As one approaches the city of Chartres in France, you see beautiful spires arising among the surrounding fields. It is the marvelous Cathedral, dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. When this awe inspiring Cathedral was rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1194, a curious pattern was built into the floor of the nave that leads from the western wall toward the high altar. The path of blue and white stones stretches nearly 42 feet across. The pattern appears to be maze, but one quickly sees that it is not a path with many choices, but one path that cuts back and forth. It is the Chartres Labyrinth.

Unlike many European churches, Chartres contains no tombs. The focus is on living the Christian life and making our pilgrimage to the New Jerusalem with the loving support of the Mother of God. The labyrinth evolved as a result of the great medieval devotion of making a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to Jerusalem. This involved many years, considerable energy and expense. Due to the wars in the Holy Land, the journey had become dangerous and impossible for most of the Faithful. The labyrinth became a substitute for the arduous pilgrimage and was included in the floor plan of a number of local cathedrals.

Praying the Labyrinth
After looking at the labyrinth pattern and traveling its path, one can appreciate how it is a metaphor for a Christian moving through the twists and turns of life. At one moment, it appears that you are nearing the center. A moment later, you find yourself on its most outer edge. Sometimes you move quickly. Other times, you travel very slowly. And there are times when you might meet someone else on the way. Described as a walking meditation, the labyrinth is similar to making the Stations of the Cross – you are moving and your are praying.

There are three basic movements of the labyrinth that find their origins in the Christian mystical tradition: purgation (inward path), illumination (center), and union (outward return).

The First Movement is the path from the outside toward the center. This walking meditation has been described as the via negative or “the path of purgation.” Here pilgrims seek to quiet their mind, soul, heart and body through the balancing motion of the clockwise/counter-clockwise walk. They seek Christ’s grace to let go, and be cleansed from their negative experiences of life through the mercy of Christ. Often times, it is recommended that the pilgrim prays Psalm 51 as path is followed to the center of the labyrinth.

The Second Movement is the respite of the center, the shape of which resembles six petals of a rose and represents the six days of creation which proceeded God’s Sabbath rest. This movement is called via illuminative. After completing the previous winding path of cleansing and purgation, we have a chance to be illuminated by the light of the Risen Christ, so visible at Marygrove in the Sacred Heart Statue that towers above the labyrinth. The center is a place where we may serenely pray to God. It is a center for prayer, reflection and clear vision.

The Third and Culminating Movement is the return to the community in union with God. Jesus becomes a companion who helps us find our way to more generously serve our neighbor and the world. Known as the via positive, this phase helps us discover a replenished spirit of giving and receiving.

The human spirit longs to find God. The patterned walk of the labyrinth reminds us of our vocation to be seekers. Life is not a maze to entrap us. We are not to be tricked into dead-ends or spun around in cul-de-sacs that lead nowhere. Instead, the Christian life is like the labyrinth. . . a liberating and enlightening path of discovery through introspection and prayer, all under the tender gaze of the Sacred Heart. This journey of search and trust bids us to move outward beyond ourselves, toward responsible social action in union with the Holy Spirit.