The last few days of our holiday we were out of touch with internet connections and sources of news, so it was quite a surprise to find details of coaches to get to the funeral of Brother Roger at Taize. Initially we thought he had just passed away from old age, with him seeming extremely frail when he appeared in public.

However on reading further we were really shocked to find out that rather than passing away peacefully, he had been brutally murdered during a Taize service in front of thousands of people.

I had commented on a number of occasions when we had visited Taize on Brother Rogers personal following, with many of the pilgrims wanting to specifically meet him. Balanced against this was his increasing frailty, resulting in Brother Roger not holding private meeting, which according to reports was part of the reason for the attack. I guess that as with assasination attempts on other significant religious figures such as the Pope, the large amount of publicity inevitably leads to increased risks of attacks such as this. Whilst he could have been protected by guards and the like, and be kept separate from the people, that is exactly the opposite of what he, and the Taize community is about. Indeed shortly after his death the community was praying for peace.

In the face of violence, we can respond only by peace. Brother Roger never stopped insisting on this. Peace requires a commitment of our whole being, inwardly and outwardly. It demands our whole person. So this evening, let us communicate peace to one another, and do everything we can so that each person stays in hope.

Even with Brother Rogers passing, the community will continue. I’m also sure that people will continue to come to see Brother Roger, in much the same way as people visit the places where other religious leaders have died before. I’m also quite sure that, in the same way that the previous Pope visited and forgave his attempted assasin, as Brother Roger always insisted, the ministry of peace and reconcilliation will be extended by the remaining brothers to the woman who so brutally took Brother Roger’s life this week.