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by Jean Markale (Author)
An extensive examination of the religious anomalies and lost treasure of the Mary Magdalene Church in Rennes-le-Ch teau
- Looks at the connection between the Templars, Cathars, and other enigmatic groups in the history of this church and the surrounding area - Maintains that Mary Magdalene was the high priestess who anointed Jesus into his priesthood, in accordance with ancient religious tradition - Explores the role of the Sacred Feminine in early Christian Church history The small church of Rennes-le-Ch teau, in a remote village in southern France, may well hold the key to the proof of Mary Magdalene's marriage to Jesus and the bloodline they founded. In 1885 the village of Rennes-le-Ch teau welcomed a new priest, Abbe Sauni re, for its church dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene. Abbe Sauni re ordered very strange restoration work for the church, and it is thought that he discovered something during this renovation that brought him to the attention of the power brokers of that time and made him a very rich man. Possible identifications of his discovery range from the gold pillaged from Delphi in Roman times; the treasure brought out of Jerusalem by the Templars, who had a strong presence in this area; and the missing Cathar treasure, spirited out of Monts gur mere days before the fall of that fortress. Yet even more curious and compelling is this church's ambiguous portrayal of Mary Magdalene. Markale explains that the unusual depictions of Mary in the church hint at an even more archaic role performed by Mary that could shake the very foundations of the Church if it were fully understood: that of the high priestess who anoints the priest king into his spiritual duties.Back Jacket
RELIGION / HISTORY The Church of Mary Magdalene The small Church of Mary Magdalene in the remote village of Rennes-le-Chateau in southern France may well hold the key to the proof of Mary Magdalene's marriage to Jesus and the bloodline they founded. In 1885 the village of Rennes-le-Chateau welcomed a new priest, Abbe Sauniere. During his time there he ordered and oversaw a substantial--and expensive--restoration of the church. But where did this modest priest get the funds for this work? It is thought that he discovered something during the initial renovations that made him a very rich man and brought him to the attention of various power brokers of the time both from within the Church and from esoteric circles in Paris. Theories of what this discovery was have ranged from the gold pillaged from Delphi in Roman times and the treasure brought from Jerusalem by the Templars to the Cathar treasure said to have been spirited away from Montsegur days before that fortress fell. Even more curious and compelling, however, are the church renovations themselves and their ambiguous portrayal of Mary Magdalene. This depiction could shake the very foundations of the Church with its suggestion that Mary's role was that of the priestess who anoints the priest-king in preparation for his spiritual duties. Poet, philosopher, historian, and storyteller, JEAN MARKALE has spent a lifetime researching pre-Christian and medieval culture and spirituality. He is the author of more than forty books, including Montsegur and the Mystery of the Cathars, The Templar Treasure at Gisor, The Celts, and Women of the Celts. He was a specialist in Celtic studies at the Sorbonne and lives in the Brittany region of France.
Author Biography
Jean Markale (1928-2008), was a poet, philosopher, historian, and storyteller, who spent a lifetime researching pre-Christian and medieval culture and spirituality. He was a former specialist in Celtic studies at the Sorbonne and author of more than 40 books, including Montségur and the Mystery of the Cathars, The Templar Treasure at Gisors, The Druids, The Celts, and Women of the Celts.
