In the Company of Saints
St. Jeoffry: "He Purrs in Thankfulness," Patron of Cats and Cat-Lovers, Handmade Medal on Chain
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This is a handmade medal on a chain (meant to be given to cat-lovers) depicting one of the deepest relations between a cat and human I know of: that between the poet Christopher Smart and his cat, Jeoffry. The two were confined together for years, and Smart's long poem "Jubilate Agno" contains a beautiful, extended section about Jeoffry. The medals are made of lead-free pewter and have designs on both sides (see last 4 photos for part of the process). The pendant comes on either an 18-inch or 24-inch chain. Each piece comes in a felt jewelry pouch with a history card that states:
"The English poet Christopher Smart (1722–1771) was confined for years (possibly for debt, possibly for a touch of 'lunacy') with one companion: a cat he named Jeoffry. One of Smart’s finest poems, 'Jubilate Agno,' contains a long, loving section on Jeoffry. The poem describes their daily rituals: their praying/purring together; Jeoffry’s 'waggery'; their 'work' (writing, frolicking); the ways in which Jeoffry helped Smart through a dark time. Some random lines about Jeoffry: 'For at the first glance of the glory of God in the East he worships in his way.... For every house is incomplete without him and a blessing is lacking in the spirit. For he can spraggle upon waggle at the word of command. For I perceived God's light about him both wax and fire. For he purrs in thankfulness, when God tells him he's a good Cat....' This medal, handmade at In the Company of Saints, depicts Jeoffry and the poet gazing out the window of their confinement at a sunrise ('the first glance of the glory of God...'), a symbol of hope and rejuvenation, the poet petting Jeoffry, the two helping each other, 'praying' together, to the sound of a large purr sent up in thanks for their being together. Jeoffry was never canonized but he performed the same acts that got many a human saint canonized: he prayed (purred) with one who was downcast; and he cheered and gave hope to one who’d been abandoned. The back of the medal has the words, 'He purrs in thankfulness.' For all this, Jeoffry is an apt patron of cats and cat-lovers."
Dimensions of medal: 1.25 (h) x .9 (w) inches
"The English poet Christopher Smart (1722–1771) was confined for years (possibly for debt, possibly for a touch of 'lunacy') with one companion: a cat he named Jeoffry. One of Smart’s finest poems, 'Jubilate Agno,' contains a long, loving section on Jeoffry. The poem describes their daily rituals: their praying/purring together; Jeoffry’s 'waggery'; their 'work' (writing, frolicking); the ways in which Jeoffry helped Smart through a dark time. Some random lines about Jeoffry: 'For at the first glance of the glory of God in the East he worships in his way.... For every house is incomplete without him and a blessing is lacking in the spirit. For he can spraggle upon waggle at the word of command. For I perceived God's light about him both wax and fire. For he purrs in thankfulness, when God tells him he's a good Cat....' This medal, handmade at In the Company of Saints, depicts Jeoffry and the poet gazing out the window of their confinement at a sunrise ('the first glance of the glory of God...'), a symbol of hope and rejuvenation, the poet petting Jeoffry, the two helping each other, 'praying' together, to the sound of a large purr sent up in thanks for their being together. Jeoffry was never canonized but he performed the same acts that got many a human saint canonized: he prayed (purred) with one who was downcast; and he cheered and gave hope to one who’d been abandoned. The back of the medal has the words, 'He purrs in thankfulness.' For all this, Jeoffry is an apt patron of cats and cat-lovers."
Dimensions of medal: 1.25 (h) x .9 (w) inches
