St. Mary Magdalene
Feast Day: July 22
“I have seen the Lord!” – John 20:18
Apostle to the Apostles
St. Mary Magdalene is honored as a faithful disciple of Jesus, the first witness to the Resurrection, and the one who announced the risen Christ to the apostles. Her feast day, celebrated on July 22, celebrates her deep love, repentance, and unwavering faithfulness to Christ.
A Life Transformed by Mercy
Mary Magdalene is often identified as the woman from whom Jesus cast out seven demons (Luke 8:2). She experienced a profound conversion, leaving behind her past life and following Jesus with total devotion.
Tradition has sometimes confused her with other women in the Gospels, but what is clear from Scripture is that she was a beloved disciple who experienced Jesus’s healing and mercy in a powerful way.
A Faithful Disciple at the Cross
Mary Magdalene followed Jesus throughout His public ministry, often named alongside other faithful women who supported Him and the apostles from their own means.
Unlike most of the apostles who fled during the Passion, Mary Magdalene stood by the Cross, remaining faithful to Jesus even in His suffering and death.
First Witness of the Resurrection
On the morning of Easter Sunday, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’s body. Finding the tomb empty, she encountered the Risen Christ, though she at first did not recognize Him. When He called her by name, “Mary,” she immediately recognized Him and responded, “Rabboni” (Teacher).
Jesus then commissioned her to go and tell the apostles the news of His Resurrection, making her the “Apostle to the Apostles”, the first messenger of the Resurrection.
Patron of Penitents and Witness to the Resurrection
St. Mary Magdalene is the patron saint of penitents, converts, women, and those seeking a deeper relationship with Christ, offering hope that no sin is greater than God’s mercy.
Her life is a powerful testimony to the transforming power of Christ’s forgiveness and the faithful love of a disciple.
A Witness to Faithful Love and New Life
St. Mary Magdalene’s life reminds the faithful that God’s mercy can transform every life, and that love for Christ leads to courage, devotion, and the joy of proclaiming the Good News.
St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us!
