Brother Roger\u2019s life ended tragically ten years ago when he was stabbed during a worship service by a young woman who was mentally ill. I was convinced this violent incident would change the character of Taiz\u00c3\u00a9, that the brothers would put up bulletproof glass between themselves and the visitors or that people would have to run their bags through x-ray machines upon arrival.<\/p>\n
But this was not the case. The community of brothers continued to welcome pilgrims with openness and care.<\/p>\n
In a world that is hyper-militarized, the brothers modeled a different response \u201d\u201c one of trust, prayerfulness and compassion in a desperately wounded world. Taiz\u00c3\u00a9 continues to organize what is called a \u201cPilgrimage of Trust\u201d\u009d in different cities around the world each year where thousands of pilgrims are welcomed into people\u2019s homes and churches.<\/p>\n
Why is this place so special? Why does it continue to attract so many pilgrims? I believe Taiz\u00c3\u00a9 is what the Celts referred to as a \u201cthin place\u201d\u009d where the veil between this reality and God is permeable.<\/p>\n