The Book of Love (23 page)

In the distance she heard the girlish voice, the one that had brought her here.

“Welcome to the Vale of Gold.”

Matilda gasped. The Valley of Gold was mentioned in the prophecy. Her prophecy. And as if to assure her that she was correct, the childlike voice rang through the forest sweet and clear, reciting the words of their young prophetess, spoken a thousand years ago:

“The truth must be preserved, in stone and on parchment and built into a Valley of Gold. The new Shepherdess, The Expected One, shall see to its perfection and encase the Word of the Father and Mother and the legacy of their children within the sacred spaces. This becomes her legacy. This, and to know a very great love.”

Matilda rose from the center of the labyrinth, still reeling from the vision that she was certain had been given to her by the little prophetess herself. As she began to walk out the eleven circuits, she reviewed the vision and its images. There was no doubt in her mind that the Valley of Gold was in Lorraine. This is why God was sending her there, because she was to build a shrine to the Way of Love in that region. What form that would take she was unsure of, but she was also certain that the Master would know exactly what to do. Had he not said that God had made his will known this morning?

But the true joy came from the vision of Patricio in the labyrinth. God wanted her to have a friend in Lorraine, a friend who would truly
understand her in a world of foreign ways and an unwanted husband. Perhaps she would find the strength to endure this with grace after all.

Thy will be done
, she repeated to herself several times as she walked her way out of the sacred pathways. When she reached the exit, she bent her knee in benediction at the iron ring and said her thanks to the Lady of the Labyrinth, this time in the guise of Sarah-Tamar.

The Master had not seen Matilda’s vision. That was for her alone, a gift from the prophetess so that she would not lose faith. But he had seen a vision of her building a great structure in Lorraine, one that would become the repository of not only all their teachings but the history of their people and the holy families. Matilda was being charged to build a library and a school to preserve all that was sacred to the Order of the Holy Sepulcher, and she would do so in the guise of a monastery. Once the location was found, this Valley of Gold that she had seen in the vision, she would work with Patricio to begin the building. The Master would select monks from Calabria who had proven themselves in their dedication as historians and scribes to begin the task of building the library. Patricio would become their abbot.

This task would be the greatest of honors for both Matilda and Patricio. For the Master had seen one more very important element in his vision. He had seen the Libro Rosso travel across the Alps in its gilded ark, carried carefully by Patricio on a cart pulled by oxen, just as the
Volto Santo
had been three centuries prior. Matilda must take the Libro Rosso with her, so that the contents could be copied exactly and installed with great honor into the new monastery in this Valley of Gold. Once the task was finished, they would return the Libro Rosso to Tuscany, where it was destined to reside in perpetuity.

The teachings of the Way of Love were going to find a new home in Lorraine, restored to the land of Charlemagne. It was Matilda’s destiny to see that this happened. In spite of her trepidations about her pending nuptials, this promise gave her a great task to focus on, something
positive in her future that was of tremendous importance. She would carry out this duty with honor and with grace.

She would fulfill her destiny and obligation as The Expected One and try very hard not to complain about marrying a hunchback and living in a palace.

And so it was that the beautiful Nazarene girl who was given the name Berenice at her birth was later to become known as Veronica. She was a friend of Madonna Magdalena as a child and a student of the Way, and was educated as a priestess at the feet of our Lord in the same way as her Nazarene sisters. Veronica was younger, and at the time of our Lord’s passion, she was not yet a Mary. She did not yet wear the red veil. Her own was white.

It is told of the lovely Veronica’s act of courage on the Day of Sorrows that when the Savior carried his burden to the hill on the Black Day of the Skull, his vision was obscured with the blood and grime that ran into his eyes from the wounds inflicted by his crown of thorns. Veronica moved bravely through the crowd that surrounded her master and pulled the white veil from her head. She brought it to him that he might wipe his face and find some comfort in his vision.

Later, it would be seen that the image of our Lord’s face was impressed upon the white silk for all eternity.

Veronica attended Magdalena and the other Marys at the foot of the cross, a sister in love and grief. Here they were protected by the blue-eyed Roman soldier, called Praetorus, who had been in the private service of Pontius Pilate. This centurion had been healed of a broken hand by our Lord, and he was finding the light of conversion during the Holy Week when things of such terrible greatness transpired.

Praetorus would evolve into a different kind of soldier following our Lord’s passion. He was destined to become a warrior for the Way, one of the earliest converts to our community, and certainly one of the most dedicated.

On the day of our Lord’s resurrection, Praetorus ran to the sepulcher after hearing of the miracle. It was there that he first spoke with our Nazarene sister, Veronica. She told him of our Lord’s great teachings, of the Way of Love, and how these would change the world if we would only allow their truth into our hearts.

From that holy Easter day, Veronica and Praetorus were never separated. Such a love that was found in the shadow of the Holy Sepulcher could only be blessed by God throughout eternity. Veronica began to guide him through the Nazarene teachings. And when our Lady came to Gaul to begin her mission, they followed her and continued their training, under her guidance, directly from the Book of Love as written by our Lord.

Thus they became the very first couple to teach
the sacred union of beloveds
on European soil and those traditions flourished as a tribute to the sanctity of their love and coupling. Where these teachings are held, there can be no darkness.

Love Conquers All.

As the time returns, Veronica and Praetorus will find each other and teach again. For it is their eternal destiny, and the model for countless others who have made the same promise from the dawn of time, to find each other and to live and teach the Way of Love. Together.

For those with ears to hear, let them hear it.

T
HE LEGEND OF
V
ERONICA AND
P
RAETORUS
AND THE TEACHINGS OF
L
OVE AND
S
ACRED
U
NION
,
AS PRESERVED IN THE
L
IBRO
R
OSSO

Rome
present day

F
ATHER
P
ETER
H
EALY
paced the floor of his office, palms sweating. This was highly unexpected and somewhat awkward, but there was no escaping it. Bérenger Sinclair was on his way up to see him. Maggie had gone down to help him navigate Vatican security. It gave Peter just a few minutes to gather his thoughts, but there was little he could do to prepare. It would all depend on what Sinclair’s purpose was for coming, and what approach he took. Peter was truly at a loss to guess, as Maureen refused to speak to him about any of her friends at Blue Apples. She merely avoided the subject completely, which could mean anything.

The door opened and Maggie ushered Bérenger Sinclair into Peter’s
office, looking somewhat put out when the aristocratic Scot refused any kind of refreshment. Bérenger waited until the housekeeper had closed the door before approaching Peter with his hand out.

“Father Healy. Thank you for seeing me on such short notice.”

Peter took the proffered hand, relieved that the initial approach seemed cordial.

“Of course, Lord Sinclair. My pleasure. What brings you to Rome?”

Peter gestured to the armchair across the desk from his own. Sinclair sat as he replied, very simply, “Maureen.”

Peter nodded. “I suspected as much. Does she know you’re here?”

“Yes, but I haven’t seen her yet. I wanted to see you first.”

“Why?”

Sinclair settled, shifting his large frame in the chair. “Because I know she is concerned about how it will make you feel. So I was hoping to take care of that first, so it is one less thing that she has to worry about.”

Peter remained quiet, cautious. There had been no personal contact between him and Bérenger Sinclair after he left the château that night with the Arques Gospel, but he had heard enough about how Sinclair felt about him and his actions.

“Peter, I have had a lot of time to think about the events of the past two years, and I need to tell you that I realize I have been unfair and harsh with you. I want you to know that I bear you no ill will for what happened that night. And I mean that. I understand what you did and why you did it. And on some strange metaphysical level that I cannot claim to understand quite yet, I think you did exactly what you had to do. You fulfilled your role in this great drama that we all find ourselves in.”

Peter’s response was wry. “Like Judas?”

Sinclair shrugged. “Perhaps. But as you are well aware, the Arques Gospel says that Judas was noble and loyal. He didn’t betray Jesus, rather he obeyed him. He did what was necessary in order for all of them to fulfill their destiny. So in that regard, yes. I’d say that the similarities are great and remind you that our Magdalene referred to Judas as the one she mourned above all others, except one.”

Peter nodded. That Judas was the most dependable and solid of the apostles was one of the more explosive revelations in Mary Magdalene’s gospel. It completely altered the perception of this most reviled character in the first century. There was some comfort in that revelation for Peter.

“Thank you. I appreciate your coming, more than you can possibly know. Tell me, if you don’t mind my asking, how was your reunion with Maureen? I’m afraid she doesn’t talk to me about such things, given our history.”

Bérenger smiled slightly in reply. “Having a relationship with Maureen is like waking up to discover there is a unicorn in your garden.”

“Well, that’s very poetic,” Peter responded. “But what does it mean?”

Bérenger gathered his thoughts about it for a moment before explaining. “It’s a completely unique circumstance and something of a shock. You’ve never encountered anything quite like it. Suddenly, standing there in the middle of your life, is something that proves the presence of magic in the universe. You always believed that the magic was real, but now you can actually see it—and almost touch it. Almost, but not quite. Because first you have to get closer, and yet how do you approach such a skittish, exotic creature? Do you even dare? And are you worthy? There is no frame of reference for such an encounter, no one who can tell you how to go about it.

“Then there is the issue of that very sharp horn. As lovely and gentle as the unicorn appears to be, you have a strong sense that it could also inflict serious injury, even mortal wounds, intentionally or not. Magic cuts both ways. So while it is beautiful and enchanting and you know that you have been somehow blessed by its presence in your garden, it’s more than a little dangerous—and also highly disconcerting for the average mortal. Which is what I happen to be.”

Peter joined in the allegory. “And gaining its trust, if you want to keep that unicorn in your garden, will require a lot of patience. And a hefty degree of courage.”

Sinclair nodded his agreement. “Yes, and you also know this: if you scare it away, it will break your heart and the magic will drain from
your life, never to return. Then your landscape will appear very, very empty for the loss. How could your world ever look the same again? For while you may encounter other things of beauty over the course of your life, there is really only one unicorn, isn’t there?”

Peter leaned back in his chair and smiled at Bérenger, a sincere and warm smile. There was a time when he was highly suspicious of this man, but he could see now that those days were of the past. He would learn to appreciate him and to understand that he had a specific integrity. Most of all, he believed that the Scotsman truly loved Maureen and understood her in a way that few others ever could. And Peter was certain that Bérenger would do his utmost to keep her safe.

“I think you’ve come at the right time. Maureen needs you. The attack in Orval scared her. It scared all of us. You have an opportunity to approach her carefully, with the understanding that she needs. Remember the ending of the legend of the unicorn? Ultimately, the only thing that tames it and keeps it in the garden is unconditional love.”

“I’m fully prepared to give her that, if she’ll allow me to get that close to her.”

“I believe you. How can I help you, Bérenger?”

Sinclair shook his head. “I wish it were that easy. But this is a unicorn I must win over by my own merits. Although you can help simply by not opposing me. If Maureen feels that you are supportive of my role in her life, then that is more than enough.”

“You have my word. And just know that I do support that. When the chips were really down…you were more there for her than I was. I’ll never forgive myself for what happened that night, and what my part in all this has been. I’m sorry. Truly sorry, and I hope you will convey that to Tammy and Roland. They deserved better than what I did to them.”

Peter was choked up by the end of the speech. The depth of the emotion took him by surprise, but he did not try to hold it back.

Sinclair’s reply was kind. “What’s done is done, Peter. We have all learned from it and hopefully will grow from it. Forgiveness is the Way of Love and we all try very hard to practice what she preached. What
they
preached. Now, we have a new task ahead of us which may be even greater than the last. This is what we have to focus on above anything else.”