Singing Meditation

The feel of the Taize community is profoundly peaceful and pastoral, as this view from the camping area attests.	The Taizé website contains a lot of information about this ecumenical community in both English and French. I was interested in visiting because I have been singing along with CDs made by the Taizé community for ten years. Although singing didn't happen as often as I would have hoped (it was pretty much confined to the worship services three times daily and an optional singing practice for one hour each afternoon) thousands of people find great renewal and comfort in attending the Bible study and worship services there. In July and August they average 3,000 -4,000 visitors per week. Taizé is not, strictly speaking, a "monastery"; as its Brothers are both Catholic and Protestant. You will sometimes hear it called a monastery to differentiate it from the tiny Burgundy village where it resides.
The hamlet of Taize is composed of a few narrow streets, a cluster of centuries-old homes, and a tiny church.	A short walking path from the church leads to this crypt where the faithful come to pray.	Taize prayer services are held three times each day in this modern building with onion-shaped domes.

The Taize brothers worship in one area; most of the congregation sits on the floor. A row of benches on the outer perimeter are meant for worshippers over age 30.