St. Mary Magdalene
Friends in Christ, today is the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene. Mary Magdalene has been called the 2nd most significant woman in the New Testament, 2nd only to the Blessed Mother. She was present at the two important events: Jesus’ crucifixion, and his resurrection. In the Holy Gospels she is named at least 12 times, more than most of the apostles. St. John and St. Mark mention Mary Magdalene as the first person to see Jesus after his resurrection, and she brought the news to the Apostles. For this reason St. Augustine calls her the ‘Apostle to the Apostles’.
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For some periods in the Church, Mary Magdalene was one of the most popular saints, this is because she was a great sinner who had become a disciple and therefore a real hope for us.
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For most of the history of the Faith, for important reasons, it was believed that Mary Magdalene was the sinful woman who came and anointed Jesus’ feet, whom he forgave. Today, among so-called intellectuals, it has become fashionable to claim that she was not that woman, that she was not a penitent prostitute, but I myself am not beholden to the latest fads, I prefer to trust the saints.
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It has been said that St Mary Magdalene is one of the sweetest of the saints, because her love was so great. After her having washed Christ’s feet with her tears, and dried them with her hair, Jesus praised her love and said: ‘Much is forgiven her, because she loves so much.’ Mary Magdalene had in her heart, since the day Jesus forgave her – she had in her heart, gratitude.
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She was from Magdala, a small fishing town on the Sea of Galilee, between Capernaum and Tiberias. Fr. Cliff Stevens says, ‘She was known to be a “great sinner,” a woman of the streets, who heard Jesus speak of the mercy and forgiveness of God, and changed her life completely.’ It was meeting God’s mercy, and thankful for a whole new, life, that explains Mary’s behavior at the tomb that Easter morn. Having thought Christ was the gardener, she asked what they have done with Jesus, and the Lord suddenly said to her: ‘Mary!’
‘O Raboni!, she said. And then she threw her arms around her Savior.
It was because she was full of gratitude.
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She is the patron saint of pharmacists, converts, glove makers, hairdressers, penitent sinners, people ridiculed for their piety; perfume makers, and reformed prostitutes.
