Maggie's Farm

Taize

I see the Farmer mentioned heading off to Taize, which I have visited but I never could find words adequate to describe the experience. (I haven't met The Farmer, but I cannot picture him at Taize.) What I can recommend is their music. Here's one review from Amazon from a Mr. A. Hogan, an articulate fellow from Brooklyn:

Hyperbole notwithstanding, this is simply the purest prayer available in recording in the Western tradition (outside of Gregorian or Ambrosian Chant and Orthodox Chant). Taize, dubbed by JOHN XXIII (of blessed memory) as "that little springtime" has been re-connecting young people for 50 years to the sacred simplicity of early Christianity with its emphasis on prayer, hospitality and commonality. These songs here, very simple phrases repeated over and again, are meditative and achingly beautiful. From the opening BLESS THE LORD to the final stirring notes of cantante domino, this is deeply moving and almost pure in its essence. If music can improve a person, this will. Humbling.

Indeed, as Instapundit would say.