Dear readers, after a long hiatus after my fall over the cliff in Iceland I am ready to begin sharing the fruit of my healing sabbatical. Much has happened in our lives and world.
My brain will never be the same as it was, but I’m continuing to learn to accept what was lost and to do my best to help my brain create new neuropathways.

My mother’s relatively short cancer journey and eventual death in January 2019 have been very significant for me. In an attempt to allow grief to teach me, I started a personal daily practice of working with and creating prayer responses to the images of death in the Chartres Cathedral.

These medieval images are incredibly beautiful and evocative.

Pondering death can seem scary, yet sages in many traditions have encouraged followers to use meditation on our fatal fragility as a way of becoming more engaged in life. St. Benedict wrote in his rule, “Day by day remind yourself that you are going to die.” (4:47)

It is my hope and prayer that the images relating to death from the Chartres Cathedral, which no one can currently visit, will open up new paths of life for you.

My prayer:
God, may my words and images be used to bring perspective, faith, comfort, hope, and life.
Scriptural touchstone:
…you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Genesis 3:19c
Invitation to pray:
Begin a conversation with God using, “Life, when I consider death…”
Thank you, Jill, for sharing your journey with me…sending you love and prayers to you and yours. Mimi
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Welcome back Jill!
I have missed your posts and am excited to share with you that I got to go on a pilgrimage to Chartres this past October…and thought of you so often while there.
It was a blessing to me that I had read your Visions of Mary book before going. Your book is so beautiful that I have gifted it to several of my friends.
I am sorry to hear of your mother’s passing.
God bless you and heal you,
Patty MacHalec
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Jill,
Welcome back. I am so sorry to hear of your mom’s passing. My mom passed away 2 months ago. Struggling daily with the heartache. There truly is nothing like a mother’s unconditional love. I wish you strength, peace and patience in your journey.
Pam
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So good to see you here, Jill. And good to know that you are holding vigil beloved Chartres. Be well and thank you for this latest contribution. Love, Judith
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It is so good to hear from you in this time really good
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Beautiful Jill! I’m glad to see you have started writing again. Your photography is beautiful as well. Love, Linda
On Mon, Mar 23, 2020 at 2:22 PM Pray with Jill Geoffrion wrote:
> Jill K H Geoffrion posted: “Dear readers, after a long hiatus after my > fall over the cliff in Iceland I am ready to begin sharing the fruit of my > healing sabbatical. Much has happened in our lives and world. My brain will > never be the same as it was, but I’m continuing to learn t” >
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Thank you for sharing your story. During these times so many people are struggling with anxiety, pain and fear of death. Your heart is full of love and compassion for us.
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