Suffering is interwoven with life. Even God suffers. By remaining present to the pain that others’ experience, God can use me to love.
My prayer
May I never flee the pain that threatens to make life feel unbearable. May I stay close to those I love as they suffer. May they experience Your love through mine.
Biblical touchstone
…standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. John 19:25 (NRSV)
Invitation to prayer
Who in your life is suffering? (It might be you.) As you consider what makes it hard to witness the pain s/he is experiencing, 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 crucifixion of Jesus with Mary below him on his right and John below him on his left. The image is in the heart of the Passion and Resurrection of Christ window. It is found in the fourth row from the bottom on the left. This twelfth century stained glass window is on the south side (left as you face it from the inside) of the west wall 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.
Related Posts: Other Images of Mary Visible from the Labyrinth in the Chartres Cathedral
To the east of the labyrinth:
The apsidal image of Mary as a throne for Jesus who is sitting on her lap blessing on the top of the East central window (above the choir).
The Annunciation of Jesus’ birth to Mary in the East central window (above the choir).
The Visitation of Mary and her cousin Elizabeth in the East central window (above the choir).
To the west of the labyrinth:
Mary in the Tree of Jesse (Ancestors of Jesus). Twelfth century window (1140-1150) on the north side of the west wall.
The Annunciation in The Life of Christ Window. Twelfth century window (1145-1155), the central window on the west wall.
The Visitation of Mary and Elizabeth in the Life of Christ Window.
The Nativity: Mary, Jesus and Joseph in the Life of Christ Window.
The Kings Visit Jesus and Mary in the life of Christ Window.
The Flight Into Egypt: Mary, Jesus and Joseph in the Life of Christ Window
The Return from Egypt: The Holy Family in the Life of Christ Window
Jesus blessing while sitting on Mary’s Lap in the Life of Christ Window
Pray with Jill Geoffrion 
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