The Gospel of the Messiah Widow
In 1999, an American seminary student named Paul Stone disappeared shortly after a pilgrimage through northern Spain. Among his possessions were found several journals recording his pilgrimage. Most of the notes were from a three day period he spent in an unnamed village somewhere along the Camino de Santiago. These journals document what Stone initially called "A new Gospel, straight from Divinity."
Stone's subsequent commentary within the journals, however, reveal some doubt as to the origins of this Gospel, and whether or not the intent of the source is good or evil, or something else entirely. The Gospel as he recorded it was spoken in English by a Spanish woman, Helena Vasquez, who had a fever and, according to all others in the village, had never spoken English in her life. Her mother assured Stone that Helena couldn't possibly know English. Stone is convinced that the Gospel spoken by Helena Vasquez came from a supernatural source, but due to its content, had great trepidation about calling it a "miracle". He also would not go so far as confirming the fears of some villagers, that it was some kind of possession.
According to Stone's journal, the Vasquez Gospel begins with the assertion that Jesus was married and details the life and journey of his widow after the crucifixion. (Stone makes some apology for using the term "widow", since from the perspective of his Christian background, Jesus hasn't died. There has not been a divorce, and yet, she has lost her earthly husband.) The Messiah Widow journeys through the wilderness and finds herself chosen for a quest that takes her through mythic battles, pagan magic, and the tuition of Goddesses to an ancient, holy place where life began.
There is little explanation or evidence for the disappearance of Paul Stone other than what might be implied from his journals. The journals were found at his last known location, the Cathedral at Santiago de Compostela in Spain, the ultimate destination of his pilgrimage, and supposedly, the resting place of the remains of Saint James the Apostle. The journal was sent to his only known relative who published them under the title "The Lilith Tree." No longer in print, this book inspired the play, based on Paul Stone's journal account of the vision of Helena Vasquez, entitled
"Gospel of the Messiah Widow"