Mary's Castle Library

 THE CATHOLIC FEAST 

DATE: JULY 22

NAME: 

SAINT MARY MAGDALENE

 

PATRONAGE:

Saint Mary Magdalene is known to be the Patron Saint of Penitent sinners, against sexual temptation, contemplative life, glove makers, hairdressers, people ridiculed for their piety, perfumeries, pharmacists, tanners, and many other things she’s recognized as Patron Saint.

HER LIFE PROFILE

Saint Mary Magdalene was from Magdala near the Sea of Galilee. She had been possessed by seven devils until Jesus cast them out of her. After that she became His follower and was one of the holy women who helped Jesus and the apostles.

 

When Our Lord was crucified, she was there at the foot of His Cross. She stayed with the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus and St. John the Apostle. Unafraid for her own safety, all she could think about was that her Lord was suffering.

 

After Jesus’ Body had been buried, Mary went to the tomb early Easter Sunday morning. She was shocked when she saw that the large stone was rolled away and the tomb empty. She ran to tell Peter and John, “They have taken the Lord, but I don’t know where!” Peter and John ran to the tomb and found everything just as Mary had said. 

 

Mary stayed at the tomb after Peter and John went back home. She began to weep. Suddenly she saw someone she thought was the gardener. 

 

She asked him if he knew where the Body of her beloved Master had been taken. Then the man spoke in a voice she knew so well: “Mary!” It was Jesus, standing right there in front of her! He was risen from the dead! Mary fell at His feet and cried, “Teacher!”

 

The Gospels show Mary as being sent by the Lord Himself to announce the Good News of the Resurrection to Peter and the apostles. In the early centuries of the Church, Mary Magdalene’s feast was celebrated with the Mass of an apostle.

 

 LESSON

[From A Homily By Pope Saint Gregory The Great]

When Mary Magdalen came to the tomb and did not find the Lord’s body, she thought it had been taken away and so informed the disciples. After they came and saw the tomb, they too believed what Mary had told them. THE text then says: “The disciples went back home,” and it adds: “but Mary wept and remained standing outside the tomb.” 

 

We should reflect on MARY'S ATTITUDE AND THE GREAT LOVE SHE FELT FOR CHRIST; for though the disciples had left the tomb, she remained. 

 

She was still seeking the One she had not found, and while she sought she wept; burning with the fire of love, she longed for Him Who she thought had been taken away. 

And so it happened that the woman who stayed behind to seek Christ was the only one to see Him. 

For PERSEVERANCE is essential to any good deed, as the voice of truth tell us: “WHOEVER PERSEVERES TO THE END WILL BE SAVED.” 

 

PRAYER TO SAINT MARY MAGDALENE 

Saint Mary Magdalene, woman of many sins, who by conversion became the beloved of Jesus, thank you for your witness that Jesus forgives through the miracle of love.

YOU, who already possess eternal happiness in His glorious presence, please intercede for me, so that some day I may share in the same everlasting joy. Amen.

 

SAINT MARY MAGDALENE, 

PRAY FOR US. AMEN!