July 22: Saint Mary Magdalene—Feast

First Century
Patron Saint of pharmacists, contemplatives, converts, glovemakers, hairdressers, penitent sinners, people ridiculed for their piety, perfumers, reformed prostitutes, tanners, women
Invoked against sexual temptations
Pre-Congregation canonization

Saint Mary Magdalene, also known as Magdalene or Mary of Magdala, is likely named for the busy fishing village of Magdala on the Sea of Galilee’s western edge. All we know about Mary comes from the Gospels. Luke 8:1–3 introduces her as one of the women who accompanied and provided for Jesus and the Twelve. The women had been “cured of evil spirits and infirmities.” Mary is noted to have been delivered from “seven demons,” which could be distinct demons who possessed, obsessed, or oppressed Mary. The number seven also symbolizes perfection, implying complete possession or perfect deliverance from these demons and from an evil life. Thus, she never returned to the sins from which Jesus delivered her. Some identify the seven demons as the seven capital sins, implying that Mary had gravely violated them all and was delivered from each of these sinful habits.

While many presume that the anonymous “sinful woman” who washes Jesus’ feet with her tears, wipes them with her hair, and anoints them from an “alabaster flask of ointment” in Luke 7:35-50 is Mary Magdalene, there is no way to be certain. This sinful woman might have been Mary of Bethany, Lazarus’ and Martha’s sister. It could have been a woman not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible, or one of the other women who accompanied Jesus and provided for Him and the Twelve.

The second time that Mary Magdalene is explicitly mentioned in the Bible is at Jesus’ crucifixion. Matthew, Mark, and Luke state that she and other women looked on from a distance. John’s Gospel has her standing near the Cross next to Jesus’ mother and aunt: “Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala” (John 19:25).

Mary Magdalene appears a third time after the Resurrection. Matthew, Mark, and Luke state that she and one or more other women went to the tomb early on Sunday morning to anoint Jesus’ body. John’s Gospel states that she went alone, found the stone rolled away, and Jesus’ body missing. She ran to tell Peter and John, who left after investigating and finding the tomb empty. As Mary sat by the tomb crying, two angels appeared and conversed with her. She then turned and saw someone whom she mistook for the gardener. Asking if he had taken Jesus’ body, she recognized Jesus when He said, “Mary!” Jesus said, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God’” (John 20:17). Mary quickly informed the disciples that she had seen the Lord.

Because Mary announced Jesus’ Resurrection to the disciples, Saint Thomas Aquinas referred to her as the “Apostle to the Apostles.” Though the Bible infers that Mary Magdalene was the first to see the risen Lord, some theologians hold that Jesus appeared first to His own Mother, although this is not recorded in the Gospels. Nothing else is known about Mary Magdalene. One tradition says that she accompanied John and the Blessed Mother to Ephesus, where she spent the rest of her days.

Let us Pray: Saint Mary Magdalene, when you encountered Jesus, you repented of your sinful life and followed Him. You remained faithful to Him, witnessing His death and Resurrection. Please pray that I may courageously repent of my sins and stand with you at the foot of the Cross so that I may witness the transforming effects of the Resurrection. Saint Mary Magdalene, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.