Black Death Personal Statement

As growing up Jewish, my family converted to Catholicism because it was difficult to have freedom and be accepted by the society for our different beliefs. I was born on December 14th, 1503 in Saint-Remy-de-Provence, France. My grand father Jean De St. Remy saw potential in me and introduced me to the first principles of Greek, Latin, astrology, and mathematics. My family named me Michel De Notredame and I live quite well since the fact my grandfathers were doctors in the court of King René of Provence. When I was fourteen I went to the University of Avignon to study medicine but later forced to leave due to an outbreak of the Black Death. Later, I pursued my doctorate in medicine at the University of Montpelier. Although, living conditions were filthy and harsh it made the plague spread rapidly. When treating people, I knew the right conditions and precautions to avoid contracting the plague.

During the Black

Death, people all over the town were frighten. They didn't know what triggered it and neither did I. All I could do was ease the pain and gave them remedies such as a rose pill I made in substitute of the blood bedding. The rose pill is an herbal lozenge that consists of high Vitamin C which gave them relief from the pain. I also advised my patients to get plenty of fresh air and water. I recommended a low-fat diet and clean bedding. The Black Death made it difficult for farmers to cultivate knowing they had to meet the demand for food. When weather got colder that meant a shorter growing. Lumber became scarce and critical in the economy while the forests became wiped out and cleared. Famine took its' toll and population reached its peak.

Around 1538, I was ordered to appear before the Church Inquisition, but I chose to leave Province. I traveled for several years through Turkey, Greece and Italy. During this time of my travels, I became fascinated in the ancient mystery schools. I've experienced a psychic awakening and one day I met group of monks including Felice Peretti. I began to miss the feeling of being home so I returned back to France. I continued treating my patients who had the plague. When everything seemed to be good I got remarried to a wealthy widow named Anne Ponsarde and I had six children.

Within a few years, I began to lose interest from medicine and started to move forward towards the occult.

I spent plenty of hours studying at night meditating in front of a bowl filled with water and herbs. It helped me see visions that were my predictions for the future. In 1550, I wrote my first almanac of astrological information and predictions for the future. The town loved my book because it helped farmers , merchants, and even entertained the locals. In 1555, I published Les Prophesies, a long-term predictions I saw of the up coming years. People thought I was working for the devil and others said I gone insane or I'm faking it. Catherine de Medici called upon me after reading my book. She wanted me to come to Paris so I can tell her the horoscopes for her son. I informed her that "young lion who would overcome an older one on the field of battle. The young lion would pierce the eye of the older one and he would die a cruel death.' I warned the king Henri that he should steer clear of ceremonial jousting. Years later, he died from what I

predicted.

Looking back at my life I wouldn't take or regret anything. I'm proud to say that I've help many through the black death and although I venture off to occult it was fascinating. I suffer from gout and arthritis which later my condition turned into edema or dropsy, I went to go visit my lawyer so I can make a will for my wife and children.