Taizé prayer experience ‘honors silence’

By Syndie Eardly

Unique prayer and meditation styles have been developed over centuries within every one of the world religions. Many of those traditions have found their way to America, including Taizé, a prayer form that includes scripture, chanting and silence.

The Taizé form of worship was developed at the Taizé community in France. The community is an ecumenical monastic order with a strong devotion to peace and justice through prayer and meditation. Founded in 1940 by Roger Louis Schutz-Marsauche, the community is made up of Roman Catholics and Protestants from 30 countries across the world.

Through the years, Taizé has become an important Christian pilgrimage site, primarily for younger devotees, who come to the small village of Taizé to share in the community’s way of life.

Mike Reiling, a retired high school theology teacher and retreat leader, who now leads adult spirituality programs at Centering Space in Lakewood and River’s Edge in Cleveland, began leading groups in this prayer form in 2014.

“I first heard about Taizé 30 years ago and attended a couple of sessions,” Reiling said. “What attracted me to it is that it is a very contemplative, quiet experience that honors silence. Brother John, a Taizé monk describes it as, ‘a time to rest in God, to let the words listened to and sung penetrate one’s being.’”

About one hour in length, the Taizé sessions include short scripture readings, chants that are repeated, and a short period of silence.

Reiling is presenting his next Taizé session on Sunday, Aug. 18, from 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. on the grounds of Centering Space at 14812 Lake Ave. in Lakewood, a property that abuts Lakewood Park to the west. Since the session will be outdoors, he encourages people to bring blankets or chairs. He noted that if the weather does not cooperate, the session will be moved into the Lakewood Catholic Academy Chapel, located on the grounds at Centering Space.

“Taizé is a wonderful way to pray because it takes you into a more contemplative mode,” Reiling explained. “I think chanting takes people into a deeper level of consciousness because you are not thinking about the words. In the programs I lead, we use seven different chants, two scripture readings and about ten minutes of silence.”

According to Reiling, the participants have little trouble participating in the chanting because the chants are very short and repeated eight or ten times.

“Within about three or four repetitions, participants easily pick up the words,” he said. “We provide a supportive background with a choir and musicians. I want people to enter into the chanting in these sessions, so we provide a good singing range and the chants are slow and easy to follow.”

Reiling leads Taizé throughout the year, offering the session in conjunction with a particular theme, such as the Summer Solstice, or as a prelude to Thanksgiving, Christmas or Lent. Most of his sessions are offered at River’s Edge Spirituality & Wellness Center, located on Rocky River Drive next to St. Joseph Academy.

“In winter, we do sessions indoors, and in the summer, when we can, we like to do them outdoors,” he said. “We scheduled the Aug. 18 session at Centering Space so that we could end right at dusk and enjoy the sunset over Lake Erie.”

Reiling said all are welcome to attend Taizé, but participants are encouraged to register to ensure there are sufficient materials for everyone attending. Register online at www.centeringspace.org or by telephone at (216) 228-7451.