St. Mary Magdelene
The Penitent
Feastday: July 22
She is called the Penitent. St. Mary was given the
name Magdalen because, though a Jewish girl, she
lived in a Gentile town called Magdale, in northern
Galilee, and her culture and manners were those of a
Gentile. St. Luke records that she was a notorious
sinner, and had seven devils removed from her. She
was present at Our Lords' Crucifixion, and with Joanna
and Mary, the mother of James and Salome, at Jesus'
empty tomb. Fourteen years after Our Lord's death,
St. Mary was put in a boat by the Jews without sails or
oars - along with Sts. Lazarus and Martha, St. Maximin
(who baptized her), St. Sidonius ("the man born blind"),
her maid Sera, and the body of St. Anne, the mother
of the Blessed Virgin. They were sent drifting out to
sea and landed on the shores of Southern France,
where St. Mary spent the rest of her life as a contemplative
in a cave known as Sainte-Baume. She was given the Holy Eucharist daily by angels
as her only food, and died when she was 72. St. Mary was transported miraculously,
just before she died, to the chapel of St. Maximin, where she received the last
sacraments.
More about this saint: St. Mary Magdalen (Feast day - July 22) Mary Magdalen was
well known as a sinner when she first saw Our Lord. She was very beautiful and very
proud, but after she met Jesus, she felt great sorrow for her evil life. When Jesus
went to supper at the home of a rich man named Simon, Mary came to weep at His
feet. Then with her long beautiful hair, she wiped His feet dry and anointed them with
expensive perfume. Some people were surprised that Jesus let such a sinner touch
Him, but Our Lord could see into Mary's heart, and He said: "Many sins are forgiven
her, because she has loved very much." Then to Mary He said kindly, "Your faith has
made you safe; go in peace." From then on, with the other holy women, Mary humbly
served Jesus and His Apostles. When Our Lord was crucified, she was there at the
foot of His cross, unafraid for herself, and thinking only of His sufferings. No wonder
Jesus said of her: "She has loved much." After Jesus' body had been placed in the
tomb, Mary went to anoint it with spices early Easter Sunday morning. Not finding the
Sacred Body, she began to weep, and seeing someone whom she thought was the
gardener, she asked him if he knew where the Body of her beloved Master had been
taken. But then the person spoke in a voice she knew so well: "Mary!" It was Jesus,
risen from the dead! He had chosen to show Himself first to Mary Magdalen, the
repentent sinner.
The Penitent
Feastday: July 22
She is called the Penitent. St. Mary was given the
name Magdalen because, though a Jewish girl, she
lived in a Gentile town called Magdale, in northern
Galilee, and her culture and manners were those of a
Gentile. St. Luke records that she was a notorious
sinner, and had seven devils removed from her. She
was present at Our Lords' Crucifixion, and with Joanna
and Mary, the mother of James and Salome, at Jesus'
empty tomb. Fourteen years after Our Lord's death,
St. Mary was put in a boat by the Jews without sails or
oars - along with Sts. Lazarus and Martha, St. Maximin
(who baptized her), St. Sidonius ("the man born blind"),
her maid Sera, and the body of St. Anne, the mother
of the Blessed Virgin. They were sent drifting out to
sea and landed on the shores of Southern France,
where St. Mary spent the rest of her life as a contemplative
in a cave known as Sainte-Baume. She was given the Holy Eucharist daily by angels
as her only food, and died when she was 72. St. Mary was transported miraculously,
just before she died, to the chapel of St. Maximin, where she received the last
sacraments.
More about this saint: St. Mary Magdalen (Feast day - July 22) Mary Magdalen was
well known as a sinner when she first saw Our Lord. She was very beautiful and very
proud, but after she met Jesus, she felt great sorrow for her evil life. When Jesus
went to supper at the home of a rich man named Simon, Mary came to weep at His
feet. Then with her long beautiful hair, she wiped His feet dry and anointed them with
expensive perfume. Some people were surprised that Jesus let such a sinner touch
Him, but Our Lord could see into Mary's heart, and He said: "Many sins are forgiven
her, because she has loved very much." Then to Mary He said kindly, "Your faith has
made you safe; go in peace." From then on, with the other holy women, Mary humbly
served Jesus and His Apostles. When Our Lord was crucified, she was there at the
foot of His cross, unafraid for herself, and thinking only of His sufferings. No wonder
Jesus said of her: "She has loved much." After Jesus' body had been placed in the
tomb, Mary went to anoint it with spices early Easter Sunday morning. Not finding the
Sacred Body, she began to weep, and seeing someone whom she thought was the
gardener, she asked him if he knew where the Body of her beloved Master had been
taken. But then the person spoke in a voice she knew so well: "Mary!" It was Jesus,
risen from the dead! He had chosen to show Himself first to Mary Magdalen, the
repentent sinner.
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