Rev. Arthur Paul Boers is a priest in the Anglican Church of Canada and a Benedictine oblate. He has pastored in urban, suburban, rural, and inner city settings in Ontario and the Midwest and has taught at several seminaries. He is the author of several books including most recently Servants and Fools: A Biblical Theology of Leadership (2015) and Shattered: A Son Picks Up the Pieces of His Father's Rage (2023).
Last Updated: September 11, 2025
"Their life's not natural!" a relative exclaimed when the subject of monks came up. Those few words made it clear that the monks' lifestyle had nothing to teach us.
Yet along the way, natural or not, I began visiting monasteries. After twenty years, I have seen many. They are wonderful places to experience hospitality, to go on retreat, and to find inspiration to pray. Gradually, 1 also grew to appreciate monastic worship.
Brother Émile (last names are not used in Taizé) is a French Canadian from northern Ontario. We met under an awning in the garden at Taizé during a hot July day. Little groups clustered nearby. In a place that avoids titles and roles, Brother Émile does a number of things, including Bible studies with the young adults who come to Taizé for a week and with the international team of volunteers that stay for a year.
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