I was truly appalled that such violence should come into a place so completely dedicated to peace. According to the French press, the woman involved had a long history of mental instability. At the risk of sounding like a nut myself, it seems to me that the demons of madness are often drawn to very holy people to destroy them.

There was a very special tribute to him yesterday at the Welcoming Ceremony for World Youth Day. Apparently Brother Roger had a special invite from Pope Benedict. He shall be missed.

By no means as high profile as Taize, several years ago there was a shooting rampage at my alma mater - Conception Abbey. The assailant (quite likely a mentally disturbed man) entered the (empty) Abbey Basilica shortly after the monks had completed Lauds. He set a box down on the back pew, produced two firearms and proceeded to enter the cloister and headed down the corridor. In the end he killed two monks - both very holy men - and injured two others. Afterward, the poor soul took his own life while seated in the back pew of the Basilica (which has since been re-consecrated). To say the least I was shocked when this happened. Whether at Conception or Taize, such incidents speak to us about the reality of evil in the world.

May he rest in peace.