204 PART TWO: AN EMPIRICAL ACCOUNT 7.1 FAITHFULNESS It has always been the intention of the individual monastics of both communities to remain members of their respective churches of origin. Brother TB notes that Brother Roger explicitly recommends this in Taizé’s Rule. Breaking with one’s origins so that one can adhere to one ecclesiastical body or communion has never been a viable option in the search for a common Eucharist: It became more and more clear that this would be important, to... to, to keep that, as… as common source of life, in the sacrament um.... but without, and Brother Roger insisted very much on this, and, and, or insisted, he said it always clear, that it, it doesn't mean to... to deny something, to renier ses origines, or to deny one’s origin, or, or to give up um, belonging, to... to a church.461 This is fully in line with Brother Roger’s interpretation of himself. His ecumenical path has become a blueprint for the community. TB continues: And when he said, about having reconciled in himself, that was Brother Roger's words, he spoke for himself first... having reconciled the faith of his Protes~ or Evangelical, he said, origine Evangelique, with the mystery of faith of the Catholic Church... within himself, without breaking with anybody... um... ... this... this became a sort of guideline for the whole community also, to say... um, we are from different backgrounds and origins, and we understand that the church is one, in the, in the... ... in the intention of God. And that we can live in this communion, and find ways how this is possible, without... repeating the... the... ... this competition, who is wrong and who is right? and should everybody move there or move here?... um... ... yeah, and that is what I understood also, to be ... ... to be at the, at the... sort of the fundament of, of the practice and life here, also concerning the Eucharist.462 The will to remain faithful to his church of origin is expressed most vividly in the interviews with Brother BE. Raised in the Reformed Church of Switzerland, he searched for a way to live his monastic vocation. His attitude towards his own background may be quite representative for Reformed identity: he never felt particularly proud of being Reformed. At the same time, 461 TB-1,4d. 462 TB-1,4d.
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