The Thicket – Haiku 2025; #ThursdayDoors

Posted bySuzette BenjaminPosted inPoetryTags:
St. Eustace, Church, Paris France, South Facade. Licensed image credit: © Frederic Araujo | Dreamstime

path through the thicket

the hunter becomes a saint

a door becomes clear

*

Situated at the entrance to what was once the largest fresh food market in France (circa 17th century) is Saint Eustache Church in Paris’ first arrondissement, Les Halles quarter. Its construction in a fusion of architectural styles, dates from 1532 to 1637.

South Entrance: Saint Eustache Church, Paris France. Licensed Image credit: © Ixuskmitl | Dreamstime

Trivia #1 – *The story of the male red deer (the male red deer is also called a stag.)

And so, as the story goes…

One day, back in the second century AD, a Roman general named Placidus was out hunting with his team leaders.

Unexpectedly, General Placidus’ party of team leaders caught sight of a herd of deer to which they gave chase leaving General Placidus behind.

But then…

… General Placidus caught, out of the corner of his eye, movement. A male red deer had separated from the herd his men were chasing.

Now, this particular male red deer seemed to General Placidus quite larger than normal, according to his account and that of the legend.

And then….

To his surprise the male red deer suddenly leaped into a heavy thicket, at which General Placidus pursued the male red deer…

Only to discover soon thereafter that the male red deer inexplicably stopped running and stood still in front of him.

Then, according to General Placidus’ report and legends which persist to this day… suddenly a cross appeared/formed between the male red deer’s antlers.

General Placidus reported that the image of Jesus on the cross between the male red deer’s antlers spoke to him.

General Placidus immediately left his hunting endeavors, and that night, he and his wife, Theopista, at midnight sought out a priest to baptize them into the Christian faith.

General Placidus chose a new name — Eustace at his Christian baptism. He was later venerated as Saint Eustace.

Trivia #2:

The featured door is the entrance to the south facade, St. Eustache Church, a church named in honor of Saint Eustace.

In October 2016, Saint Eustache Church’s south facade’s doors (the featured doors) were remodeled to include door protector panels made out of — but I am not sure — glass or plexiglass.

In addition during that same remodeling, the South entrance wooden door valves (not shown) behind the protector panels were mechanized to allow persons with reduced mobility to more easily access the Nelson Mandela Garden adjacent to the South facade entrance (An image is below).

Additional Facts:

Famous for its 19th century 8000-pipe organ eclipsed only by one other pipe-organ in Paris; the Grand organ of Notre Dame de Paris, St. Eustache Church is renown for its spectacular acoustics and legendary orchestral concerts.

View from The Nelson Mandela Garden, St. Eustache Church South Facade, Paris France. Licensed image credit: © Sgoodwin4813 | Dreamstime

And for more #ThursdayDoors visit Dan Antion at No Facilities.

Ritva Photography

Published by Suzette Benjamin

Positive thinker, inspirational, writer, faith

72 thoughts on “The Thicket – Haiku 2025; #ThursdayDoors”

    1. You are most welcome Joanna! I am glad you found bits of interest in this share. Happy Thursday bliss. Grace and peace be with you! Thank you for your support always.

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  3. Another great Thursday Doors post and haiku. I find the doors a little disappointing, and feel that they might have designed something a little less modern and functional

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    1. Yes! I agree Stephen. It seems a common thread of commentary on the otherwise brilliant lavishness of this church that folks have through the centuries commented on the fushion of modern (in whatever century) elements into the church’s overall asethetic. Good point about the doors’ modern look and well said. Thank You!

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  10. They say that the Church of Saint-Eustache in Paris is one of the most fascinating churches in the city, as it straddles the end of the Gothic period and the dawn of the Renaissance—as you so beautifully captured in your summary notes – “Its construction, spanning from 1532 to 1637, reflects a remarkable fusion of architectural styles” Many visitors remark that it simply feels different from most other churches in Paris.

    The legend of General Placidus is also very interesting. Gleaned from your summary notes, a radiant cross is said to have appeared between the antlers of a red deer he was hunting—a moment so awe-inspiring that it led to his immediate conversion to Christianity. After his death, he was venerated as Saint Eustace. His story mirrors the dramatic transformation of the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus—both men irrevocably changed by a divine encounter.

    I was also moved to learn that there is a garden nearby named after our late President, Nelson Mandela. How thoughtful that it includes mechanized panels for those with mobility challenges—what a beautiful gesture of inclusion and dignity.

    Your haiku, “the hunter becomes a saint,” so poignantly captures the essence of transformation. It brought my thoughts back to Paul once more, considering his past and the grace that turned him into a pillar of faith.

    And how fitting, too, that this majestic cathedral offered a door to reflection on the feast day of St. Thomas—a day for doubt, belief, and the meeting place between the seen and unseen.

    Wishing you a wonderful Thursday.

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    1. So amazing how you sense the hints in between the lines of this post….towards another story, theme, or person.

      I am always floored by your accuracy! Yes you are so right! The thought of the Apostle Paul’s journey from his former days to his Damascus Road conversion crossed my mind several times while writing this post and learning about St. Eustace’s experience.

      And the powerful door imagery lent to the visitor by its see-through glass like door into the interior of St. Eustache church and then…the view from the other side (inside the church nave) also a see- through viewoutside to the Nelson Mandela Garden, what a grand and thoughtful statement this church’s builders/architects have made with just one of its doorways.

      Thank you for the reminder of the feast day of St. Thomas; I had forgotten it is today…a meeting place indeed where the unseen doing its good and perfect work in the heart by faith.

      Thank you for your generous as always support and best wishes.
      And a wonderful shiningy and blissful Thursday to you.

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      1. I felt so enthralled engaging with your Thursday Cathedral Doors blog theme.
        And yes—my thoughts immediately turned to Paul on the road to Damascus and I’m elated that the image of him crossed your mind whilst writing your brilliant haiku.

        The doorway to the Nelson Mandela Garden is both beautiful and deeply thoughtful. Thank you for featuring this cathedral today. There is so much to learn from the ways in which the world continues to venerate Nelson Mandela. That his name was so freely given to the garden feels, in a way, almost saintly.

        May the Lord heal us of every wound of doubt and unbelief.
        You are most welcome. And, you have a blissful Thursday too.

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      2. I agree about the respect and honor that Nelson Mandela’s legacy left to us…’saintly’ is a perfect descriptor, I feel too.
        Amen to your prayer for healing from unbelief and like Thomas for the courage to acknowledge its influence on belief.!

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  14. Marvellous doorway and overall architecture, Suzette! Love your haiku, and the backstories are simply awesome. Thank you for sharing.

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  17. Do these doors incorporate crosses in their clear see-through design? I’d like to think so because of the back story of the red stag. With that stretched thought in mind, I’m giving the window-like design a big tick, despite a usual preference for a more traditional door.
    Thank you for yet another enlightening and delightful Doors haibun.
    Blessings and kind regards,
    DD

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    1. I would like to think that the pattern/ frame holding the panes in the door do look cross-like, I do not know what the intent was for sure in the design. But I like your thought and the connection to the story of Saint Eustace’s vision of the cross and the stag’s antlers. Good point. Thank you DD. I am glad the share was of interest. Much blessings to you.

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  18. The building looks like a ship, with the entrance tower being the helm, the circle window, the ship’s wheel. It’s quite majestic. And the legend is lovely. (K)

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    1. Oh, great thought Kerfe…like a ship I had not thought of that. So amazing how much deliberate symbolism is engineered into these ancient churches…way back before they had computers and related instruments with which to render their visions into reality. Thanks again for your insight Kerfe. Have a wonderful holiday weekend. Cheers.

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    1. Yes, they did a great job to capture as much light into the doorway. And yes it would be a lovely garden to visit, seems tranquil and contemplative, I would to visit there one day. Thank you.

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  22. Fascinating fact about the organ! My father is an organist so it’s good to know 😊 I have a cherished memory of being with my parents in Paris once in the 1990s and searching around for concerts and recitals… we attended an organ recital in Notre Dame. Thanks for allowing me to reminisce ❤️

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  24. I must say that is a unique conversion story! But it’s the part about the 8000 pipes that made me gasp! That must be an incredible sound! The view of the church from the Mandela garden gives a good sense of its immensity. I am imagining it filled with music. Wow.

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    1. I agree Maureen, unique indeed…almost biblical one could say of his conversion. It must be a spectacular place to listen to organ music. That is a lot of pipes but if you can believe, it that is not the largest church organ. Amazing.
      Thank you for your always generous support and comments. Blessings to you.

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