The original Altar pillar shown here is now on display in the Saunière Museum at Rennes-le-Chateau.
If you look at the images of the pillar on this page you will see that there appears to be no possible hiding place for the 2 or 5 parchments -reports vary on the number discovered - or any wooden tubes. The square shaped recess seen in the top, was once thought to have been the hiding place. This hole though is a recess for the stone lug that would have protruded from the underside of the altar top, or for the cement to hold the top securely in place. I am not convinced that this square hole ever concealed anything of importance to the mystery. The Altar top, which seems to have been a substantial piece of stone or marble, and thus quite heavy, must have been almost impossible for Bigou to have raised up on his own, and then place something underneath. Of course he may have had help from a fellow priest or one or more of his parishioners. Also it is believed that the design of the altar consisted of one side of the top cemented into the wall, the rest of its weight supported by two stone pillars. One of which still remains today. The whereabout's of the other is unknown.
So if no parchment was ever discovered in the altar why does this rumour persist? The pillar appears to date from Visigothic times by the carvings that cover all of its four sides. Sauniere, for reasons only known to him, had some of the details removed, smoothing the stone to add some inscriptions of his own. PENITENCE! PENITENSE! was carved on the top edge and 'MISSION 1891' along the bottom.
PENITENCE! PENITENSE! seems to commemorate the 8th apparition of the Virgin Mary by Bernadette, at nearby Lourdes, but this is spelt different, also there are three: PENANCE! PENANCE! PENANCE! This believes me to think that maybe Saunière's inscription has another meaning.
The date '1891' is also significant in this mystery. It on this date Saunière wrote in his diary, 'FOUND A TOMB'. It was also the year his relationship with his housekeeper Marie Dénarnaud began. They are rumoured to have become lovers in the following years. Marie would remain faithful to Sauniere her entire life, never seeming to reveal any of the secrets he confided in her.
The 1891 Saunière had carved on the pillar is not quite right, we know the pillar is upside down so if we turn it the right way up it reads 1681 - or does it?
The 8 is not an 8 but two separate circles – it is written like a bible passage number, and if we look at Mathew or Mark – because of the M of mission above it – both verse’s 16:1+ may indicate Sauiniere has included details in this pillar that maybe clues.
Mark 16:1 - 8 is about the resurrection and Mary Magdlene finding Jesus' empty tomb.
Mark 16:1-8 (King James Version)
1And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
2And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
3And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
4And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
5And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
6And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
7But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
8And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
And Matthew 16:1 is about the Pharisees and Sadducees demanding Jesus show them a sign.
Matthew 16:1 (King James Version)
1The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
2He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
3And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
4A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
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So is Sauniere indicating we have to look for a 'sign' to reveal something about the resurection?
It is the sign of the cross made by Sauniere's angels that I used to make my discoveries.
The altar pillar has a cross carved on it and it also formed one point of the cross I used to find one of the bottle messages. Read article here.
Saunière most have known the historic importance of this carved stone, yet he still defaces part of it. He then places it upside down in the Mary Magdalene church garden to suffer at the mercy of the wind and rain. He also placed a statue of the Virgin Mary on top. Did the carvings, he had removed, contain information that started the priest on his mysterious road to riches? Though it would be a few years before his spending spree begins, it all leads back to this specific moment. Maybe the carving/s he may have had removed were not originally part of the Visigothic design but added at a later date by a previous priest of the village. Bigou perhaps? This would have been easier to carry out by himself than to try and lift up the top. The carvings could have been on the side facing the wall and so away from prying eyes. if this is so then this information could then have led Sauniere to lift the large flagstone in front of the altar revealing the carved stone we know today as 'THE KNIGHTS STONE' or maybe to something else. This would explain the persisting story and importance of Saunière finding something hidden in or on this altar.
