Meditative Prayer with Songs from Taizé

Come, O Christ, and fill us with quiet confidence; 
make us realize that your love will never disappear,
 and that to follow you means giving our lives.

-Brother Roger Schütz

What is Taizé?

Taizé Prayer is named for the ecumenical Christian community formed in Taizé, France. The Taizé community includes brothers from all Christian denominations, including Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox traditions. Read more about the Taizé Community on their website here.

What is Taizé like at Newman University Church?

Newman University Church and the Notre Dame – Newman Centre for Faith and Reason released an album of Taizé songs in November 2023 entitled Prayer in the Style of Taizé. The album features many of the hymns sung at their regular Tuesday evening service, and was recorded by select voices from the Newman Vocare Ensemble, including Dominique Cunningham, Katherine Dunn, James Aherne, and Matt Mannion, in Newman University Church and edited by centre staff. It is available on Spotify, Apple Music, and wherever else you stream music!

On Tuesdays the congregation at University Church participates in prayer in the style of Taizé. Any group should amend their service to have more or less of the reading and prayer examples linked below so that the congregation can praise God. Check out the Notre Dame – Newman Centre for Faith and Reason YouTube channel to watch recent full Taizé services at University Church.

Each Tuesday at 6pm the church is dimly lit and our Taizé cross is brought out as a focal point for prayer. A few candles are lit around the cross (more will be added in the procession of light during the service.) The quartet of singers (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass) lead the songs by beginning each hymn in unison before splitting into parts. Taizé hymns are repetitive so that the congregation can easily remember lyrics and melody and hopefully join along in singing. Read more about the order of service here. Visit the Notre Dame – Newman Centre for Faith and Reason website for examples of scriptural and ecumenical readings and closing prayers, as well as an extensive video library of hymns, including meditative songs, songs about light, Holy Spirit songs, kyries and intercessions and songs for Advent, Lent, and Easter.

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