The Magdalene Tower, Rennes-le-Chateau, France

Over time, I come back to themes and stories that I visited more than 40 years ago. Today, I want to look at the village priest who amassed a great deal of money in the late 19th century after supposedly finding a fortune in a lowly church in the midst of the Languedoc region of France.

François-Bérenger Saunière (April 11, 1852 – January 22, 1917)

It’s now a Cathar legend, and it may be connected to Mary Magdalene, but no one knows for sure.

Evidently, this birth time is considered reliable because his birth records quote it. But, most birth records are rounded up to the nearest hour, so take it with a grain of salt. Even so, Sauniere has an interesting double inconjunct: the Sun/Midheaven conjunction (nearly exact) to his Jupiter in Scorpio. Hmm.

Over time, I have come to conclusion that Sauniere sold indulgences to Roman Catholic believers. No actual treasure was ever really found. It’s a spiritual treasure, only. Having visited the church there, it is an extraordinary place. It also seems contradictory to perceived Truth. It feels Gnostic.

In other words, it’s my kind of place.