events all around the country, including visiting parishes, staying with German families, attending concerts, Masses and other prayer services.
Today, the 750 young people who have gone to Germany with Catholic Youth Day, the youth agency of the Dublin diocese, will take part in a catechetical session led by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin.
World Youth Day opened yesterday with a Mass in Cologne.
Speaking before the Mass, the head of the German Bishops' Commission for Youth, Dr Franz-Josef Bode, said that 350,000 young people, including 120,000 from overseas, have already taken part in the "Days of Encounter" in parishes all over Germany in the run-up to yesterday.
Up to 800,000 people are expected to attend the final Mass outside Cologne on Sunday morning.
Grey skies and drizzle greeted young Catholics arriving in Cologne yesterday. But they cheered nonetheless, waving national flags and shouting boisterous "olas" and "hellos".
"It's the most peaceful invasion of all time," popular newspaper Bild newspaper wrote.
Bemused residents of Germany's fourth-largest city smiled patiently as pilgrims thronged outside its massive Gothic cathedral, some strumming guitars, others studying maps to find one of three Masses opening the "Catholic Woodstock".
"The whole city is full of young people," Cologne's Cardinal Joachim Meisner told an opening news conference, adding how proud he was to have been one of those involved in the planning of the €100m festival over the last three years.
"This is the first World Youth Day with two Popes, one watching from above and the other taking part here below."
"I think we may have travelled the furthest," said Mercedes Docampo (17) from Tasmania, struggling to hold her luggage, inflatable kangaroo and huge Australian flag.
"I came because I wanted to appreciate the size of the Catholic Church and share my faith with other young people."
While the crowds of happy, noisy youngsters made the pilgrimage look like just another festival, many said they came especially for the chance to strengthen their faith and identity as Catholics.
"I wanted to meet other young Catholics from all over the world," said Desire Ilboudo (30) from Burkina Faso.
Pope Benedict smiled from posters around Cologne's pedestrian precincts, and the city's churches flung their doors wide open to welcome their international visitors.
Stages hosting Christian rock bands have sprung up around the city and hundreds of temporary toilets line the banks of the River Rhine.
Thanks for the article, Fionnuala. It sums up the experience quite well. I hope to see you for a chat sometime soon. I'm really so shattered at present. Take care.
I had to have a look in here because I don't know anyone else I can talk about this with and I'm still so shocked and saddened and filled with a weird mixture of emotions. I knew you'd probably have mentioned something, and it's nice also to see Fionnuala's comment (hi Fionnuala!).
Three years ago. So long, and yet so short.
May he rest in peace.
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