"A labyrinth is a unique pattern that dates back thousands of years, and has appeared in cultures throughout the world. The labyrinth-like drawings have been found on ancient coinage, at the mouths of sacred caves, and in temples and churches throughout the world. However, the labyrinth most familiar to us is the one which is embedded in the floor of the Catholic Cathedral of Chartres, France. This is the classical, eleven-circuit labyrinth, and it dates from the Middle Ages.

During the Middle Ages, Christians were encouraged to make a pilgrimage to the Holy City of Jerusalem at least once during their lifetime. However, because of the danger of the journey, especially during the time of the Crusades, the Church designated seven pilgrimage Cathedrals that might serve as "Jerusalem" for pilgrims. Labyrinths were located within each of these sites, and pilgrims could walk the labyrinthine path, arrive at the Center (called the "New Jerusalem"), and walk back out again in lieu of a lengthy pilgrimage to Jerusalem. "To walk the Labyrinth" meant to make a pilgrimage, to fulfill a sacred duty, to seek the face of God in the Holy City of Jerusalem.

Today, the tradition of walking the labyrinth continues. The labyrinth has become a metaphor for any sacred journey we might undertake. Any time we feel called to slow down... walk... reflect on the Divine in our lives... hear the still, small Voice that is so easily drowned out in the noise of everyday life, that's a good time to walk the labyrinth. The labyrinth has become a tool for walking prayer and meditations, as we open ourselves to the workings of the Holy One our lives. It becomes a way to discern where we are on our journey (our own "pilgrimage of Jerusalem"), and where we are being invited to go.And it's important to remember that the labyrinth is not a maze. It may look complicated, and it may look as though you could get lost walking in it. But - not unlike life's journey - it's simply one path. It may twist and turn, and you may think you are lost, but it is just one path. As long as you keep talking, in faith and in trust, you will get to the Center, no matter how far away that Center seems at times! "
(this statement can be found at - http://www.lessons4living.com/labyrinth.htm