Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene – July 22

The Gospel of Luke mentions Mary Magdalene as one of the women disciples who accompanied Jesus on his travels. The Twelve were with him "as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources" (Luke 8:2-3).

Later, Mary Magdalene would be a witness to Jesus' crucifixion, his burial and to the discovery of the empty tomb. With regard to the crucifixion, Mark wrote: "There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome" (Mark 15:40). With regard to his burial by Joseph of Arimathea, Mark wrote: "Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was laid" Mark (15:47). And with regard to the discovery of the empty tomb, Mark writes: "When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him" (Mark 16:1).

The Gospel of Saint John mentions Mary Magdalene as the first who bears witness that Jesus has risen. The wonderful story of her meeting with the living Jesus, which resonates with the echoes of the Song of Songs and the desperate search by the beloved for her beloved, is the reading for this feast day:

"But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her" (John 20:11-18)

Let us pray on this feast day of Saint Mary Magdalene that we too might persevere in our search for the one we love, and that we might be witnesses to his resurrection in faith and in joy.