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Saint of the Day – 22 July – The Feast of St Mary of Magdala – “Apostle to the Apostles” (born probably in Magdala – died at an unknown date possibly in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France, or Ephesus, Asia Minor).   Patronages – against sexual temptation, apothecaries, druggists, pharmacists, contemplative life, contemplatives, converts, glove makers, hairdressers, hairstylists, penitent sinners, penitent women, people ridiculed for their piety, perfumeries, perfumers, reformed prostitutes, tanners, women, diocese of Salt Lake City, Utah, 8 cities. Attributes – alabaster box of ointment,  long hair.   During the Middle Ages, Mary Magdalene was regarded in Western Christianity as a repentant prostitute or promiscuous woman, claims not found in any of the four canonical gospels.

Mary Magdalene was one of Christ’s disciples.   She has been identified with several Marys in the Gospel:  Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus;  Mary, the sinner who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears;  Mary, a woman who cared for Jesus and his apostles on their journey.   Today scholars believe that Mary Magdalene was not the sinful woman in Scripture although she has been confused with this unnamed woman for centuries.   Except for the mother of Jesus, few women are more honoured in the Bible than Mary Magdalene.   Yet she could well be the patron of the slandered, since there has been a persistent legend in the Church that she is the unnamed sinful woman who anointed the feet of Jesus in Luke 7:36-50.

Most Scripture scholars today point out that there is no scriptural basis for confusing the two women.   Mary Magdalene, that is, “of Magdala,” was the one from whom Christ cast out “seven demons” (Luke 8:2)—an indication at the worst, of extreme demonic possession or possibly, severe illness.

Writing in the New Catholic Commentary, Father Wilfrid J. Harrington, O.P., says that “seven demons” “does not mean that Mary had lived an immoral life—a conclusion reached only by means of a mistaken identification with the anonymous woman of Luke 7:36.”   In the Jerome Biblical Commentary, Father Edward Mally, S.J., agrees that she “is not…the same as the sinner of Luke 7:37, despite the later Western romantic tradition about her.”

Mary Magdalene was one of the many “who were assisting them [Jesus and the Twelve] out of their means.”   She was not the sister of Martha and Lazarus!   She was one of those who stood by the cross of Jesus with his mother.   And, of all the “official” witnesses who might have been chosen for the first awareness of the Resurrection, she was the one to whom that privilege was given.

Matthew, Mark, and John record that Mary of Magdala was present at the crucifixion of Jesus and that she was among the women who visited the tomb on Easter morning.   Luke mentions her presence only at the tomb on Easter.   According to John, Mary was specially privileged to see and speak to the risen Lord on Easter morning.   She thought He was the gardener until he said her name.

So Mary Magdalene was near Jesus in His darkest hour and again in His most glorious hour.   Moreover, she was an outstanding disciple of Jesus.   Because Mary Magdalene was the one who brought the news of Jesus’ resurrection to the apostles, she is called the Apostle to the Apostles.

(via AnaStpaul – Breathing Catholic)

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Quote/s of the Day – 22 July – Feast of St Mary of Magdala

“Just as a woman had announced the words of death to the first man, so also, a woman was the first to announce to the Apostles the words of life.”

St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)

“…Sometimes in our lives, tears are the lenses we need to see Jesus…”

Pope Francis 2 April 2013

(via Quote/s of the Day - 22 July - Feast of St Mary of Magdala)

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Thought for the Day – 22 July – Feast of St Mary of Magdala

“When Mary Magdalene 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”….  Jesus says to her:  “Mary.”   Jesus is not recognised when He calls her “woman”, so He calls her by name, as though He were saying:  ‘Recognise me as I recognise you, for I do not know you as I know others, I know you as yourself.’  

And so Mary, once addressed by name, recognises who is speaking.  She immediately calls Him ‘Rabboni’, that is to say, teacher, because the one whom she sought outwardly was the one who inwardly taught her to keep on searching.”

from a homily by St Pope Gregory the Great  (540-604) Father & Doctor

St Mary Magdalen, Pray for us!

(via Thought for the Day - 22 July - Feast of St Mary of Magdala)

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St. Mary Magdalene

Happy Mary Magdalene Feast Day!

#mary magdalene #saint #bible #happy #hairdresser #perfume

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Feast Day

Happy Feast Day Saint Mary Magdalene! Saint Mary Magdalene, pray for us!

#mary magdalene #july 22 #feast day #saint #pray for us

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Do not touch me via Titian

Size: 91x109 cm Medium: oil, canvas

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Thank you guys so much for 100 followers! God bless you all!

#thank you #100 #followers

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St. Mary Magdalene: Feast Day

Happy St. Mary Magdalene feast day everyone! Don't forget to pray today!

#mary magdalene #feast day #pray for us #pray #saint #july 22

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Apostle to the Apostles

I would just like to say thank you to Pope Francis who has recognized that Mary Magdalene deserves just as much appraisal as the Apostles!

#mary magdalene #pope francis #apostle #apostles #appraisal #catholic church

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The Risen Lord appearing to Mary Magdalene.

#mary magdeline #jesus #risen #empty tomb #appearance #discipleship #disciple #oils #flowers #easter #lilies

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Jesus saith to her: Mary.

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"When He had risen, early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told His companions who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe."

Mark 16: 9-11

#mary magdalene #jesus #mark #16 #risen #mourning #weeping

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Second Chance

Remember, Mary Magdalene was given a second chance. So are you! Turn back to God this Lenten season. Saint Mary Magdalene, pray for us.

#mary magdalene #second chance #God #Lent #pray #pray for us #fast #give alms

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Frederic James Shields, Mary Magdalene

1911

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"Jesus said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?' She thought it was the gardener and said to Him, 'Sir, if you carried Him away, tell me where you laid Him, and I will take Him.'" -John 20: 15

#weeping #woman #mary magdalene #Jesus #gardener #20 #15 #bible #bible verse #John

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Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb. I love this depiction because I think it models John 20: 14-16 perfectly! 😍

#Mary Magdalene #Jesus #John #20 #angels #tomb #empty #gardener #love #faith #compassion

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"When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who was himself a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the Body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be handed over. Taking the Body, Joseph wrapped It in clean linen and laid It in his new tomb that he had hewn in a rock. Then he rolled a huge stone across the entrance to the tomb and departed. But Mary Magdalene and the other Mary remained sitting there, facing the tomb."

-Matthew 28: 57-61

#Jesus #burial #mary magdalene #other Mary #bible #bible verse #tomb #joseph #joseph of arimathea #arimathea #Pilate #stone