This story ressembles Rennes le
Chateau's although it took place 25 years before it.
|
Profaned tomb
of
Louis de Coma
|
|
Louis de Coma was born in 1822 in Foix (Ariege) .He
was from a very catholique family of nine children. His father,Bonnaventure was a famous
architect.
Louis began religious studies at the seminary (Grand
et Petit Séminaire).He was a smart pupil who worked hard.He did not want to be a simple
country priest.In 1844 he enters the Jesuit Seminary in Saint Acheul in Amiens.
He was a teacher in several religious school in the
south of France until 1855.During this year his father died and Louis came back to the
family domain in Baulou,Ariège, 50kms far from Rennes le Chateau.
|
He was the leader of the "Association de la
Bonne Mort"(Good Death association) ,which was affiliated to "la Compagnie de
Jesus".Its aim was to help the faithful to prepare for their death and their
departure towards paradise.This "preparation" consisted of sending gifts ,or
going into retreat (for which people had to pay) ,and to confession.He also founded
"L'oeuvre de Gethsemani" (The work of Gethsemani) which received payments for
masses which were to be said for the dead:
An individual mass was 100f
A collective mass was 1f
He travelled through France to make people aware of
the probleme of their death.He was helped by the Jesuits who went ahead of them in order
to "prepare " the people for his coming.So he earned thousands of francs he gave
to his superiors.Did he give them all of that money? No he did not.In 1860 ,like Berenger
Sauniere ,he started to build a underground chapel,a grotto from which ran a spring ,a
monastery,a church,a Way of the Cross.During the 20 years the work lasted he raised funds
and tried to convince some monastic orders to settle in his monastery.
|
Crypt entrance
|
|
|
Cave of
the Magdalena
|
He received 4000 francs (golden value)from ....the
Countess of Chambord. How did the Countess come to give money to this priest in Ariege ?
Thanks to another priest,a teacher in Narbonne, Alfred Sauniere.
Corridor |
|
Magdalena statue |
Unfortunately ,he cannot convince anyone to settle
in his monastery.In 1879,Jules Ferry has "la Compagnie de Jesus" dissolved.But
in 1885,monks of the congregation of the holy Ghost accept to come to the monastery.This
did not stay there long because they had an argument with Louis de Coma.Then he made an
apostolic school of the building .The cost of the buildings and the demands for masses was
evaluated to 500.000 francs (golden value
But contrary to Berenger Sauniere,Louis de Coma
always had a modest way of life.So a part of this money disapeared ...Is that the track of
a new treasure?
Profaned tombs
