During our summer holiday, we visited the austere medieval basilica of Saint Maximin and the town of the same name. For many people interested in Mary Magdalene, this basilica, together with Sainte Baume, the holy cave near Plan-d’Aups-Sainte-Baume (not far from the Côte d’Azur, is the most sacred place associated with Mary Magdalene).
A medieval legend tells how Mary Magdalene sailed to southern France with her brother Lazarus and arrived there. She is said to have lived and meditated in a cave in the Sainte-Baume massif for thirty years. In the Basilica of Mary Magdalene in nearby Saint Maximin, there is a tomb where her remains are said to be located and her possible skull is visible. Radiometric dating indicates that the woman whose remains are preserved and exhibited here would have been 55 years old.
According to another legend, Mary Magdalene’s bones were brought from the Holy Land to Burgundy in the 9th century via the coastal town of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. Some of these relics are now said to be in the Basilica of La Madeleine in Vézelay. For many followers of Mary Magdalene, Vézelay is “the place to be”. And that is understandable, given the pleasant atmosphere and fine energy in the town, the surrounding nature and in the basilica.
During our summer holiday, after the Summer Workshop, we visited the austere medieval basilica of Saint Maximin. We were not impressed and found the Mary Magdalene energy hard to find. After that, we “climbed” to the high cave, which is about 25 kilometres away. The steep hike through the dense forest is challenging, but it is perfectly doable with normal fitness, especially since the trees provide pleasant shade.
After about 45 minutes of climbing, you arrive at Sainte Baume. The cave has been made accessible to groups of people in a Lourdes-like manner. But that is where the comparison with Lourdes ends. There are no commercial activities to be seen and it is austerity that dictates the atmosphere. On the other hand, the cave is naturally majestic and grand. It is a nice cool place to spend some time, feel the energy and meditate. Mother Earth is very much present. The statues of Mary Magdalene, the altar and the candles also make it a pleasant place to be.
Gabriela was able to easily connect with Mary Magdalene in the cave. She told her that the relics, both in the basilica of Sainte Maximin and in Vezelay, are not her remains. She had already told us that, partly due to her natural and spiritual lifestyle, she had lived to be 123 years old. But that, like Jesus, she transformed her entire material body into a body of light through her very high vibration. With that, she passed into the spiritual dimension. All this took place in what is now called the department of Aude. The body of light enabled and enables her to manifest herself anywhere and everywhere on Earth whenever she wishes.
It is true that Mary Magdalene and groups of followers visited Sainte Baume and the vicinity of Vezelay several times to do their spiritual work and to work with people, especially women. Mary Magdalene tells Gabriela that the cave also has the characteristics of a portal to other dimensions. She has used this portal several times to travel to other areas in and on Earth. For example, to visit and support the scattered female and male disciples. But the cave has also been used frequently to receive people and beings from other dimensions and other areas of the world through the portal in the cave.
Although we have taken Sainte Baume, the cave, into our hearts, for us the area around and the valley near Rennes-le-Chateau is the true Mary Magdalene centre. In our channelled books from the series “The Leadership of Mary Magdalene”, she has designated this region as her favourite environment and place of residence. The place where her daughter Sophia, the youngest of her children, was born and raised. And where Mary Magdalene always returned after all her travels, whether or not she used portals.
Gabriela and Reint Gaastra-Levin
