A Humble Man

Last Tuesday, August 16, 2005, the world lost a man that the Archbishop of Canterbury called "one of the best loved religious leaders of our time," and of whom President Chirac said was "one of the most remarkable servants of the values of respect and tolerance."

The man they're talking about was Brother Roger Schutz, the 90-year-old founder of Taizé. He was stabbed by a deranged woman in front of 2500 young people attending the daily evening service at his community in the south of Burgundy, France.

Even though he was awarded a Templeton Prize and a UNESCO prize for peace education and wrote many books, Brother Roger always kept a low profile.

While the likes of Madonna, Brittany Spears and J Lo go around grabbing all the unnecessary and insignificant attention, great people such as Brother Roger go about doing the Lord's work with very little fanfare.

Brother Roger and the more than 100 brothers who have joined his ecumenical Christian community since 1940 have devoted their lives to working for peace, reconciliation and Christian unity. During World War II they harbored Jewish refugees, just one of many ways they have actively expressed their love for the downtrodden. The brothers all work for a living, and do not accept donations.

Brother Roger attended and received Communion at Pope John Paul's funeral. He is now on his way to join Pope John Paul to rest in eternal peace.