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.
Have not finished the book yet, but it's fascinating stuff for those who enjoyed "The DaVinci Code" and have an open, independently thinking mind. :)
Mary Magdalene influence on history of Christianity
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 20 years ago
THE CHURCH OF MARY MAGDALENE - The Sacred Feminine and the Treasure of Rennes-le-Chateau by Jean Markale. Inner Traditions, One Park St., Rochester, VT 05767; www.innertraditions.com; [email protected]. 311 pp. $18.95 trade paper, ISBN 0-89281-199-4. illustrations, footnotes, index. Markale considers that the mysterious Abbe Sauniere and the designs he sought for the Mary Magdalene Church in a remote area of southern France associated with the Cathar heretics and other controversial Catholic groups such as the Templars are symbolic of the belief that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married. The Abbe was active in this area in the late 1800s. He was himself a controversial figure who antagonized French politicians while also currying favor with local wealthy patrons who helped him with his project. The Abbe's project also calls into question the place of Jesus's mother Mary in the foundation of the Catholic Church and Christianity. Markale does much guesswork based on bringing together clues scattered widely over time and place to shed light on and raise both theological and historical questions about the origins and shaping of Christianity. He's the author of previous books on similar subjects and ancient Celtic culture.
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