168 PART TWO: AN EMPIRICAL ACCOUNT interdependent relationship. TA refers to this experience as coherent and consistent, terms that can easily be related to TC’s notions of authenticity and the abundance model and to what TB says about organic growth. In TA’s understanding, this is precisely what is needed in order to complement consensus ecumenism and to enable it to become fruitful. Therefore, he considers sharing the Eucharist to be essential for the future of ecumenism: I think it is the only way for ecumenism… um… … um, because we, each other, because I witness every day here in the community that, as soon~, if we would not live together, if we would not pray together, then… then all those theological discussions would be pointless, because, in the end, we wouldn’t be able to understand each other….401 One aspect of organic growth that surfaces in the interviews is the notion of trust. TB insisted that the community’s process is not mechanical: the outcome of the process cannot be foreseen or predicted. This, indeed, requires trust. TA rightfully indicated that the Eucharist is very important for the Roman Catholic Church. To offer Eucharistic hospitality, therefore, is also a matter of trust. The monastics speak extensively about trust: in the Eucharist, in each other, and in the guests that they welcome. The next section explores this essential requirement. 5.4 TRUST Trust in God and in the church The monastics often refer to trust as an attitude underpinning their life and practice. The brothers of Taizé speak about it more explicitly, probably because it is a core principle in the writings of Brother Roger. It can be traced in the Bose interviews as well. The monastics speak of trust in God, in the Eucharist, in the church, in their communities, and in the guests they receive. The interviews contain only few explicit references to God. Still, trust in God seems to underpin all other expressions of trust. Several times, trust is expressed in general terms. Brother TB, for example, points out that Brother Alois, the current prior of Taizé, often refers to the community’s surrender to God. This trust prevents the community frommaking overly solid plans for the future: 401 TA-1,42.
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