St. Mary Magdalene is one of the most significant characters in the Gospels. In fact, except for the mother of Jesus, few women are more honored in all of the Bible than Mary Magdalene. We first meet her in St. Luke’s Gospel (Lk 8,2) where we are told that Jesus and the Twelve were accompanied in their preaching of the Good News by some women. It is said that these women had been “cured of evil spirits and infirmities.” Among them was Mary, called Magdalene, “from whom seven demons had gone out.” The location of the town of Magdala was likely near Tiberias, near the Sea of Galilee.
The next time we meet Mary Magdalene is during the crucifixion of Jesus on Calvary. There were “many women” keeping vigil there and among them was Mary Magdalene (Matt 27,56; Mark 15,40; and John 19,25). After the burial of Jesus, Mary Magdalene with “the other Mary” remained at the entrance of the tomb. In St. John’s Gospel, she went back to the tomb on her own early on Sunday morning. Then, after Peter and the ‘Beloved Disciple’ had gone to the tomb to investigate, Mary Magdalene remained there by herself and the Risen Jesus appeared to her, after which she went back to the disciples and told them that she had seen the Lord. Of all the “official” witnesses who might have been chosen for the first awareness of the Resurrection, she was the one to whom that privilege was given. Thus, she has been called the “Apostle to the Apostles.”
Over the centuries, Mary Magdalene has sometimes been mistakenly identified with Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, and also with the sinful woman who went into the house of Simon and anointed Jesus’ feet with ointment. These identifications were first proposed by Gregory the Great, but have since been called into question by scholars. At one time, in England, there were 187 churches dedicated to her and both Oxford and Cambridge universities have colleges named after her. Her close relationship to Jesus explains her great popularity over the centuries.
Let us pray. O God, your Son first entrusted to Mary Magdalene the joyful news of His resurrection. By her prayers and example may we proclaim Christ as our living Lord and may we be filled with the same faithful love that kept her close to Him. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
