The case of the devil Part 6: The demon guardian of the mystery

 

It should now be clear that the stoup was part of the deliberate designs carried out by Saunière, and not a joke or merely there for provocation. We also note that Saunière surmounts this creature with four angels, and a sentence, “PAR CE SIGNE TU LE VAINCRAS”.

Sign of the cross

These four characters show us the four parts that form the sign of the cross. The first impression this leaves on anyone is that they need to apparently be reminded of how to make that sign when they enter the church. Though we are quite certain that everyone knew how to make this sign, it is more likely that the statue was there to make the visitor remember to actually make a cross when entering this sacred building. Still, as a “reminder” it is not very clear and the demon and the stoup definitely attract the visitors’ attention more than the sign of the cross on top. Still, we all note that in past times, the parishioners would dip their hand in this stoup, and make the sign of the cross with this holy water.

Beneath the layer of the obvious, is quite often the layer of the visible, but unnoticed. Hence, we note that three characters are standing, but the fourth one is kneeling. There is an apparent logic explanation for this, as the angels themselves thus form the sign of the cross, and if the angel was standing, it would stand largely in front of the first angel at the back. Still, the workshop of Giscard was an accomplished master and could – if he so desired – have raised the three figures higher, so that the fourth angel could also stand – rather than kneel. Further observation shows that the fourth angel kneels in the same way as the demon below, though its tunic veils its knee. Furthermore, whereas its right hand shows us the final sign of the cross, its left hand hangs there, showing us, with its index finger, the bottom of the base. Are we invited to read the text at the bottom of plinth? Or further down, at the demon carrying the stoup? Or both? We would need to be able to read the mind of Saunière to seek the correct answer.

Inversions

Saunière was predisposed to inverse certain items from the norm. Sometimes, these inversions seem unimportant and whimsical. If it would be an isolated event, we should explain it as a careless act or an error. But with his track record of inversions, we do need to wonder whether he is trying to orientate us into a direction that is established by these inversions – a mirrored path perhaps? To “go through the looking glass”?
In this sequence of events, we have the reversed Visigothic pillar, his model ordered late in life, etc., as well as the inversions that de Sède played, perhaps in honour of Saunière’s example.

Asmodeus or Lucifuge ?

In our excursions into demonology, apart from Satan and Asmodeus, there is another devil or demon which should hold our attention: Lucifuge Rofocale. The demonic literature affirms that Rofocale is linked with wealth and the treasures of this world. Whereas Asmodeus guards treasures and can be tricked to betray them, Rofocale is actually in charge of these worldly treasures – and thus of higher importance than Asmodeus.
Lucifuge is thus not one of the least demons, since he is the “infernal Prime Minister of Lucifer”, which singles him out as the first servant of the devil – an important position indeed. The name, Lucifuge Rofocale, comes from the title of Duke of Focalor, amalgamated with that of Lucifer, resulting – using the necessary anagrams (which are to some extent inversions also, though not always) – in Lucifuge Rofocale.

Let us note that Lucifer himself was once the prime servant of God – an archangel. And that he had a series of “servants”, angels of lesser hierarchies, working for him. When Lucifer rebelled and was cast out, he took many with him – and it seems that demonology continued to apply hierarchy in the ranks of the demons also – those that had followed Lucifer in the Fall.
It is in the Fall – both of Mankind and of Lucifer – that one legend has it that Lucifer lost his third eye. Still other legends argue that it was from this third eye that the angels would create a precious emerald, known to us as the Holy Grail.

A scuffle

It is clear that there is a clear hierarchy possible. Is the demon at the entrance Satan/Lucifer, or Asmodeus? Or the man in the middle of the two, Lucifuge Rocofale? We repeat that the demon was never identified, except by Gerard de Sède, who identified it as Asmodeus, as he was the protector of treasures – but not the Master, as we now know.

There is nothing in the depiction that excludes it from being Lucifuge Rocofale. Both were winged creatures and though Lucifuge Rocofale is often depicted as an insect-like figure – somewhat resembling the so-called “grey alien abductors” of the UFO lore – it is clear that all demons, like all saints, were normally depicted as “angels” and “saints”, with their attributes allowing for a specific identification – though in this case, writing down the name of the devil at the bottom of the statue would have greatly aided everyone.

Further details on the Prime Minister

We note that there is a link between Rocofale and “water”, apparently able to destroy people with that medium – an intriguing reversal. For whereas the stoup seems to suggest those who make the cross with the water will conquer him, reading in reverse, it could read that the devil, holding the stoup, will conquer anyone – “he that makes the sign of the cross will be conquered”. “You will conquer him”: You being the devil, not the visitor. It is a powerful pun, and if true, it would mean that anyone entering the church unknowingly “accepted” to be conquered by the devil. Too far a stretch of the imagination? Perhaps, if we have a guarantee that Saunière was a pious man. But for sure, it is a perfectly logical “inversion”.

Let us also add that Rocofale had certain key dates of the calendar: from October 13 to 17, and May 1 to May 10. Apart from this, it is stated that he was imprisoned in a secret cave and should only be allowed to let out after 1000 years, without any further detail as to when this cycle began or ends – ended? After his imprisonment, he must turn over the seventh seat. No further details seem known about this seat. But we do note that there is a seat of the devil in Rennes-les-Bains, as well as the “Perilous Seat” at the Round Table, normally left unoccupied. Finally, there is “Seat of Death” in Perillos. And there is a bizarre connection – no doubt the result of coincidence, but then again…

Perillos anagrams

This little-known demon is thus called Rofocale. The final e is silent, and the pronunciation is ROFOCAL. This is an anagram of his true identity: FOCALOR. But Rofocal is not the only anagram that can be created from his true name. Rocafol is another. And it is here that there is a strange turn of events, which once again lead us towards Perillos.
ROCAFOL is closely related, when pronounced with a Catalan accent, “Roccafoul”, which is identical with “Roccaful”… which we find in the name of Ramon de Perellos y Roccaful, former Grand Master of the Order of Malta. Yes, this should be a coincidence and we do not state that this grand master was the incarnation of a demon. But what we can add is that he bought the title of Perillos, as he was not a descendant of the Perillos family. The man’s true heritage was that of Roccaful and he bought the title of Perillos, and even added it to his name before his real name, as we would likely have expected him to use “Ramon Roccaful y Perellos”. By inversing it, however, he literally identified himself with the important family, and their cherished Christian name of Ramon… he, Ramon Roccaful, wanted to be identified as following in the footsteps of Ramon de Perillos.
The Roccaful were a Spanish family, and an ancient one at that. They were powerful and rich ship owners from at least the Early Middle Ages. The titles and domains of Perillos were extinct by the 17th century, but it suggests that our Spanish noblemen tried to use the title to not only impress the Grand Masters of Malta, but perhaps also to be interred in the vault of the lords of Perillos. For whatever reason, it is clear that there was a profound reason why our Spanish nobleman wanted so desperately this title, and used it so prominently.

Dating games

The calendar dates of this demon are remarkable: October 13-17 and May 1-10. October 13 was the date of the destruction of the Templars, an organisation notorious for its worldly richness – as was Lucifuge. May 1 is an important pagan – and Christian – festival, one of the quarter days of the Celtic calendar, Lughnasa. More recently, it is known as Labour Day, and in Perillos, it is known as the date of the Chronodrome experience, the time-travel experiment. Coincidence? Or design?

Links between Asmodeus and Rofocale

There are obvious parallels between our two demons, both e.g. said to have been imprisoned in a bottomless cave. There are no precise localisations of the cave of Rofocale, it seems, but the cave of Asmodeus is located in Egypt. Both are linked with a “seat” or an “armchair”. Their physical appearance is largely identical – if can one say such a thing of a demon. Both control wealth and treasures. And both demons had certain problems with the biblical king Solomon.
With all prudence, we should note that a “bottomless pit” is known to be linked with Perillos, and even with a “Ramon de Perillos”, who chased the mythical beast, Babaos, into a “bottomless pit”, where the lord of the region killed it. Babaos as a cruel ruler, a demon, chased into a bottomless cave, and then conquered. Not only does this sound like a devil – Ramon de Perillos sounds a lot like the archangel Michael, conquering the devil.

Return to Rennes-le-Château

It seems that Saunière had certain information in his possession regarding secrets on the vault of the castle of the village. This should not come as a surprise. Saunière was the eldest son of the mayor of nearby Montazels, and thus could have had certain “privileged” information. That the priests had certain privileged information about the buildings they had to care for, would also not come as a surprise.
It is no longer in doubt that the church has an underground extension, as highlighted in our explanation of the cisterns underneath the village. Its existence is also highlighted in the Cholet report. At this moment in time, we need to add that the entire Cholet report has not been made public – what is in the public domain are either fragments or truncated interpretations of another document. Let us for the moment state that one of the descendants of the man who made this report lives only a few kilometres away from Durban. But we can only wonder why the entire version of the document has so far never been presented.

Knowledge of the underground

Like his pre-Revolution predecessors, Saunière “knew” of the underground structures that was his responsibility as parish priest. While restoring, the priest thus finds the access to the vault, from inside the church. Though it is certain that this event occurred, what happened next is less known, as Saunière made sure he would be alone in investigating its contents – if any.
But it is clear that this vault was known and used by the priests before his time, as it was the funeral residence of the lords of Rennes-le-Château.
Possibly, the entrance to this site had not been used since the last burial had occurred there, a century earlier, in the run-up to the French Revolution. Possibly, the system had become hazardous and/or degraded.

The demon guardian

Did Saunière leave Asmodeus there, as he felt that the demon was guardian his secret – his treasure? The demon stares towards the ground, the floor – it is a sign of penance, but we should note that he might also stare in the direction of the underground aspects of the chapel – where the mystery of Saunière seems to have begun – and where the source of his wealth started as well – if not came from. For de Sede, it was the “accursed treasure” and he used it as the title of one of his books.
Perhaps that is the main reason why Saunière placed the demon there: the devil guarded his “sanctuary”, and those who entered had to conquer the devil – or be conquered by him… they would be “bedevilled”. But let us also note that the present entrance was not the original entrance…

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