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During the evening prayer on Tuesday 16 August,

in the midst of the crowd surrounding theCommunity in the Church of Reconciliation at

Taiz, a woman - probably mentally disturbed -

struck Brother Roger violently with knife blows. He

died a few moments later.

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Everything began in 1940 when, at the age of twentyEverything began in 1940 when, at the age of twenty--five, Brother Roger left Switzerland, the countryfive, Brother Roger left Switzerland, the countrywhere he was born, to go and live in Francewhere he was born, to go and live in France

During a long illness, the call had taken shape in himDuring a long illness, the call had taken shape in himto create a community where simplicity and kindto create a community where simplicity and kind--heartedness would be lived out as essential Gospelheartedness would be lived out as essential Gospel

realitiesrealities

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During the Second World War he had theDuring the Second World War he had the

conviction that he should help people inconviction that he should help people in

difficulties.difficulties.

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The small village ofThe small village of

Taiz, where he settled,Taiz, where he settled,

was close to the borderwas close to the border

between Free Francebetween Free Franceand the area invaded byand the area invaded by

the Nazis, and so wasthe Nazis, and so was

well situated to be awell situated to be a

place of welcome forplace of welcome for

refugees fleeing the war.refugees fleeing the war.

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Brother Roger was able to buy a house inBrother Roger was able to buy a house in

Taiz that had been uninhabited for years.Taiz that had been uninhabited for years.

There was no running water and their foodThere was no running water and their food

was mostly soup made from corn flourwas mostly soup made from corn flour

bought cheaply at the nearby mill.bought cheaply at the nearby mill.

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In order not to put anyIn order not to put anypressure on those hepressure on those hewas sheltering, Brotherwas sheltering, Brother

Roger prayed alone; heRoger prayed alone; heoften went into theoften went into thewoods near the housewoods near the houseto sing so that none ofto sing so that none of

the refugees, inthe refugees, inparticular those whoparticular those whowere Jews or agnostics,were Jews or agnostics,would feel illwould feel ill--atat--ease.ease.

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In the autumn of 1942, they were warnedIn the autumn of 1942, they were warnedthat they were in great danger of beingthat they were in great danger of beingarrested so everyone had to leave.arrested so everyone had to leave.

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Brother Roger was not able to return untilBrother Roger was not able to return until1944. He was joined by others who shared1944. He was joined by others who sharedhis vision and they began a life together thathis vision and they began a life together thatcontinues today in Taiz.continues today in Taiz.

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In 1945 they began to care for boysIn 1945 they began to care for boysorphaned by the war. On Sundays, theorphaned by the war. On Sundays, thebrothers welcomed German prisonersbrothers welcomed German prisoners--ofof--

war interned in a nearby camp. Graduallywar interned in a nearby camp. Graduallyother young men arrived and joined theother young men arrived and joined theoriginal group, and on Easter Day 1949, theoriginal group, and on Easter Day 1949, thefirst brothers committed themselves for theirfirst brothers committed themselves for their

whole life to celibacy, to material andwhole life to celibacy, to material andspiritual sharing and to a great simplicity ofspiritual sharing and to a great simplicity oflife.life.

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Today, the Taiz Community is made up of over aToday, the Taiz Community is made up of over a

hundred brothers, both Catholics and Protestant,hundred brothers, both Catholics and Protestant,

coming from more than twentycoming from more than twenty--five nationsfive nations

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By its very existence, the community is thus aBy its very existence, the community is thus a

concrete sign of reconciliation between dividedconcrete sign of reconciliation between divided

Christians and separated peoplesChristians and separated peoples

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The brothers earn their living by their work.The brothers earn their living by their work.

They do not accept donations. In the sameThey do not accept donations. In the sameway, if a brother inherits something from hisway, if a brother inherits something from his

family, it is given by the community to thefamily, it is given by the community to the

very poor.very poor.

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Small groups of brothers are present in Asia, AfricaSmall groups of brothers are present in Asia, Africaand South America. As far as possible they shareand South America. As far as possible they sharethe living conditions of those who surround them,the living conditions of those who surround them,striving to be a presence of love among the verystriving to be a presence of love among the verypoor.poor.

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Over the years, the number of visitors to TaizOver the years, the number of visitors to Taiz

has continued to grow. At the end of the 1950s,has continued to grow. At the end of the 1950s,

young adults between the ages of 17 and 30young adults between the ages of 17 and 30

began to arrive in everbegan to arrive in ever--greater numbers.greater numbers.

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Church leaders also come to Taiz. The communityChurch leaders also come to Taiz. The communityhas welcomed Pope John Paul II, three Archbishopshas welcomed Pope John Paul II, three Archbishopsof Canterbury, Orthodox metropolitans, the fourteenof Canterbury, Orthodox metropolitans, the fourteenLutheran bishops of Sweden, and countless pastorsLutheran bishops of Sweden, and countless pastors

from all over the world.from all over the world.

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Every week from early spring to lateEvery week from early spring to lateautumn, young adults from every continentautumn, young adults from every continent

arrive at Taiz. They are searching forarrive at Taiz. They are searching for

meaning in their lives. Some weeks moremeaning in their lives. Some weeks morethan 5000 young people from 75 countriesthan 5000 young people from 75 countries

take part in this common adventure. Thistake part in this common adventure. This

adventure continues when they returnadventure continues when they return

home. It is expressed in their concern tohome. It is expressed in their concern todeepen an inner life and by their readinessdeepen an inner life and by their readiness

to take responsibility to make the world ato take responsibility to make the world a

better place.better place.

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On the morning of 17 August, 2005; the dayOn the morning of 17 August, 2005; the day

after Brother Rogers death, the followingafter Brother Rogers death, the followingprayer was read in the church at Taiz :prayer was read in the church at Taiz :

Christ of compassion, you enable us to be inChrist of compassion, you enable us to be incommunion with those who have gonecommunion with those who have gonebefore us, and who can remain so close tobefore us, and who can remain so close tous. We confide into your hands our Brotherus. We confide into your hands our BrotherRoger. He already contemplates theRoger. He already contemplates the

invisible.In his footsteps, you are preparinginvisible.In his footsteps, you are preparingus to welcome a radiance of yourus to welcome a radiance of your

brightness.brightness.

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Christ of compassion, you enable us to be inChrist of compassion, you enable us to be in

communion with those who have gone before us, andcommunion with those who have gone before us, and

who can remain so close to us. We confide into yourwho can remain so close to us. We confide into your

hands our Brother Roger. He already contemplateshands our Brother Roger. He already contemplates

the invisible. In his footsteps, you are preparing us tothe invisible. In his footsteps, you are preparing us to

welcome a radiance of our bri htness.welcome a radiance of our bri htness.

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Alleluia, Alleluia, AlleluiaAlleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia

Slava tiebie Boze!Slava tiebie Boze!

Alleluia, Alleluia, AlleluiaAlleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia

Glory be to you, O God!Glory be to you, O God!