Originally written for the Lynn News, Thought for the Day
The Cathars of Languedoc were a group of medieval Christians who have been very close to my heart since I first learned of them in 2011. The Cathars were called the good people by friends and neighbours. They were a Gnostic Christian community who lived in the South of France in the 12th century. Cathars were divided into two groups: the parfait (perfected) who were men and women who lived a strict life of simplicity, celibacy, prayer and vegetarianism and leading activities of worship and faith. Men and women were equals in Catharism. The second group of Cathars were the ordinary followers who did marry, but attempted to live according to the Cathar ideals as best they could. Most, however, would usually wait until being close to death before committing to the rigors of becoming parfait. Becoming parfait happened through a ritual called the consolamentum.
My sense of closeness to this medieval group has grown considerably over the past few years, driven by a sense of sadness at witnessing the growing polarisations within our own society and the progressive breakdown of a palpable sense of interdependent community. The Cathars were able to be a community in a very real manner. I have deep respect for their commitment to peace at a time when war was bloody and unmerciful; for embracing simplicity, compassion and cohesion. They were respected and loved by their Catholic friends and neighbours, despite having very significant theological differences with them.
The Cathars loved their spiritual beliefs despite the growing threat to them from the increasing power of the Inquisition. The Cathars had not been silent in confronting the corruption of the medieval Church which made them especially vulnerable. Over a century, a million Cathar men, women and children were exterminated, many burned at the stake. The inquisition said of them the smallest trace of ‘sin’ had to be extirpated and the corrupt body had to be destroyed and evil exorcised in the flames.
On March 16, 1244, around 200 Cathar perfects at the Montségur Castle embraced death rather than renouncing their faith; murdered by the Inquisition, they faced death by fire.
On the 21st August 1321, Guillaume Belibaste, the last of the Parfait, was burnt at stake. While dying he proclaimed this prophecy of hope:
After 700 years, the Laurel will become green again on the ashes of the martyrs!
Those words were spoken 700 years ago. The awakening of consciousness he proclaimed is happening now.
My intention is to visit Montségur as a pilgrim in order to honour our martyred Cathar brothers and sisters, to especially pray for an end to war, violence, persecution and division on Earth, and for an increase in compassionate, resilient communities to flourish and spread the fragrance of loving-kindness. At this moment I send my prayers of peace to Israel, Gaza, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Iran, Myanmar and all places where there is conflict. I pray for the victims of trafficking, modern day slavery and violence; for all children hurt and abused, for all refugees and migrants. My hope is we bring them all into safe, loving and resilient communities where they can heal and recover from trauma and loss.