About St. Mary Magdalene
St. Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus’ most prominent followers and holds a unique place in Christian history as the first witness to the Resurrection. A woman from Magdala near the Sea of Galilee, she was healed by Jesus after being possessed by seven demons, and subsequently became one of his most devoted disciples, supporting his ministry with her own resources. Despite centuries of being incorrectly identified as the unnamed sinful woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, or as a reformed prostitute, modern biblical scholarship has cleared her reputation. The Gospels portray her as remaining faithful at the cross when most disciples fled, helping to prepare Jesus’ body for burial, and being the first to discover the empty tomb on Easter morning. Her encounter with the risen Christ, where he instructs her to tell the other disciples of his resurrection, earned her the title “Apostle to the Apostles” in early Christian tradition. Pope Francis elevated her liturgical celebration from a memorial to a feast in 2016, putting her on par with the other apostles in the Church’s calendar and recognizing her vital role as a witness to the central mysteries of the Christian faith.
Prayers & Devotions
