114 PART TWO: AN EMPIRICAL ACCOUNT which his resurrection is celebrated. Yet, in Taizé, this practice has extra pragmatic and spiritual relevance, as the young guests typically spend one whole week in the community. The brothers intend to introduce them into the Christian faith and spirituality, knowing that many of them have only received basic, if any, Christian education. The weekly program with its Bible introductions is designed to introduce youth to fundamental (yet not too complicated) parts of Scripture and to accompany them in their questions, struggles, and prayers. Focusing especially on the person of Jesus and his suffering, death, and resurrection, each Sunday is ‘a little Easter’ in Taizé. Thus, every week resembles holy week. Following the Friday evening prayer, the icon of the cross is taken from its upright position in the apse and placed on the floor in the center of the boxwood-framed choir. When the brothers leave the church during the final songs, some of the boxwoods are removed, allowing the youths to enter the space in order to venerate the cross and pray alongside it. As many of them choose to do so, the choir section behind the cross fills with young people, while many others await their turn in the church. During high seasons, this ceremony can take hours, while a brother accompanies them, positioned on a prayer stool close to the icon. Saturday evening’s prayer resembles the Easter Vigil, culminating in the rite of lights, in which all present pass along the flame of the Easter candle using votive candles. Thus, the whole week is preparation for the Sunday morning ‘little Easter’ Mass. Therefore, guests are encouraged to spend a whole week in the community, arriving on one Sunday or Monday and leaving the next.271 The Sunday Eucharist, starting at 10:00 am, replaces the regular early morning Mass and morning prayer. It is presided, again, by one of Taizé’s Catholic ordained brothers or by visiting Roman Catholic priests or bishops, with the other Catholic clergy concelebrating. These differences compared to the prayer services – especially the fact that the altar is now actively involved as the focal point of the liturgy and that there is one clear presider – add to the sense of solemnity of the Eucharist. It follows the Roman rite and diverges from the usual habits of the Taizé prayers. For example, in accordance with Roman Catholic custom, the faithful stand up while listening to the Gospel instead of remaining seated. The brothers and the many Catholic faithful lead by example. 271 However, some will leave before Mass (especially those who have a long travel ahead) as Sundays and Mondays are the exchange days in which people are encouraged to arrive or leave. Many may want to return home on Sundays as they face the new study or work week on Monday.
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