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The Mystery of Berenger Saunière and the Legend of the Hidden Treasure of Rennes-le-Chateau
DISCLAIMER
The intention of this content is to expand awareness about certain places, myths and stories told at some point by humanity. Much of the information may not be scientifically supported or may contradict current theories. Knowledge, throughout history, is constantly updated, constructed or replaced when there is greater understanding. Therefore, we want to build a serious approach, within free thought, and in its use in a beneficial way for collective evolution. If you like this content, please consider to follow us on Instagram and Youtube for more.
INTRODUCTION
Hello Seekers! I've just returned from an incredible trip through Iberia and the Pyrenees in search of traces of the Templars' presence and the famous legend of the Holy Grail in Europe, but one place in particular caught my attention:
Rennes-le-Chateau.
Obviously, there is an immense amount of content about all the experiences I had there, but if you follow us, you will possibly see them all here. In this one, we will explore the mysteries of the small citadel of Rennes-le-Chateau and its relationships with the Templars and even with the legend of the Holy Grail.
Taking a shortcut, there is a rather famous story that in Rennes-le-Chateau a treasure of immeasurable value was found. Who found this incredible treasure was a man named Berenger Saunière, a humble representative of the church who was sent to the place with the mission of rebuilding an old chapel attributed to Saint Mary Magdalene.
The story is so famous that it gave rise to several bestsellers, including the famous “Da Vinci Code”. Of course, the story there is just a fiction, but it has gathered facts and names from the real story that we are going to tell here.
SAUNIÈRE'S JOURNEY
Saunière was an envoy of the Catholic Church of little means who was assigned to preach, care for and renovate the small church of St. Mary Magdalene. The province where the Chateau is located, is not just any place in history. In addition to having been the scene of the presence of the Celts for millennia, it was also, demonstrably, the ground of mysterious orders and Templar and Cathar missions.
If you don't know what that means, let's keep it simple: The Celts, Templars and Cathars were bearers of great knowledge and treasures not yet completely understood and revealed. For example, it is believed that the Visigoths who inhabited this region would have in their hands great treasures plundered directly from Jerusalem by Emperor Titus, when the Visigoths invaded and sacked Rome during the fall of the Roman Empire.
The treasures of Titus, plundered from Jerusalem (70 AD)
In addition, oral traditions tell that the Templars and Cathars were also defenders of an alleged treasure. This treasure, possibly the Holy Grail, was explored by us in another content that you can check out here.
Returning to Saunière, it is known that the priest, during a restoration work on the church, began to find some very old and mysterious clues left by the former builders of the place. Some even speculate that Saunière was sent by "unknown men" to Rennes-le-Chateau for this preconceived purpose.
Among the clues found by the priest are:
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A mysterious set of documents, hidden in a false bottom of a wooden baluster,
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A mysterious tombstone below the main altar, with a figure of the Knights Templar and one of Mary Magdalene,
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One or more crypts with as yet unknown relics.
SAUNIÈRE'S METEORIC RISE
Mysteriously, Saunière, after proceeding with the exploration and restoration work on the site, began to become incredibly rich, even with the large expenditures on the site. It is proven that Saunière received substantial donations from people linked to the nobility, from the faithful and through his brother, who was a kind of representative and financier for his work. But what is quite questionable is that the amount of money went far beyond simple donations.
Saunière began work on the construction of what is now the entire location of Villa Bethania, with a small castle with a beautiful garden, a tower dedicated to Mary Magdalene, and the complete restoration of the church. Saunière became the owner of works of art and financier of artists who covered the place with hundreds of mysterious figures and drawings.
From this undertaking, rumors began to emerge that Saunière had unearthed a treasure. How could a simple man get so much money in such a short time? The meteoric rise began to arouse suspicion not only among the local population, who said the priest was violating tombs in a cemetery within Church property, but among the clergy close to Saunière.
THE MYSTERIOUS CONNECTIONS AND SYMBOLISMS OF RENNES-LE-CHATEAU
Rennes-le-Chateau's history gets especially weird once you start looking into the details. In addition to all the mystery already proven by Saunière's sudden enrichment and the connection of the place with mystical orders and relic bearers, the Father made a point of leaving many puzzles and mysteries in the way of its construction and restoration.
Saunière seems to have done this to somehow warn someone or a specific group about his findings. We remind newcomers here that allegory and symbolism are an especially useful way of getting a message across to those who matter, dodging the most superficial looks and avoiding the persecution that was very common at the time. Let's look at some of that symbolism here:
The Saints inside the Church of Madalena
Saunière strangely arranged the saints within the Church of Magdalene following a somewhat original sequence. The initials of each one form the word GRAAL, (Saint Germain, Saint Roch, Saint Anthony of Egypt, Saint Anthony of Padua and Saint Luke), with Maria Madalena in the middle. Was it just a coincidence, or a message for the most attentive?
The Templar Tombstone
The Templar Tombstone found by Saunière under the altar is quite curious, too. On one side, a rather faint figure shows what appears to be a veiled woman, mounted on a mule, carrying an object. Some speculate that she is a newborn, others a relic. On the other side, the figure appears clearer, showing two men mounted on a horse. Although quite strange, this sign is clearly indicative of the Templar presence and common seal of the Order of the Knights of Christ.
The Devil at the Door
I was quite surprised when I saw a huge devil to the left of the church entrance! Usually these figures are not common in these places. After an attentive tour, we discovered that the statue would be more of a carefully constructed symbolism to show the “Map” of the region.
Above the head is the baptismal font with the water source of the entire region. The hands indicate two different places: the Circle of Rennes Le Bains and the Tombstone of Marie de Negre d`Ables in a curious play on words of the hand and the knee (Cinq Genou = Saint Genou) meaning the date of her death. Even the sitting position indicates a stone from the region that is known as the "Devil's Throne". Was it more a coincidence, or a treasure map?
“Et in Arcadia Ego”
A work of art by Nicolas Poussin especially attracted the attention of Saunière, who went to the Louvre himself to buy a copy of it: The Shepherds of Arcadia (Les Bergers d'Arcadie).
The Work of Art is allegedly set in the Rennes-le-Bains region and shows a huge tomb that reads “I was (or am) in Arcadia too”. The most incredible thing is that this tomb actually existed until the 1980s, when it was “destroyed” for attracting a legion of onlookers to the place.
In the future we intend to make another content talking more about this, but what is immediately asked here is: Whose tomb was it? What does this mysterious inscription and its connection with the strange characters in the image mean?
The Cryptogram of Marie de Negre d`Ables
If you enjoy solving secret agent-style puzzles, the story of Rennes-le-Chateau won't let you down. There are a number of cryptograms that were left and discovered here that reveal secret messages. One of them, quite strange is a tombstone of Marie de Negre d'Ables that has several grammatical errors and letters placed out of position. Supposedly these letters reveal yet another clue. Can you decipher?
Blanchefort, Bezu e Rennes-le-Chateau
Lastly, there is a rather strange coincidence, although it is considered just speculation. The locations of Rennes-le-Chateau, and the Templar castles of Blanchefort and Bezù form an almost perfect triangle, with a pentagram on two other peaks in the region (Lauzet and La Soulane). The angles are exactly 72 degrees. Is this more indicative of the secret symbol we see in most of the Templar holy sites? We know that many of the ancient constructions were made using strict principles of sacred geometry.
SAUNIÈRE'S END
As everything that begins has an end, Saunière also ended up having his. The priest, with his projects and discoveries, began to bother some representatives of the Catholic Church a lot. His superiors summoned him, and pressured him in various ways to abandon his personal projects. Wealth was also questioned, which led to intense persecution of Saunière, who was even banned from carrying out his work. Even so, defying the church, the priest continued.
It is unclear what was required of him, but after an avalanche of accusations, trials, punishments, Saunière's health slowly withered to a melancholy death on his estate at the age of 65. He was even offered a pardon, but he declined to remain at Rennes-le-Chateau.
BUT IN THE END, WHAT DID SAUNIÈRE DISCOVER?
Many have speculated that Rennes-le-Chateau's secret treasure is the Holy Grail itself. The big question is: what is the Grail? Was it special knowledge? A magical stone that bestows powers of plenty and abundance? Could it be a royal lineage that goes back to Jesus of Nazareth himself? What is not clear is how Saunière turned all this into riches. Had he given the treasure to some special person or order?
Another speculation is that Saunière found a Celtic, Cathar or Templar treasure. This treasure could be a special relic that was sold, or simply *lots* of buried gold and silver that are quite common in this region. There are many signs of ancient mines from Roman times until today.
Pierre Plantard, the founder of the Priory of Sion order (which really exists, but maybe it's not what you imagine), was very keen to link the Chateau's history to the designs of a new French order, or perhaps even a world order. Many books and documentaries have been made with this story in mind, but unfortunately it is modern and highly contested. Plantard recently passed away after being discredited and denying the whole story that was created by him in a lawsuit by the French Government.
The great mystery of all the history here is that no one has been able to explain precisely why the clues were left and what was kept and discovered here. More than that, the clues still point to possible other treasures that left (and still leave) the community excited to explore the history of the place, characters and their origins.
Myth is one of the tools to motivate exploration. Countless adventurers set out in search of great treasures and knowledge, and some, even though they didn't find it, found paths, characters and stories that are told and shared to this day. The legend of Saunière and the region of Rennes-le-Chateau is the perfect background for another journey with great learning, and who knows, the discovery of the very treasure that lies within us.
Greetings, and once again, the truth is out there!
https://louiswolf.com/english/2023/4/29/the-mystery-of-berenger-sauniere-and-the-legend-of-the-hidden-treasure-of-rennes-le-chateau
Anthony of Padua (born 1195, Lisbon, Portugal—died June 13, 1231, Arcella, Verona [Italy]; canonized 1232; feast day June 13) was a Franciscan friar and a dedicated patron of the poor. Portugal and the city of Padua, Italy, claim him as their patron saint, and he is invoked for the return of lost property
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Anthony of Padua
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| Born |
Fernando Martins de Bulhões
15 August 1195
Lisbon, Kingdom of Portugal |
| Died |
13 June 1231 (aged 35)
Padua, Lombard League, Holy Roman Empire
(now Italy) |
| Venerated in |
Catholic Church, Anglican Communion |
| Canonized |
30 May 1232, Spoleto, Italy by Pope Gregory IX |
| Major shrine |
Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua, Church of Saint Anthony of Lisbon |
| Feast |
13 June |
| Attributes |
Religious habit of a Friar Minor, lily, book, tonsure, holding the Infant Jesus, mule |
| Patronage |
Custody of the Holy Land, miracles, travelers, finding one's spouse, pregnancy, harvests, animals, lost items, lost people, lost souls, poverty, sterility, the sick, the disabled, the oppressed, the hungry, the elderly, faith in the Blessed Sacrament, sailors, fishermen, watermen, swineherds, mail carriers, counter-revolutionaries, indigenous peoples of the Americas, Tigua, Padua, Lisbon, Portugal, Brazil, Albania, Pila, Laguna, Iriga, Camarines Sur, Camaligan, Camarines Sur, Gubat, Sorsogon, Tuburan, Cebu, Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo, Cusco, Peru |
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Anthony of Padua
Anthony of Padua
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| Born |
Fernando Martins de Bulhões
15 August 1195
Lisbon, Kingdom of Portugal |
| Died |
13 June 1231 (aged 35)
Padua, Lombard League, Holy Roman Empire
(now Italy) |
| Venerated in |
Catholic Church, Anglican Communion |
| Canonized |
30 May 1232, Spoleto, Italy by Pope Gregory IX |
| Major shrine |
Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua, Church of Saint Anthony of Lisbon |
| Feast |
13 June |
| Attributes |
Religious habit of a Friar Minor, lily, book, tonsure, holding the Infant Jesus, mule |
| Patronage |
Custody of the Holy Land, miracles, travelers, finding one's spouse, pregnancy, harvests, animals, lost items, lost people, lost souls, poverty, sterility, the sick, the disabled, the oppressed, the hungry, the elderly, faith in the Blessed Sacrament, sailors, fishermen, watermen, swineherds, mail carriers, counter-revolutionaries, indigenous peoples of the Americas, Tigua, Padua, Lisbon, Portugal, Brazil, Albania, Pila, Laguna, Iriga, Camarines Sur, Camaligan, Camarines Sur, Gubat, Sorsogon, Tuburan, Cebu, Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo, Cusco, Peru |
Anthony of Padua, OFM, (Portuguese: António/Antônio de Pádua; Italian: Antonio di/da Padova; Latin: Antonius Patavinus) or Anthony of Lisbon (Portuguese: António/Antônio de Lisboa; Italian: Antonio da/di Lisbona; Latin: Antonius Olisiponensis; born Fernando Martins de Bulhões; 15 August 1195 – 13 June 1231) was a Portuguese Catholic priest and member of the Order of Friars Minor.
Anthony was born and raised by a wealthy family in Lisbon, Portugal, and died in Padua, Italy. Noted by his contemporaries for his powerful preaching, expert knowledge of scripture, and undying love and devotion to the poor and the sick, he was one of the most quickly canonized saints in church history, being canonized less than a year after his death.
He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XII on 16 January 1946.
 Church of Saint Anthony, in Lisbon, Portugal, built over the original house where the Portuguese saint was born  Birthplace of St. Anthony, in Lisbon, Portugal, located in the crypt of the church dedicated to him
Anthony was born Fernando Martins de Bulhões in Lisbon, Portugal. While 15th-century writers state that his parents were Vicente Martins and Teresa Pais Taveira, and that his father was the brother of Pedro Martins de Bulhões, the ancestor of the Bulhão or Bulhões family, Niccolò Dal-Gal views this as less certain. His wealthy and noble family arranged for him to be instructed at the local cathedral school. At the age of 15, he was received into the Canons Regular of the Order of the Holy Cross at the Abbey of Saint Vincent on the outskirts of Lisbon.
In 1212, distracted by frequent visits from family and friends, he asked to be transferred to the motherhouse of the congregation, the Monastery of the Holy Cross in Coimbra, then the capital of Portugal. There, the young Fernando studied theology and Latin.
Joining the Franciscans
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 In Alvise Vivarini's painting, Anthony is distinguished from the other saints by his attributes: the book and the white lily stalk.
After his ordination to the priesthood, Fernando was named guestmaster at the age of 19, and placed in charge of hospitality for the abbey. While he was in Coimbra, some Friars Minor arrived and settled at a small hermitage outside Coimbra dedicated to St. Anthony the Great. Fernando was strongly attracted to the simple, evangelical lifestyle of the friars, whose order had been founded only 11 years prior. News arrived that five Franciscans had been beheaded in Morocco, the first of their order to be killed. King Afonso II of Portugal ransomed their bodies to be returned and buried as martyrs in the Monastery of the Holy Cross. Inspired by their example, Fernando obtained permission from church authorities to leave the Canons Regular to join the new Franciscan order. Upon his admission to the life of the friars, he joined the small hermitage in Olivais, adopting the name Anthony (from the name of the chapel located there, dedicated to Anthony the Great), by which he was to be known.
Anthony then set out for Morocco, in fulfilment of his new vocation. However, he fell seriously ill in Morocco and set sail back for Portugal in hope of regaining his health. On the return voyage, the ship was pushed off course and landed in Sicily.[6]
From Sicily, he made his way to Tuscany, where he was assigned to a convent of the order, but he was met with difficulty on account of his sickly appearance. He was finally assigned to the rural hermitage of San Paolo near Forlì, Romagna, a choice made after considering his poor health. There, he had recourse to a cell one of the friars had made in a nearby cave, spending time in private prayer and study.[7]
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Preaching and teaching
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 Saint Anthony of Padua holding the Infant Jesus by Strozzi, c. 1625; the white lily represents purity.
In 1222, in the town of Forlì, a number of visiting Dominican friars were present for the occasion of an ordination, and a misunderstanding arose over who should preach. The Franciscans had expected that one of the Dominicans would occupy the pulpit, being renowned for their preaching. However, the Dominicans had come unprepared, thinking a Franciscan would be the homilist. In this quandary, the head of the hermitage, who did not think any of his own humble friars could give a homily for the occasion, called upon Anthony, whom he suspected was most qualified, and entreated him to speak whatever the Holy Spirit might inspire.[6] Anthony objected, but was overruled, and his impromptu sermon created a deep impression on his audience. His audience was moved not only by his rich voice and arresting manner, but also by the theme and substance of his discourse, his deep knowledge of scripture, and the eloquence with which he delivered his message.
Anthony was then sent by Brother Gratian, the local minister provincial, to the Franciscan province of Romagna, based in Bologna.[6] He soon came to the attention of the founder of the order, Francis of Assisi. Francis had held a strong distrust of the place of theological studies in the life of his brotherhood, fearing it might lead to an abandonment of their commitment to a life of real poverty and service. In Anthony, however, he found a kindred spirit who shared his vision and could also provide the teaching any young members of the order seeking ordination might need. In 1224, he entrusted the pursuit of studies for any of his friars to the care of Anthony.
The traditional practice of praying for St. Anthony's help in finding lost or stolen things is traced to an incident during his lifetime that occurred in Bologna. According to the story, Anthony had a book of psalms that was important to him, as it contained his notes and comments for use in teaching his students. A novice who had chosen to leave had taken the psalter with him. Prior to the invention of the printing press, any book was hand-copied, and thus, an item of high value; a Franciscan friar in particular, given his vow of poverty, would have found such an item difficult to replace. When Anthony realized his psalter was missing, he prayed it would be found or returned, after which the thief was moved to not only return the book to Anthony, but also return to the order. The stolen book is said to be preserved in the Franciscan friary in Bologna.[8]
Occasionally, Anthony took another post as a teacher at universities like University of Montpellier and University of Toulouse in southern France, but his preaching was considered to be his supreme gift. According to historian Sophronius Clasen, Anthony preached "the grandeur of Christianity".[7] His method included allegory and symbolical explanation of scripture. In 1226, after attending the general chapter of his order held at Arles, France, and preaching in the region of Provence, Anthony returned to Italy and was appointed Provincial superior of northern Italy. He chose the city of Padua as his location.
In 1228, he served as envoy from the general chapter to Pope Gregory IX. At the papal court, his preaching was hailed as a "jewel case of the Bible" and he was commissioned to produce his collection of sermons, Sermons for Feast Days (Sermones in Festivitates). Gregory IX described Anthony as the "Ark of the Testament" (Doctor Arca testamenti).
 Saint Anthony Preaching to the Fishes, c. 1630
The story of Anthony "preaching to the fish" originated in Rimini, where he had gone to preach. When heretics there treated him with contempt, Anthony was said to have gone to the shoreline, where he began to preach at the water's edge until a great crowd of fish was seen gathered before him. The people of the town flocked to see this marvelous thing, after which Anthony charged them with the fact that the fish were more receptive to his message than the heretics of the church, at which point the people were moved to listen to his message.
In another often-told story, which took place also in Rimini, Anthony was challenged by a heretic to prove the reality of the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The man, who sought to mock Anthony, brought out a half-starved mule and showed it fresh fodder. Saint Anthony showed the mule the monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament. The mule ignored the fodder and bowed before the Blessed Sacrament. The Tempietto of Sant'Antonio marks the spot where the miracle took place. Other versions of this miracle place it in Toulouse or Bourges.
Another account tells of an occasion in Italy when Anthony was dining with heretics. He realized the food they put before him was poisoned, and he confronted them. The men admitted to attempting to kill him, but then challenged him to eat if he truly believed the words spoken in Mark 16:18 about the apostles of Christ: "…and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them." Anthony is said to have blessed the food, eaten it, and suffered no harm, much to the amazement of his hosts.
 Anthony of Padua with the Infant Jesus by Antonio de Pereda, detail
Anthony became sick with ergotism in 1231 and went to the woodland retreat at Camposampiero with two other friars for a respite. There, he lived in a room built for him under the branches of a walnut tree. Anthony died on the way back to Padua on 13 June 1231 at the Poor Clare monastery at Arcella (now part of Padua), at the age of 35.
According to his request, Anthony was buried in the small church of Santa Maria Mater Domini (probably dating from the late 12th century) and near a convent that had been founded by him in 1229. Nevertheless, due to his increased notability, the construction of a large basilica began around 1232, although it was not completed until 1301. The smaller church was incorporated into the structure as the Cappella della Madonna Mora (Chapel of the Dark Madonna). The basilica is commonly known today as "Il Santo" (The Saint).
Various legends also surround the death of Anthony. One holds that when he died, children cried in the streets and all the church bells rang of their own accord. Another legend is in regard to his tongue. He was buried in a chapel that became part of the basilica, where his tongue, jaw, and vocal cords were symbolically chosen as relics for veneration (as was a tradition in medieval times) to be displayed in a large reliquary. When his body was exhumed 30 years after his death, it was found turned to dust, but the tongue was claimed to have glistened and looked as if it were still part of a live body; a further claim being made that this was a sign of his gift of preaching.[10] On 1 January 1981, Pope John Paul II authorized a scientific team to study Anthony's remains and the tomb was opened five days later.
Saint and Doctor of the Church
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 St Anthony of Padua and St Francis of Assisi by Friedrich Pacher Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua - Padua, Italy
Anthony was canonized by Pope Gregory IX on 30 May 1232, at Spoleto, Italy, less than one year after his death. In the words of Pope Benedict XVI:
The richness of spiritual teaching contained in the Sermons was so great that in 1946 Venerable Pope Pius XII proclaimed Anthony a Doctor of the Church, attributing to him the title Doctor evangelicus, since the freshness and beauty of the Gospel emerge from these writings.[11][12]
Veneration as patron saint
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Anthony's fame spread through Portuguese evangelization, and he has been known as the most celebrated of the followers of Francis of Assisi. He is the patron saint of Padua and many places in Portugal and in the countries of the former Portuguese Empire.
He is especially invoked and venerated all over the world as the patron saint for the recovery of lost items and is credited with many miracles involving lost people, lost things and even lost spiritual goods.[14]
St. Anthony Chaplets help devotees to meditate on the thirteen virtues of the saint. Some of these chaplets were used by members of confraternities that had Anthony as their patron saint.
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