The Chartres Labyrinth and Mary (10) The Life of Christ Window

Acting on wisdom that arrives from God takes courage, grit, and trust. Joseph inspires me to let the journey of life unfold, no matter where it seems to be heading.

My prayer

Sender of Messages, may I receive what You give and trust enough to act accordingly.

Biblical touchstone

When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. Matthew 2:19-22 (NRSV)

Invitation to prayer

Look carefully at Joseph’s face. What part of your journey does it bring to mind and heart? What prayers are emerging in your heart, mind, body, and imagination? Pray them now.

Photo and placement of this image in relationship to the labyrinth

The return from Egypt with Jesus sitting on Mary’s lap and Joseph leading their donkey. The image is the left panel of the sixth row (from the bottom, counting up) of the Life of Christ window. This twelfth century stained glass window is in the center of the west wall, directly under the rose of the Chartres Cathedral in France. This image is visible from all those places in the labyrinth where the walker is facing west. As one leaves the center the labyrinth, and on all the straight sections of the pathway as one returns to the threshold, the window and Mary are fully visible.