Saint Mary Magdalen is revered as a devoted disciple of Jesus, known for her presence at the Crucifixion and her pivotal role as the first witness to His Resurrection, earning her the title "Apostle to the Apostles."
Saint Mary Magdalen, a prominent figure in the Gospels, was a faithful follower of Jesus who ministered to Him and His disciples. She is notably present at the foot of the cross during His crucifixion, demonstrating unwavering loyalty. Her most significant role, however, is being the first person to encounter the Risen Christ and subsequently tasked by Him to announce His resurrection to the apostles, a mission that has earned her the venerable title "Apostle to the Apostles." Through her profound encounter with the Lord and her immediate obedience to proclaim the good news, Mary Magdalen serves as an enduring model of repentance, deep faith, and evangelization for all believers.
Mary Magdalen, whose feast day is celebrated on July 22nd, is one of the most prominent and beloved figures in the Gospels, revered for her profound devotion to Jesus Christ. Her name, Magdalen, is traditionally believed to derive from Magdala, a fishing town on the Sea of Galilee, suggesting her origin from this Galilean locale. She is specifically mentioned in Luke's Gospel as one of the women who accompanied Jesus and His disciples, providing for them out of their means, and from whom Jesus had cast out seven demons (Luke 8:2). While some Western traditions historically conflated Mary Magdalen with other New Testament women, such as the sinful woman who anointed Jesus' feet (Luke 7:36-50) or Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus, the Catholic Church's current understanding, particularly clarified by Pope Saint John Paul II and Pope Francis, distinguishes her as a unique and distinct individual. Her liberation from seven demons signifies a profound spiritual healing and transformation, marking the beginning of her unwavering commitment to Christ and setting the stage for her remarkable journey of faith. This initial encounter highlights Jesus' transformative power and Mary Magdalen's immediate and radical response to His grace.
Following her healing, Mary Magdalen became an ardent disciple, accompanying Jesus and the Twelve Apostles on their missionary journeys throughout Galilee and Judea. The Gospels portray her as a steadfast follower, deeply committed to supporting Jesus' ministry not only spiritually but also materially, alongside other devout women such as Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna (Luke 8:3). This active participation in the itinerant ministry underscores her dedication and courage, as women in that era faced significant societal constraints. Her presence among this group of followers demonstrates a radical breaking of social norms, driven by her love for Christ and her desire to serve. She listened to His teachings, witnessed His miracles, and absorbed the profound truths He shared, becoming an intimate part of His inner circle of devoted adherents. Her steadfastness contrasts sharply with the wavering faith of some others, even among the male disciples, during times of trial.
The depth of Mary Magdalen's devotion is most poignantly revealed during the darkest hours of Jesus' earthly life: His Passion and Crucifixion. Unlike many of the male disciples who fled in fear, Mary Magdalen stood courageously at the foot of the cross, enduring the unimaginable suffering of her Lord (John 19:25). She was present alongside the Blessed Mother Mary and other women, witnessing the agonizing death of Jesus. This act of unwavering loyalty in the face of extreme danger and despair speaks volumes about her profound love and fidelity. Her presence at Calvary is a testament to her steadfastness and courage, illustrating her profound personal attachment to Jesus, even when all seemed lost. She remained present through His final breath, sharing in His sorrow and demonstrating a profound witness to His sacrifice.
Mary Magdalen's pivotal role in salvation history culminates in her being the first person to encounter the Risen Christ. On the morning of the third day, after the Sabbath, she went to the tomb with other women, bringing spices to anoint Jesus' body, a customary act of reverence (Mark 16:1-2, Luke 24:1). Discovering the tomb empty, she ran to inform Peter and John, who then also witnessed the empty tomb. However, it was Mary who remained behind, weeping outside the tomb, where she first encountered two angels and then the Risen Lord Himself (John 20:11-16). Initially mistaking Him for the gardener, she recognized Him only when He spoke her name, "Mary!" Her immediate response, "Rabbouni!" (Teacher!), signifies the profound personal relationship she shared with Him. This encounter is a cornerstone of Christian belief, providing the first eyewitness account of the Resurrection.
After revealing Himself, Jesus entrusted Mary Magdalen with a singular mission: "Go to my brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God'" (John 20:17). She faithfully carried out this divine mandate, running to the disciples and proclaiming, "I have seen the Lord!" and recounting what He had told her (John 20:18). This extraordinary commission has earned her the venerable title "Apostle to the Apostles" (Apostola Apostolorum), a designation affirmed by Church Fathers like Saint Thomas Aquinas and formally recognized by Pope Francis in 2016 when he elevated her memorial to a feast in the General Roman Calendar. Her role as the first herald of the Resurrection underscores her immense importance in the early Church and her enduring significance as a model for all who are called to proclaim the Good News. She was the first to receive the message and the first to transmit it, making her an archetypal evangelizer.
The figure of Saint Mary Magdalen continues to inspire profound devotion and contemplation within the Catholic Church. She serves as a powerful symbol of repentance, radical conversion, unwavering fidelity, and zealous evangelization. Her transformation from one afflicted by evil to a beloved disciple and the first witness to the Resurrection demonstrates the boundless mercy and transformative power of Christ. Throughout history, various traditions have emerged regarding her later life, including claims that she traveled to Ephesus with the Virgin Mary and Saint John, or that she journeyed to Provence, France, where she spent her final years in prayer and contemplation in a cave. While these later traditions are not part of canonical scripture, they reflect the deep veneration and imaginative piety that has surrounded her figure for centuries. Her feast day on July 22nd is a joyful occasion for Catholics worldwide to celebrate her profound faith and her indispensable role in the narrative of salvation, reaffirming her status as a true saint and a model for all disciples.
After the glorious Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, the apostles scattered to preach the Gospel to all nations. Yet, for Mary Magdalen, the 'Apostle to the Apostles,' her zeal for Christ burned with an unquenchable fire. According to a venerable tradition, after years of evangelizing in the Holy Land and perhaps even journeying to Ephesus with the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint John, Mary Magdalen embarked on a remarkable voyage. Driven by divine providence, she, along with her siblings Martha and Lazarus, and other disciples, were said to have been placed in a boat without sails or oars, cast adrift upon the Mediterranean Sea. Miraculously, guided by God's hand, their vessel traversed the vast waters and landed safely on the shores of what is now known as Provence, in southern France.
Upon their arrival, Mary Magdalen did not cease her mission. She tirelessly preached the Good News to the pagan inhabitants of the region, converting many to the Christian faith. Tales recount her powerful sermons, her fervent prayers, and the miracles God worked through her intercession, drawing countless souls to Christ. Yet, as her work of evangelization established the nascent Church in Provence, a deeper call stirred within her soul—a longing for complete solitude and uninterrupted communion with her Beloved Lord, whose Risen presence she had been the first to behold.
Responding to this profound spiritual yearning, Mary Magdalen retreated from the bustling towns and sought refuge in the wilderness. She is said to have found a secluded cave high in the mountains of La Sainte-Baume, a rugged and remote grotto, which became her hermitage for the last thirty years of her earthly life. Here, far from human company, she lived a life of extreme penance, prayer, and contemplation. Legend describes how, each day, angels would lift her up to the heavens for a brief, ecstatic moment, nourishing her not with earthly food but with divine visions and the sweet melodies of celestial choirs.
In this solitary abode, Mary Magdalen's spirit soared, purified by silence and sustained by her profound love for Jesus. Her life in La Sainte-Baume became a testament to the power of contemplative prayer and radical devotion, revealing a soul utterly consumed by Christ. Even in her final moments, as she was brought down from her mountain retreat to receive the Holy Eucharist from Saint Maximin, her face shone with the radiance of one who had lived in constant communion with the divine. This tradition beautifully illustrates Mary Magdalen's enduring character: her unwavering fidelity, her apostolic zeal, and her ultimate desire for an intimate, unceasing relationship with her Risen Lord, a desire that led her to sacrifice all for Him.
2016-06-03
The Holy Father Francis has taken the decision to elevate the celebration of Saint Mary Magdalene from the rank of an obligatory memorial to that of a feast, inserting it in the General Roman Calendar. The decision was taken precisely in the context of the Jubilee of Mercy to underline the importance of this woman who showed a great love for Christ and was much loved by Christ. As Saint Gregory the Great states, she is a witness to Divine Mercy and has been called 'Apostle of the Apostles' by Saint Thomas Aquinas. Therefore it is right that the liturgical celebration of this woman should have the same level of festivity given to the celebration of the Apostles in the General Roman Calendar, and that the special mission of this woman be highlighted, as an example and model to every woman in the Church.
Mary Magdalene is the first witness to the Resurrection of Christ and the first to announce the Lord’s Resurrection to the Apostles. She is presented in the Gospels as a disciple of the Lord, who followed him during his public ministry, stood at the foot of the Cross, and was the first to meet the Risen Christ. The Gospel of John (20:1-2, 11-18) presents some important elements in this regard. Mary Magdalene is the first to arrive at the tomb, even when it is still dark, as a sign of the profound and passionate love that binds her to the Lord. Her initial confusion, thinking that the tomb had been violated, then leads her to return and weep, remaining near the tomb, even when Peter and the 'other disciple' had left. It is precisely in her persistent search for the Lord, in her ability to transcend the fact that the tomb is empty, and in her tears, that the Lord reveals himself to her.
The encounter between Jesus and Mary Magdalene is not only a consolation, but it is a true evangelical mission, because Jesus says to her: 'Go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God' (Jn 20:17). This is the mission that Mary Magdalene receives: to announce the Resurrection. It is precisely for this reason that the Church has always considered her the 'Apostle of the Apostles.' She is the one who announces to the Apostles what they in turn will announce to the whole world. The celebration of the Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene is a call to all Christians to reflect on the dignity of women, on the new evangelization, and on the greatness of the mystery of Divine Mercy.
The particularity of this feast is also noted in the fact that the Church's liturgy makes explicit reference to Mary Magdalene as the one who saw the empty tomb and was the first to meet the Risen Christ. She is called 'apostola apostolorum' not only because she was the messenger of the Resurrection to the Apostles, but also because her life represents a model for all those who are called to announce the Good News. Her experience reminds us that a true evangelizer is one who has had a personal encounter with the Risen Lord, who has been touched by His mercy, and who is eager to share this joy with others.
The decision to elevate her memorial to a feast also reflects the deep appreciation for the role of women in the Church's mission. From the earliest days of Christianity, women have played an indispensable part in spreading the Gospel, supporting the ministry, and witnessing to Christ's love. Mary Magdalene stands as a pre-eminent example of this commitment and dedication. Her story is a testament to the fact that God chooses whom He wills, regardless of gender or past circumstances, to be instruments of His grace and heralds of His saving message. Her conversion, her unwavering fidelity at the foot of the cross, and her privileged encounter with the Risen Lord make her an enduring icon of faith, hope, and charity for all believers. This elevation therefore represents a recognition of the importance of her testimony and her evangelizing mission within the Church.
Pilgrimages to the grotto of La Sainte-Baume, where tradition holds she lived as a hermit for her final years.
Long-standing pious tradition that Saint Mary Magdalen spent the last thirty years of her life in contemplation and penance in this mountain grotto, attracting pilgrims for centuries. (Source: New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia, La Sainte Baume official site)
Veneration of her relics and local festivals held in towns like Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, where her tomb and basilica are located.
Traditional belief that Saint Mary Magdalen evangelized and was buried in this region, leading to centuries of local devotion and pilgrimages to her purported tomb. (Source: New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia, La Sainte Baume official site)
Special liturgical celebrations, often including solemn Masses and community gatherings, are held in parishes and churches dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalen.
Her status as a patron saint for many churches and communities worldwide, including in the United States, leads to special observances on her feast day. (Source: Catholic Culture liturgical calendar)
Small, shell-shaped sponge cakes with a distinctive humped back, often lightly flavored with lemon zest or vanilla.
These cakes are popularly associated with Saint Mary Magdalen due to the similarity in name, though the direct historical origin is debated. Some pious traditions also link their shell shape to the scallop shell, a symbol of pilgrimage, and Mary Magdalen is revered as a penitent pilgrim and evangelist.