The Church of Mary Magdalene: The Sacred Feminine and the Treasure of Rennes-Le-Chateau

(Paperback)

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The small church of Rennes-le-Chateau, 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-Chateau welcomed a new priest, Abbe Sauniere, for its church dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene. Abbe Sauniere died in 1917, leaving an indelible imprint on this village both because of his unusual behaviour and the very strange restoration work he ordered for the church. It is thought that he discovered something during the renovation that brought him to the attention of the power brokers of the 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 bought out of Jerusalem by the Templars, who had a strong presence in the area and the missing Cathar treasure, spirited out of Montsegur mere days before the fall of the fortress. Yet even more remarkable and compelling is this church's ambiguous portrayal of Mary Magdalene.

Reviews

". . .combines philosophy, research, vivid drama, history lessons, and a murder mystery....may shake the foundations of Christianity. . . .The book will appeal to spiritual seekers, as well as [those] interested in conspiracy theories." * Jackie Olsen, New Age Retailer, New Year 2005 *
"This is a great read, a well written story, and an insightful view into the Rennes-le-Chateau tale. . . .uncovers the key to the suppressed role of Mary Magdelene in Christian history." * Robert Burns, New Dawn, Nov-Dec 2004 *
". . . an astute, scholarly, investigative book . . ." * Leo Vincent Kriz, Library Journal, Oct 2004 *
"Markale, a historian who was a specialist in Celtic studies at the Sorbonne, combines his extensive knowledge of the Rennes region with a storyteller's flair to produce a book that is as entertaining as it is informative." * Janet Brennan, Fate, Apr 2005 *
". . .the kind of writing that makes the reader want to pull an armchair up to the fireplace, pour a glass of sherry, and settle in for a good yarn." * Janet Brennan, Fate, Apr 2005 *

Author Bio

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 Montsgur and the Mystery of the Cathars, The Templar Treasure at Gisors, The Druids, The Celts, and Women of the Celts.