SATURDAY 15 SEPTEMBER

At 5am, I set off for Folkestone and the Channel Tunnel. I arrived at 11.30am in plenty of time for the 2.20pm train (the cheapest one of the day) only to be told that the trains were running one hour late. However, the chap put me on an earlier train and I left Folkestone at 12.50pm, one and a half hours ahead of schedule! By the time I reached Calais and adjusted my watch for the time difference I didn’t know what time of day it was.

Stayed the night in a small family run hotel in Arras about 100km from Calais (making 450 miles in the day). I went to the Saturday Mass at the local church.


SUNDAY 16 SEPTEMBER

Set off for another day’s driving – only 350 miles today. Arrived at the village of St Gengoux le National about 8km from Taize and 15 km from Cluny. Located the cottage and settled in (as photo).







MONDAY 17 SEPTEMBER

Explored the mediaeval village of St Genoux le National. It used to be called St Genoux le Royale after the visit of Le Roi St Louis but after the revolution became St Genoux le National – c’est las vie!
Picture of village as phoyo.

Visited Cluny where there is a Benedictine Abbey. For several centuries this abbey was one of the most important spiritual capitals of mediaeval Europe. It was only replaced as the largest church in the Christian world by the building of St Peter’s Rome in the sixteenth century. To this day, people come from all over the world to admire the remains of the famous abbey church, the towers of the enclosure and the 18th century monastic buildings.





Hints of Autumn






TUESDAY 18 SEPEMBER

I made my first visit to Taize. Taize hosts tens of thousands of young people from all over the world every summer as they meet to pray. In 1940, Pastor Schultz (Brother Roger) established an ecumenical community which now numbers over 90 brothers, who take lifelong vows and are drawn from various Christian Churches (catholic and Prostestant) and from over 20 countries. Their mission is to be involved worldwide with young people in the search for unity and reconciliation. The brothers organise youth meetings throughout the world. Pope John-Paul visited Taize in 1986.

In 2005, Brother Roger was fatally stabbed during worship – stabbed by a deranged woman. You may recall how the world was stunned with the news of his death. Photo of his grave aside.



For more information on Taize visit their website at http://www.taize.fr/




WEDNESDAY 19 SEPTEMBER

Visited Paray le Mondial where there is a Basilique du Sacre Coeur which is considered to be one of the finest examples of religious architecture. Many religious orders have communities here which has become one of the great centres of Christianity. Pope John-Paul 11 visited Paray in October 1986.



THURSDAY 19 SEPTEMBER


I met with Brother Stephen at Taize. His father, the Revd Wilf Braithwaite, is a former vicar of Lanercost, who spent his retirement in the Penrith Deanery and his brother Bernard who lives at Milburn.

Brother Stephen has been a member of the community for 26 years. His calling first came as a teenager in the Carlisle Diocese through the local parish activities and the deanery and diocesan youth work especially through St John’s in the Vale Youth Centre. He is deeply committed to work with young people. It was good to learn more about the workings of the community and how the brothers relate to the outside world.

Also, I learned about the local RC parish of Taize. It is now one of 16 churches in a group and until recently this group was without a priest. Now, one has been appointed – aged 68 – which is young for the French Church. Each church celebates the Eucharist once every 16 weeks – on the other weeks the congregation travel to one of the other 15 churches. The care of the church building, everyday pastoral care, baptism and wedding preparation, taking funerals are all undertaken by the laity who receive some training.

At 12.30pm all activity ended as people, young and old, from many nations flocked for midday prayer. It was a wonderful half-hour. So many Christians joining with the brothers of the community, experiencing the symbolism of simple ritual and light, participating of the Taize chants, experiencing the simple liturgical form, listening to the few words of scripture and prayer in different languages, entering the profound depth of the silence, I was caught up into the heart of God’s presence. The depth of spirituality was conveyed in the new Taize chant and its deep relevance to today’s world:
God is forgiveness.
Dare to forgive and God will be with you.
God is forgivenss.

Most impressive was the lack of intrusive words and instruction during the liturgy. For instance we had the chant book in our hands but the numbers of the chants appeared unobtrusively on an electronic hymnboard. How about changing our hymnboards to this new electronic version!!

Group of young people who gathered informally to sing chants.

FRIDAY 21 SEPTEMBER

Today, I ventured to the Haut-Jura Natural Park near the border with Switzerland. The landscape is Alpine. I followed a walk down a secluded valley to a waterfall or cascade 164 ft high (see photo). Then, after winding my way up the mountain pass to about 4,400 ft through a forest of fir trees to Col de la Faucille, suddenly round a corner the snow covered Mont Blanc appeared on the horizon which was just breathtaking. Well worth the visit just for that!

SATURDAY 22 SEPTEMBER

Located the internet access at La Mairie (Town Hall) and I was able to connect my laptop. However, I left it a bit late in getting there as it closed at 12 noon. I had lunch at the restaurant in the village which was excellent.

Now to lunch at the local restaurant. Only 12 euros (about £8) for starter, main course, cheese, dessert, coffee and wine. I'll need a 200 mile walk after this lifesSUNDAY 23 SEPTEMBER

SUNDAY 23 SEPTEMBER

Went to the Sunday Eucharist at Taize which was a moving experience. Hundreds of people were there from all over the world. The use of a simple liturgy was most impressive. Wine tasting in the afternoon at the local Cave des Vignerons which was most enjoyable – particularly as it was within walking distance! It is wonderful to be in the heart of Burgandy country.