Today is the Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene. Happy Feast Day!
“I love Mary Magdalene, I love that woman!” says Deb Amato, Chief of Staff of the Diocese of Lansing, July 22.
“I think Mary Magdalene represents us, each one of us, because as true Christians we are very aware of our own weaknesses, our own sinfulness, and of our own need for salvation, our need for a savior, and she, Mary Magdalene exemplifies that,” added Deb.
“Mary recognized her need for Jesus and the salve he offered for the wounds of sin and she received that in such a humble way that it changed her life and raised her to a level of holiness such that today we venerate her as a saint.”
Saint Mary was from Magadala, a small fishing town on the Sea of Galilee, between Capernaum and Tiberias. She was known to be a "great sinner," who heard Jesus speak of the mercy and forgiveness of God and changed her life completely. Her matter-of-fact witness to the Resurrection moved Peter and John to go and see for themselves: “I have seen the Lord and these things he said to me” (John 20:18). Jesus had chosen her to bring the news to them and she simply told them what had happened. Hence, she is often referred to as the “Apostle to the Apostles”. The collect prayer of today’s Holy Mass reads:
“O God, whose Only Begotten Son entrusted Mary Magdalene before all others with announcing the great joy of the Resurrection, grant, we pray, that through her intercession and example we may proclaim the living Christ and come to see him reigning in your glory. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.”
Have a happy and holy feast day! Saint Mary Magdalene, pray for us!
• Additional material from The One Year Book of Saints by the Reverend Clifford Stevens via Catholic Culture at https://www.catholicculture.org/