Montsegur, France, 1244
The Mother continued, “Now that we’ve covered what happened to the sacred book of the Magdalene, let us move forward four years to the siege and massacre at Montsegur. A nine month long ordeal, with a very unhappy ending. This is how it all began.”
“Most sources claim a different reason for the siege of Montsegur. Now I am going to tell my lovely audience the real purpose for the massacre which happened at Montsegur in 1244.”
The Mother smiled at the thought of the five priestess, and resumed her teaching, “The reason that Rome decided to put an end to Montsegur, which had been the main holdout for the Cathars, was because they knew that the priestesses had something very valuable in their possession. An item that could unhinge the entire Catholic faith.”
“Once Guhibert told the five priestesses, he passed on to this world one month later. His job finished in that world. He had preserved the grail, keeping it a secret. The last person on earth to have witnessed the treasure of the Visigoths, and the tombs of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Ever since that day when Charles had shown Guhibert the grail, no one else has come close to witnessing either. Both being heavily guarded by the Father’s Seraphim. Oh, a few have been hot on the trail of the treasure, but never really coming close to it. Only speculations, and theories. Nothing concrete. And every time someone did get close, an accident would happen. Because, as the legend goes, ‘only the pure at heart can see the grail.”
“Meanwhile, once the five priests had heard the story of the Holy Grail, their lives were shaken. They never knew of a sacred book begun by Mary Magdalene. Nor of any other part of the story related to them by Guhibert. Nothing of the tombs, the Order of Zion, or anything that resembled so fantastical a story.
“They all met in secret a month later. At the cave of the Cathars. A secret place where many Cathars had met in prayer during this lengthy genocide committed against their people. A place unknown to the invading army of the Pope, and the King of France.
“In this cave the priestesses decided that they needed to translate, and read the holy book. Since none of them knew any Aramaic, they went to the new bishop of the Cathars, Bertrand Marty. The man who took over Guhibert’s duties after the former had expired from that world. Bertrand gladly accepted the role of translator. But as he was doing so, his mind was also blown as to the contents of the sacred book. He couldn’t believe what he was reading. Jesus married to Mary Magdalene. Three children from the pair. A holy sacred bloodline that had been tracked for hundreds of years. The secret teachings of Jesus. And many more mysteries contained within the pages of this sacred bible. He had always been told of this family, but here was proof! He couldn’t believe his eyes!
“Bertrand performed his job of translation for the priestesses, who learned every word of this mystery book of the ages. They absorbed the contents, and taught them to the other Cathars. Thus expanding their knowledge tenfold. But the priestesses never revealed to the others that they were in possession of a holy book. One begun by Mary Magdalene. They only relayed the contents of it. The only person they told was Bertrand. Who translated its contents, and also made his own copy of it.
“With one exception.”
The Mother looked to the image of Esclarmonde de Pereille. She shook her head back and forth, smiled, and then spoke, “The woman whom Guhibert handed the book to, Esclarmonde. She had a husband named Raymond. She loved and trusted him very much. Too much in fact. To the point where she told Raymond about the secret book given to her. And once it was translated, the contents that lie within those pages. This was a monumental mistake made by Esclarmonde.”
“Not long after the secret was told to Raymond. He did what many do when they harbor a secret which has huge consequences. He told someone else. Someone whom was affiliated with the King of France. Who then informed the King of what they had heard. News of the book then traveled from the King of France to Rome, and to the ears of the Pope. When he heard of the secret, he sent word back to the King of France. They were to combine their forces, travel to Montsegur, and lay siege to that so called Impregnable castle. With the sole intention of retrieving the book which contained the secrets of Mary Magdalene. And her true identity.
“When Rome heard of this secret ancient book, they knew they had a very large problem. There was evidence in southern France of the true identity of Mary Magdalene as being the wife of Jesus of Nazareth, a man whom Rome considered to be a virgin, and a God.”
The Mother pressed onward, “Rome had known the truth all along. Buried deep within its structures were the archives of the Holy See. And within those archives were scrolls of many lost gospels. Scrolls which had been confiscated from the Gnostics hundreds of years prior. Some of them stating that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were man and wife. With three children. The scrolls evened named the children as Joseph, and the twins Judah, and Sarah.”
“Yet Rome had long believed that they had retrieved all the evidence which stated that their lord Jesus had a family. Nothing had been reported of any scrolls to the contrary since the 4th century. They had believed that all evidence had been swept under the rug, so to speak.
“And now a new rumor comes along stating there was an ancient book begun by Mary Magdalene herself, stating the ‘true’ story of Jesus Christ. In Rome’s eyes, this would not do. Not do at all. They couldn’t afford information like this getting out to the public. Especially since they put so much time and effort into covering these revelations up.”
“So the forces arrayed against the Cathars numbered ten thousand. They marched to Montsegur, and surrounded three quarters of the mountain which the castle sat upon. They didn’t have the forces, nor the need to surround the other quarter of the mountain. It was a steep cliff. While the other three quarters were hillsides.
“After nine months, the siege ended. The Cathars had surrendered. Many were allowed their freedom. Those whom denied the Cathar faith were allowed to go without any ramifications set against them. The others, more than 200 of them, were thrown into a mass bonfire, and burnt alive, en masse. A scene in which southern France will never forget. Cathar priests and priestesses, dragged down the mountain, and thrown into the flames.”
The Mother wiped away a tear, and continued, “224 souls burnt in a mass fire for their beliefs. Such was the punishment of the Roman church toward the truth. To cover up their wrongdoings, they committed a mass genocide against the followers of Mary Magdalene.”
“This is the short version of what happened at Montsegur, and it is all that you need to know. There are many more stories to this tragedy, but in reference to the grail, it is all that is needed. Save for the story of four people scaling down the cliff face on the far side of the mountain, with the ancient book in their possession. This happened the night before the rest of the Cathars surrendered. They needed the book to perform a ritual before they left. So they had to wait until the last possible moment before they could slip away into the night.
“One of the four souls who risked his life to save the book was Philip. By now an ancient priest of the Cathar faith. He, and three others were guided with ropes to escape the oncoming holocaust that awaited the rest at Montsegur. The ancient book in hand, he made it to the safety of the Cathar cave where they would hold their sacred meetings.
“Once in the cave, Philip had a rock cut out of the walls. He placed the book, with the key to the treasures and the tombs inside the walls of this cave. He replaced the rock, with the book behind it. Thus hiding the book for centuries. The book remains inside this cave to this present day. Guarded by Seraphim. The key was sealed inside the back jacket of the book. For Guhibert had given Philip the key which unlocked the door to the treasures, and the room to the tombs. Philip had no idea what they key was for. Only that Guhibert had told him that it was very important that he kept it for safe keeping. That it would be needed far into the future. Philip, not knowing the reason for the key, just acted on faith. Philip sewn the key inside the book while he was at Montsegur. The night before their flight to safety.”
“Many down through the centuries have speculated about a secret, hidden, mystery book of love. One which was located somewhere in southern France. Now you know where it lies. Waiting to be discovered by whom the Father chooses. My guess is that it will be found by the soul of Amos.”
He chuckled, and said, “Now what would ever give you that idea?”
She laughed and answered, “If you are to remain consistent, then he would be your logical choice.”
“Mind if I take over for a bit?” He asked her.
“Not at all, my sweet,” she answered him.
“First, we need to take a short recess. Everyone muster back here in three hours,” he said.