| When
journalist Maureen Paschal begins the research
for a new book, she has no idea that she is stepping
into an ancient mystery so complex and dangerous
that thousands of people have killed and died
for it. Disturbing visions of a woman in red
veils haunt her dreams and color her life, driving
Maureen to seek the help of experts on everything
from religion to folklore to occult societies.
Along with her cousin, Father Peter Healy, and
a handful of new friends steeped in the history
she finds herself inextricably linked to, Maureen
travels to France to unravel the secrets of an
undiscovered treasure resting somewhere in the
rocky wilds of the French Pyrenees. A series
of scrolls written in the first century by Mary
Magdalene, these startling documents hold the
power to redefine the events and characters of
the New Testament. Protected by supernatural
forces, the priceless cache can only be uncovered
by a special seeker, one who has been chosen
for the task by divine providence -- The Expected
One. Meanwhile, a renegade and ruthless secret
society that has operated throughout Europe and
the United States for centuries, The Guild of
the Righteous is pathologically obsessed with
the treasure. For their own shocking reasons
they will stop at nothing to secure the priceless
scrolls for themselves -- and eliminate those
who oppose them. |
Discussion Points
- Maureen has her students
take a vow to remember: “History is not what happened.
History is what was written down.” She
later discusses the importance of “experiential
understanding” when touring the Cathar
region of Languedoc, France with Jean-Claude.
How do you feel about Maureen’s approach
to studying the past? What are the benefits
and drawbacks to relying on oral traditions
for information?
- Maureen’s book, Herstory,
proposes that, throughout history, male record-keepers
and scholars have intentionally slandered
women. Identify some of the historically
important women mentioned in The Expected
One. Discuss and compare their stories
as you first learned them to their stories
as retold by characters in the novel.
- Many characters in
this novel struggle to reconcile the idea
of religion with faith, “Church” with
spiritual experience. Describe some of the
personal conflicts that these characters
encounter, such as Maureen’s visions
versus her disdain for the Church. What concepts
or situations in the novel leave you feeling
similarly torn?
- Father Peter Healy
explains, “for
people of faith the facts simply don’t
matter. But don’t make the common mistake
of confusing faith with ignorance.” Do
you think his opinion has changed by the
end of the novel? Do you think that faith
and fact can coexist? What are the dangers
of holding to faith to the exclusion of fact,
and vice versa?
- Why do you think the author chose to interject
passages from the Arques Gospel of Mary Magdalene,
The Book of Disciples, throughout the novel?
Discuss how each cited passage relates to
the text it precedes.
- Names are an important
factor in genealogy. Identify the characters
with names that have significance to the
story. For example, Maureen (“Little Mary”)
and Paschal (which indicates her relation
to Mary the Shepherdess and the Expected
One prophecy).
- As she pursues the
truth about Mary Magdalene and Jesus, Maureen
learns much about the politics of the early
Christian movement. Discuss the ways in
which politics influenced this novel’s
version of biblical events.
- In this novel, both John the Baptist and
Jesus are martyred for different reasons
and to different effects. How were the deaths
of these two critical figures each beneficial
and detrimental to the Christian movement
as described in the novel?
- When did you first
suspect who the “Messiah” of
the Guild of the Righteous was? Were you
surprised to learn that followers of John
have developed such a different variation
of Christianity than followers of the Nazarenes?
- Tammy and Maureen
contemplate the resistance of most theologians
to the idea of Jesus as a married man.
Tammy says to Maureen, “How
does that impact his divinity? I just don’t
see it.” What do you think? Would it
change your opinion of Christianity if Jesus
married Mary Magdalene and fathered children?
Do you think he could have been both the
Son of God and a family man? Why or why not?
- Regardless of his motives, John the Baptist
is portrayed as an abusive, controlling husband
to Mary. Yet Mary prays for his forgiveness
for the rest of her life. Is this a realistic
response? Contrast this with Salome, who
schemes to have John arrested and whose manipulations
ultimately lead to his death.
- Love and forgiveness
are critical elements of Christianity,
or “The Way” as
the Jesus and Mary Magdalene of this novel
taught it. For Maureen, forgiving her cousin
Peter for his betrayal seems to come so easily.
Which other characters are also in a position
to forgive? Which choose to do so and why?
- It is clear early on that someone is watching
Maureen very closely. Were you surprised
to find out that it was Peter all along?
Did you expect Peter to steal the scrolls
to give them to the Church? What clues, if
any, did you pick up on throughout the novel?
- Many of the characters in The Expected
One turn out to be quite different
than they appear. Which characters’ true
roles in the plot were you most surprised
to discover, and why?
- If the information presented in this novel
turned out to be true, how do you think it
would change Christianity? Do you think it
could change the world? Why or why not?
- Every story has two
sides. Identify and discuss the alternate
views presented in the novel regarding
historical figures, events, and works of
art or literature such as the execution
of John the Baptist, Joan of Arc, da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” and
Mary Magdalene.
Enhance Your Book Club Experience
Attend a local art exhibit
or bring photocopies or printouts of da Vinci’s and Botticelli’s
various works depicting Mary Magdalene, John
the Baptist, and Jesus to the next meeting
of your reading group. Examine their symbolism
together and see if you agree or disagree with
the interpretations given in the novel.
Research the Languedoc region of France, the
setting for most of The Expected One and
the location in which Mary Magdalene is reported
to have spent the latter part of her life.
You can start with photos and descriptions
at http://www.languedoc-france.info and
read more about the Cathar doctrines at http://www.le-guide.com/catharindex.html
Names are important to
Maureen (“Little
Mary”), as they provide clues to our
genealogy. Have everyone in the group research
the origin of his or her name, and then write
the history on an index card. Read the cards
out loud and have everyone guess which name
is which.
The author subtly touches on the controversies
surrounding the bestselling novel, The
Da Vinci Code, when Maureen explains to
her students that she didn’t address
the issue of Jesus and Mary’s potentially
intimate relationship because she “doesn’t
believe there is any evidence to back up those
claims.” If you’ve read The
Da Vinci Code, compare its version of
the Mary Magdalene secrets to those revealed
in The Expected One.
If you enjoyed The Expected One, you
might try one of the following books. After
you’ve read both have a meeting to discuss
them. Which stories, characters, and mysteries
did you most appreciate?
The Secret Supper
The Da Vinci Code
The Templar Legacy
The Last Templar
The Knights Templar
The Templar Revelation
The Templar Papers
The Knight’s Templar Chronology
The Lost Colony of the Templars
The Jesus Papers
The Judas Gospels
The Jesus Dynasty
Resurrection Of Mary Magdalene: Legends, Apocrypha,
And The Christian Testament
St. Mary Magdalene
The Gospels of Mary: The Secret Tradition of
Mary Magdalene, the Companion of Jesus
The Lost Sisterhood: The Return of Mary Magdalene,
The Mother Mary, and Other Holy Women
Searching for Mary Magdalene: A Journey Through
Art and Literature
The Treasure of Rennes-le-Chateau: A Mystery
Solved
Botticelli |
