Church of Magdalene

One of the six faiths of France, the Church of Magdalene is dedicated to the worship of the anointed one Marie of Magdalene, usually simply referred to as Magdalene la Cristi. The wife of Jesus and the mother of his children Sarah and Gebuya, Magdalene is a goddess of marriage, motherhood, love, fertility, and sexuality. Those acolytes and priestesses who call upon the power of Magdalene may use her grace to heal wounds, cure disease, remove nervousness and anxiety, and deliver messages from beyond death to bereft loved ones. Those who serve Magdalene are also trained in herbcraft and midwifery. Finally, in response to slander put forward by Pierre's Church in Rome, many acolytes and priestesses of Magdalene either minister to prostitutes or practice sacred prostitution themselves.

Structure

The Church of Magdalene is led by Her Holiness, the High Priestess of Magdalene. She controls the church of Magdalene's holy seat in Paris, at the church Notre Dame Magdalene de Paris (literally Our Lady Magdalene of Paris). All other churches dedicated to Magdalene throughout France are operated by Abbesses (addressed as Mother Superior) each of whom reports to Her Holiness. Below that are the ordained priestesses of Magdalene (addressed as Mother). The Mothers of Magdalene handle many duties such as delivering sermons, providing healing and succor to the sick and wounded, and providing council and religious advise to those who ask for guidance. Mothers of Magdalene are always female, as the name suggests. Finally, below the ordained priestesses are the acolytes (addressed as Brother or Sister). Many acolytes are in training to become priestesses, but for man called to Magdalene's service, acolyte is as high as they may rise in the organization. And yet, acolytes are not unimportant, performing much of the daily work of the church by working as sacred prostitutes, scholars, midwives, and assistants to higher functionaries.

Public Agenda

The Church of Magdalene seeks to promote good health, both physical and mental, in France. Those sworn to Magdalene seek to help love blossom into healthy relationships when they can. They seek to provide aid and relief to those who are sick or wounded, as well as comfort to the lost and lonely.

Assets

The Church of Magdalene is one of the wealthiest churches in France, supported both by the usual tithes and by the income of thousands of sacred prostitutes. They pay much of this back to the community by providing healing and family planning options to every citizen of France.

History

Like the other branches of the Church of France, the Church of Magdalene was created by French clergy upset over the gospels of Jesus and Magdalene being removed from the Bible of Rome. Those two texts became the core of the French Bible, with additional gospels from Sarah and Gebuya.
Since that time, the Church of Magdalene has been one of the pillars of the Church of France.

Mythology & Lore

The Gospel of Magdalene focuses mostly on the sermons of Jesus, as witnessed and remembered by Marie Magdalene, as well as her own sermons delivered after her arrival in Gaul. Includes the stories of Lazarus and Bethany.

Granted Divine Powers

While not all acolytes and priestesses of Magdalene can channel her divine presence, those who can are granted certain divine powers.
Laying on Hands The power most commonly granted to followers of Magdalene is the ability to heal wounds and cure diseases with a touch. To accomplish this, an acolyte or priestess first prays to Magdalene, asking to be filled with her divine presence. If/when this occurs, the practitioner then places her hands over the afflicted area. The practitioners may glow or there may be an ethereal scent - such things vary from person to person - but the effect is that the wounds knit closed or diseased tissue becomes healthy once again.
Warding the Womb Acolytes and priestesses of Magdalene can, as an extension of laying on hands, create a ward upon a woman's womb that repels sperm away from the cervix. This both prevents sperm from entering the uterus in the first place and pushes sperm back out of the vaginal opening to prevent later entry. This magical diaphragm lasts for 24 hours, meaning that a woman who wishes to make love with a man may visit a church of Magdalene in the morning to have the ward applied and safely have sex that same evening without worrying about becoming pregnant. Female acolytes and priestesses of Magdalene who are sexually active often ward their own wombs each morning as a part of their morning prayers.
Calming Aura Another power granted to some acolytes and priestesses of Magdalene is the ability to create a calming aura. The practitioner begins much as with laying on hands, but rather than focusing the divine power into her hands, the priestess allows it to radiate out from herself. This radiant divine energy, which can be experienced as a glow or a sudden warmth, calms fear and nervousness of those nearby. While rare, particularly skilled priestesses can unleash a more powerful version of this aura that causes those who witness it to fall to their knees in awe.
Commune with Magdalene/the Dead This power is granted exclusively to sacred prostitutes. While difficult, some acolytes and priestesses can call down Magdalene's power during sexual intercourse. Merely by doing so, the practitioner can allow her sexual partner to experience that divine presence as well. What happens then is not up to the priestess, but instead the will of the goddess herself. Sometimes the goddess will deliver a message to the sexual partner through the sacred prostitute's lips. Sometimes the goddess will cause the sexual partner to experience the sacred prostitute as a dead loved one. And at other times, the sexual partner will simply feel the divine love of the goddess envelop them. Whatever the case, providing this direct connection to Magdalene herself is one of the most important spiritual duties of a sacred prostitute.

Sects

The Temple of Isis in Egypt worships Magdalene as the mortal incarnation of the goddess Isis. Unlike the Church of France, worshipers of Isis do not engage in sacred prostitution.

Founding Date

328 CE

Type

Religious, Organised Religion

Leader

Mother Arlette, High Priestess of Magdalene

Parent Organization

Church of France

Deities

• Marie Magdalene la Christi

Divines

• Marie Magdalene la Christi

Location

Paris, City of Our Lady Magdalene

Controlled Territories

• Mauguio Carnon Abbey
• Notre Dame Magdalene de Paris