The Expected One (55 page)

Through my years of research, I have discussed, questioned, argued, and even conceded many points with clerics and believers from a number of faiths. I am blessed to have friends and associates from many spiritual arenas, including Catholic priests, Lutheran ministers, Gnostic practitioners, and pagan priestesses. In Israel, I encountered Jewish scholars and mystics, as well as Orthodox guardians of Christianity’s sacred sites. My father is a Baptist, my husband a devout Catholic. All of these individuals became a part of the mosaic of my belief system, and ultimately a part of this story. Despite the myriad differences in their philosophies, each of these people blessed me with the same gift — the ability to exchange ideas and engage in dialogue freely and without anger.

There are elements of this story that I cannot corroborate through any of the “acceptable” academic sources. They exist as oral traditions and have been preserved for centuries in highly protected environments by those who have feared repercussions. In crafting this book I have taken the approach of building a case for my theory via 2,000 years’ worth of circumstantial evidence. While I cannot produce a smoking gun, I have many interesting witnesses and a staggering array of corroborating exhibits, many created by no less than the great Renaissance and Baroque masters. I present my case within the context of such evidence and allow the jury of readers to establish their own verdict.

I must be circumspect about the primary source of the new information presented here for reasons of security, but I will say this: The content of the gospel of Mary Magdalene as I interpret it here is taken from previously undisclosed source material. It has never been released to the public before. I have taken poetic license in the interpretation to make it more accessible to a twenty-first-century audience, but I believe that the story it tells is genuine, and entirely her own.

In my need to protect the sacred nature of this information and those who hold it, I had no choice but to write this, and the subsequent books in this series, as fiction. However, many of my protagonist’s adventures and virtually all of her supernatural encounters are based in my own life experiences. In numerous cases, Maureen receives information in precisely the same way that I did during my research — as does Tammy. While my modern-day characters are all fictional, I have done my best to provide the reader with an authentic experience. There are certainly places where I have taken literary liberties, which will no doubt be recognized by readers who have followed these mysteries on their own. The Arques tomb as painted by Poussin no longer exists — it was destroyed with dynamite by the local landowner who had grown tired of the trespassing that it encouraged! There are other allowances for which I must beg the reader’s indulgence. Certainly, Peter’s translation of the Arques Gospel happens in record time. In reality, the translation of such a document would take months, even years.

This book was almost two decades in the making, and along the often treacherous path I have received invaluable assistance from many intrepid souls. I am so grateful for the knowledge that has been shared with and entrusted to me by the most phenomenal individuals, some of whom took enormous risks to help me. There were many, many times when I wondered about my worthiness to tell this story. I don’t think I’ve slept through the night in more than ten years as I have agonized over the details in this book and its potential repercussions.

While we were preparing this book for press, the controversial Gospel of Judas was released to the public for the first time. I began to immediately receive mail from readers who recognized that there are elements of this exciting new discovery that corroborate and support my own assertion that Judas didn’t “betray” Jesus — that Judas was, in fact, carrying out the difficult and painful orders of his friend and teacher. The injustice done to Judas and his reputation is perhaps even greater than that which has been endured by Mary Magdalene for twenty centuries. It is my belief that it is well past time to restore those who were close to Jesus to their rightful places in history. As Father Peter Healy asks, “What if we have been denying Jesus his final wish for two thousand years?” In my effort to address that possibility, I submit my own portrait of Judas as loyal friend, even as hero; of Mary Magdalene as spouse, mother, soul mate, and life partner; of Peter as one who denied his friend and teacher only because he was ordered to do so. I also believe that past and future archaeological discoveries will continue to come to light and prove these portraits to be accurate and just.

I can only hope that the final product is worthy of those guardians of Mary Magdalene’s truth who are depending on me to tell her story. Most of all, I hope it conveys Mary’s message of love, tolerance, forgiveness, and personal accountability in a way that the reader might find inspirational. It is a message of unity and nonjudgment for all people of all belief systems. Throughout this process, I have remained devoted to Christ’s teachings of peace and to the belief that we can create heaven on earth. My faith in Him — and her — has kept me going through some very dark nights of the soul.

I realize that I will come under fire from scholars and academics, and many of them will call me irresponsible for presenting a version that cannot be corroborated through their acceptable sources. But I will not apologize for the fact that I have opposed accepted scholarly practices in the telling of this story. My approach is based in my personal and perhaps radical belief that it is, in fact, irresponsible to accept what was written down. I will wear the scarlet label of the “antiacademic” with no small degree of pride and arm myself with Boudicca’s battle cry. Readers will make the determination regarding the version of Mary’s story that resonates within their spirit.

Yet to all the writers and seekers who have theorized, postulated, argued, speculated, and forged intrepidly through 2,000 years of clues and red herrings on the path of understanding the nature of Mary Magdalene and her children, I extend my hand in friendship. The spirited disagreements over the role of our Magdalene — and the many writers and artists who have portrayed her — are perhaps at the very essence of the search for truth. I hope they will see fit to call me their sister when all is said and done.

Two thousand years later, and it’s still the truth against the world.

To thank every person individually who has helped me over two decades is a task worthy of a book unto itself, and unfortunately not possible in such finite space. I will do my best to include as many as possible of those who have been instrumental in helping me to complete this book.

To my agent and friend Larry Kirshbaum, who became my personal archangel through this process, I offer my unlimited admiration and gratitude. His passion for Mary’s story and his determination to help me bring it to the world was the guiding force that made everything happen.

I am grateful beyond words for the staunch support, professional guidance, and sisterly advice of my editor, Trish Todd. My appreciation for her, and for the extraordinary team of professionals at Simon & Schuster/Touchstone Fireside, is limitless.

It has taken an enormous amount of sacrifice for my family to support me through years of research. During this process my husband, Peter McGowan, put the “faith” in “faithful.” He supported me fiscally and emotionally, holding down the fort and keeping the family together while I traveled. He never doubted my experiences or lost faith in my discoveries, no matter how wild they appeared at first — which is far more than I can say for myself. My beautiful boys, Patrick, Conor, and Shane, have put up with a mother who was at times absentee and missed too many Little League games. And yet my husband and children have witnessed so many miracles with me along this path of discovery that we all felt we had no choice but to follow it to a conclusion, despite the often considerable risks. I hope this book proves worthy of their sacrifices.

This was indeed a family affair, and a piece of everything I do and everything I am belongs to my parents, Donna and Joe. Their love and support has been the cornerstone of my life, and they have suffered through some very difficult times as a result of their daughter’s gypsy spirit. I thank them for everything, but am particularly blessed by the unconditional love they show for their grandchildren.

I share this and my future work with my brothers, Kelly and Kevin, and their families. I hope the revelations in this book will one day inspire my extraordinary nieces and nephews, Sean, Kristen, Logan, and Rhiannon, as they fulfill their unique destinies. On the day that I concluded this final version of the manuscript, we welcomed my newest niece, Brigit Erin, into the world. She was born on March 22, 2006. I will watch with loving interest as her tiny feet grow to fill the shoes of the Expected Ones who have come before her.

My entire family owes our happiness to the staff of the UCLA Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for saving baby Shane. In fact, they really saved all of us. I suggest that anyone who doubts miracles spend a few days in that particular NICU. There, one can see that angels truly exist on earth. They wear lab coats and are disguised as doctors, nurses, and respiratory therapists. Shane’s miracle was the catalyst that forced me to finish this book.

I traveled countless miles of this journey with Stacey K, who has been my sister, research partner, and cherished friend. She deserves special mention for accepting the most bizarre tasks without flinching — like following disembodied voices calling “Sandro” through the Louvre, and chasing strange little men through the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher. I could not have completed this without her faith and loyalty.

I have endless appreciation and indebtedness to “Auntie Dawn” for superhuman generosity and for acting as an amazing anchor of friendship and loyalty.

Literally eternal gratitude goes to Olivia Peyton, my spiritual sister and research master. I bow to her genius as a woman and a cybersybil, and pay homage to her brilliant novel,
Bijoux,
which holds the key to so many mysteries.

Special thanks to Marta Collier for her contribution to and belief in the music of Finn MacCool as well as her stalwart support of the McGowan clan through thick and thin.

Sincerest appreciation goes to my great friend and all around courageous Grail knight, Ted Grau. I don’t think he really understands just how important his contribution has been. But I do.

Thanks to Stephen Gaghan for his insightful — albeit agonizing — comments on the earliest drafts of this story. His unabashed honesty forced me to make critical improvements.

Go raibh mile math agat
to Michael Quirke, the woodcarving mystic of County Sligo, who also happens to be the greatest storyteller on earth. From the day I walked into his shop “accidentally” while lost in the summer of 1983, I have lived on the other side of the mirror. More than any single person or event, Michael made me understand that history is not what was committed to paper, but what was written in the hearts and souls of human beings — and etched into the land where they lived their greatest joys and deepest sorrows. A thousand thanks for giving me eyes to see and ears to hear.

Additional thanks go to:

Patrick Ruffino, who taught me the meaning of friendship and for keeping me from straying down Zsx Avenue;

Linda G, who juggles the archetypes of Martha and Vivienne with such grace;

Verdena, for embodying the spirit of Magdalena and teaching me more than a few things about faith, miracles, and staggering courage;

R. C. Welch, for acting as translator in the Moreau museum and for a great conversation about life and writing in the pews of Saint-Sulpice;

Branimir Zorjan, for bringing his friendship, light, and healing to our home;

Jim McDonough, the most lovable media mogul on the planet and a great friend to us;

Carolyn and David, who are only just beginning to see their role in all of this;

Joyce and Dave, my newest old friends;

Joel Gotler, for fighting the good fight and working to get Mary’s story to a wider audience;

Larry Weinberg, my lawyer and friend, for believing in me as well as the book;

Don Schneider, for making me laugh;

Dev Chatillon, for her thorough professionalism;

Glenn Sobel, for his limitless patience and support in the past;

Cory and Annie, who bought the very first copy.

I also owe a debt to the illustrious ram queen, Linda Goodman, the late astrologer and author who first whispered this secret into my ear long before I was ready to comprehend it. She altered the course of my life with that piece of information, and by leaving me her Emerald Tablets translations (which will show their importance in later books). My destiny remains strangely intertwined with Linda’s, a fact that has brought both surprising pain but also great joy. I wish she had stayed with us long enough to see the proof I uncovered of her own bloodline connections.

I am also grateful that the path through Linda’s life brought me to another great author and astrologer, Carolyn Reynolds. Carolyn was my rock through some very dark days with her battle cry of “No one can steal your destiny.” I thank her with all my heart.

Special thanks to the enlightened ladies of the Emerald Tablets Forum for their support and love over the years.

Sometimes it takes half a lifetime to understand why certain events shape your destiny. Jackson Browne changed my impressionable young life on my seventeenth birthday backstage at the Pantages Theater, and I truly believe if he hadn’t, this book wouldn’t exist. As a teenage activist, I was the recipient of his impassioned speech about the power of one person to make a difference in the world — and of his praise for my youthful need to question an unjust status quo. He grabbed me by the shoulders as he emphasized, “Never stop doing what you do. Never.” I thank him for that catalyst (although my parents probably wouldn’t), and for a lifetime of inspired music, but particularly for “The Rebel Jesus.” I believe that Easa would approve.

Heartfelt thanks to Ted Neeley and fondest memories of the late Carl Anderson; both have moved me and countless others with their divinely inspired portrayals of Easa and Judas. (Is it a coincidence that Andrew Lloyd Webber was born on March 22?) Anyone fortunate enough to spend time in Ted’s glowing presence knows just how much he embodies the beauty of the Nazarene spirit.

The talented members of the Screenwriter’s Refuge have provided group therapy and tremendous support to me for the last few years. So to Cindy, Robert, James, Mel, Kathy, Fitchy, Teddy, Chris, and Wenonah — well, you guys have my admiration and sincerest thanks. It’s great to be in the trenches with such trusted friends.

My heart lives in Ireland, and my gratitude is in County Cavan specifically, where my in-laws, John and Mary, have always treated me as their own. My love and thanks to all of my extended Irish family: Brian, Bridie and Pat, Susan, Philomena, Pam and Paul, Geraldine and Eugene and Peter and Laura, and Noeleen and David and Daniel.

Thanks to the whole gang in Drogheda for showing me the essence of the city that survived Cromwell. These are very special people and wonderful friends. And that landmark is called Magdalen Tower for a reason, isn’t it?

Over the course of this research, Los Angeles was my home, Ireland my refuge, and France my inspiration. I am grateful to the staff of the Hotel Place du Louvre, who always make me feel welcome in Paris, and for introducing me to the story of the Caveau du Mousquetaires. There are so many people in France who have given little pieces of their hearts and souls to me, and there isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t sigh over the beauty of the Languedoc, the Camargue, Midi, and Provence — and the extraordinary people who inhabit those magical regions.

The essence of the Magdalene is one of compassion and forgiveness, and in that spirit I would offer this book as an olive branch to those whom I may have offended along the way — specifically to my uncle, Ronald Paschal, as his passion for our unique French heritage was something I was unable to grasp at the time he tried to show it to me.

I would also offer this to Michele-Malana. Our friendship did not survive the tumultuous path that we were set upon, but her generosity and inspiration will never be forgotten. If she ever reads this — and her love of our Magdalene indicates that she may — I hope she will find me.

I must acknowledge the wonderful people at Issana Press for publishing the translations of Claudia Procula’s letters. I recommend their “Relics of Repentance” booklet highly — it is very small, but certainly mighty. I thank them for confirming for me that Pilo was, indeed, the name of Pilate’s son — and for challenging my brain with the knowledge that there may have been other Pilate children…!

I think it is necessary for writers to honor those pioneers who opened the door for all of us to step through. As such, I must acknowledge the often controversial authors Michael Baigent, Henry Lincoln, and Richard Leigh, who brought
Holy Blood, Holy Grail
to the world in the 1980s. This book was the earthquake that awakened the public to the idea that something important was going on in the southwestern corner of France. I have obviously come to different conclusions and found an alternate focus for my own research. Still, I nod to the courage, tenacity, and pioneering spirit of these three honorable gentlemen and what they were able to achieve — and for introducing the esoteric world to an enigmatic and sly muse in Bérenger Saunière.

Finally, to all of the brilliant artists who longed for this information to be discovered in their own lives, I extend my gratitude for giving us the maps and clues that were required to find it. Particularly to Alessandro Filipepi, who was truly a “cherished child of the gods” and continues to enchant me across time and space.

I’ll meet you all soon in Chartres Cathedral at the entrance to the labyrinth as we begin our search for the Book of Love. You already have a map. But you may want to bring your most well-worn copy of the collected works of Alexandre Dumas and wrap yourself in a unicorn tapestry…

Lux et veritas,
KDM