Saint of the Week

Saint Of The Week:  July 22

St Mary Magdalene

Mary Magdalene was a disciple of the Lord who plays a lead role in the Gospels. Saint Luke lists her among the women who followed Jesus after being healed of evil spirits and infirmities (Lk 8: 2). Magdalene would be present beneath the cross with the Mother of Jesus and other women. In the early morning on the first day after the Sabbath, she was to be the one to discover the empty tomb, beside which she stood weeping until the Risen Jesus appeared to her (Jn 20: 11). She did not recognize the Lord until he called her by name. Then she was asked to the messenger of the Good News--being the first to announce the Resurrection of the Lord. For this reasons, Mary is often called the “apostle to the apostles.” It is unfortunate that for so long in history, she was identified as the sinful woman, a reformed harlot who anoints Our Lord  in Lk 7: 36-50. It was a misinterpretation of Pope St. Gregory the Great. In order to highlight the importance of Mary Magdalene, Pope Francis raised her Memorial to the rank of a Feast.