The priest of Baulou
 

This story resembles Rennes le Chateau’s although it took place 25 years before it.
 

Louis de Coma was born in 1822 in Foix (Ariege). He was from a very catholique family of nine children. His father, Bonnaventure was a famous architect.

Louis began religious studies at the seminary (Grand et Petit Séminaire). He was a smart pupil who worked hard. He did not want to be a simple country priest. In 1844 he enters the Jesuit Seminary in Saint Acheul in Amiens.

He was a teacher in several religious school in the south of France until 1855. During this year his father died and Louis came back to the family domain in Baulou, Ariège, 50kms far from Rennes le Chateau.

He was the leader of the "Association de la Bonne Mort" (Good Death association) , which was affiliated to "la Compagnie de Jesus". Its aim was to help the faithful to prepare for their death and their departure towards paradise. This "preparation" consisted of sending gifts , or going into retreat (for which people had to pay) , and to confession. He also founded "L’oeuvre de Gethsemani" (The work of Gethsemani) which received payments for masses which were to be said for the dead:

• An individual mass was 100f

• A collective mass was 1f

He travelled through France to make people aware of the probleme of their death. He was helped by the Jesuits who went ahead of them in order to "prepare " the people for his coming. So he earned thousands of francs he gave to his superiors. Did he give them all of that money? No he did not. In 1860, like Berenger Sauniere, he started to build a underground chapel, a grotto from which ran a spring, a monastery, a church, a Way of the Cross. During the 20 years the work lasted he raised funds and tried to convince some monastic orders to settle in his monastery.

He received 4000 francs (golden value) from . . . . the Countess of Chambord. How did the Countess come to give money to this priest in Ariege ? Thanks to another priest, a teacher in Narbonne, Alfred Sauniere.

Unfortunately , he cannot convince anyone to settle in his monastery. In 1879, Jules Ferry has "la Compagnie de Jesus" dissolved. But in 1885, monks of the congregation of the holy Ghost accept to come to the monastery. This did not stay there long because they had an argument with Louis de Coma. Then he made an apostolic school of the building. The cost of the buildings and the demands for masses was evaluated to 500. 000 francs (golden value).

But contrary to Berenger Sauniere, Louis de Coma always had a modest way of life. So a part of this money disappeared . . . Is that the track of a new treasure?

Profaned tombs