Stations of the Cross with Taize chants

During the weeks of Lent, I had the pleasure of participating in a “Stations of the Cross with Taize chants” service.   I’ve never really been drawn to this Catholic tradition but I was very surprised how the music drew me into the prayer.  Much of the impact this service had on me was due to the thorough planning of the service by the director of liturgy at the church. 

There was a different person leading the service every week (a priest did it one week!) and they all spoke beautifully.  There was a script that was easy to follow which allowed the music director to meld the Taize chants beautifully with the reading of the stations.

The Taize music was sung between the procession to the various stations and was also used at the end of the service for the veneration of the cross.  There were six to eight choir members singing the SATB parts, a keyboard player, flute, violin and myself on classical guitar and bass. 

One other success to this service was the use of silence!  It is amazing to me how silence, when used with care and patience, can lead us to hear God.

As I walked into the church for the final service of Lent, there were some choir members (from different Catholic churches in the area by the way) rehearsing with the keyboard player.  The chant was absolutely breathtaking.  I just wish I could have heard all of us from the back of the church during the service.

I’ve listed the music in the graphic below.  All of it is available through GIA Publications, Inc. and all except for “By Your Cross”, by Suzanne Toolan, was written by the brothers in the Taize community.