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Magdalene



Image Taken from foxnews.com


By: Rosanna M.

Date: July 22, 2024


St. Mary Magdalene has been one of my patron saints for some time. She is mentioned

in the Scriptures about 12 times, more than any of the other disciples of Jesus (1). Or is

this only how it appears to us? Perhaps, as some theologians in the western Church

claim, she was more often in the story than we are currently led to believe.


There are two memorable depictions of Mary Magdalene from very popular productions: "The Chosen" (2017 onward) and "The Passion of the Christ" (2004). Both are beautiful and touching portrayals of her character, but the story is not exactly the same. The two

Magdalenes might even appear to be different women at times.


Mary Magdalene in "The Chosen"; (in particular: season 1, episode 1) is played by

Elizabeth Tabish. This is a poignant story of a suffering and wounded woman who is in

despair. Harassed by some unfavourable men, she tries to kill her pain by imbibing at

the local tavern, until one particular man interrupts her evening. She runs away only to

hear Him call her by name (2). I must admit that I had some reservations about how she

was written in the script as what I learned of Mary Magdalene through a few sources

seemed different from what the show presented. The team from "The Chosen" does tell the story well, however with some artistic license.


Mary Magdalene in "The Passion of the Christ" is played by Monica Bellucci. She is a

devoted and anguished disciple following her Lord during His Passion. Much of Mel

Gibson's film is based on the writings of mystic Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich.

Here Magdalene is also shown as the sinful woman whom the Pharisees tried to stone

to death, testing Jesus as to what His response to her sinful act would be. This is when

Jesus writes the mysterious message in the sand, and those condemning the woman,

one by one, drop their stones and leave. She, cowering on the ground, reaches to touch

His sandal. He then raises Mary and she becomes his disciple (3).


Mary Magdalene was with Jesus at Calvary, alongside His mother Mary, the other

women, and John (Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40). She was referred to as the woman

from whom seven demons were previously cast out of (Mark 16:9; Luke 8:2). It is written

in the Scriptures that Jesus first appeared to her after His Resurrection after she came

to anoint His body in the tomb (Mark 16:9). She then relayed the news of His

Resurrection to the others (Luke 24:10) and became known as the “Apostle to the

Apostles” (4).


Why does this Mary carry the name Magdalene? She is called Magdalene since she

came from Magdala and due to the reputation she had in that town. Magdala is on the

western shore of the Sea of Galilee, and was a prominent and wealthy city in the first

century with a significant salted fish processing industry for Roman markets (5). Mary

lived there, and her family may have had investments in this industry. She must have

heard Jesus teach in the local synagogue when He and His disciples were visiting.

Magdala was inhabited by Jews and Gentiles alike, with the pagan presence having

considerable influence over the people who are said to have fallen into moral depravity.

It was while she was living in Magdala that Mary led a sinful life, bringing upon her

demonic attacks (6). Jesus healed her and she followed him.


As was briefly alluded to above, it is believed by many Church Fathers in the western

tradition that Mary Magdalene is also the penitent woman who remains unnamed in the

Scriptures. She was accused of adultery and condemned to be stoned to death, but

Jesus intervened and told her accusers that the one without sin should cast the first

stone.


The Western Church Fathers also say Magdalene is the sister of Lazarus and Martha of

Bethany, who sat listening at the feet of Jesus while Martha served. While she was

identified as being from Magdala, this does not mean that she was originally from there,

nor does it exclude that she was also from Bethany. Jesus Himself was from Bethlehem,

Nazareth, Jerusalem, and even of Egypt, depending on which phase of His life one is

speaking about.


Mary Magdalene is also identified as the penitent woman who washed Jesus’ feet with

her tears, anointed them with the costly spikenard, and wiped them with her hair (John

11:1-2). She did this on two occasions as recorded in the Scriptures, once at the

Pharisee’s house in Galilee and another time in Bethany (Luke 7:37-38; John 12:3) (7).


There is a reference in the Song of Songs (1:11) where the bride anoints her

Bridegroom while He is at repose. Magdalene anointed Jesus twice in His lifetime and

she wanted to anoint His Body after His burial in the tomb (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1).

This was part of her personal devotion to Jesus, who forgave her for her many sins

(Luke 7:47) (8). Magdalene then is a type for every repentant sinner who returns to

Christ (9).


While this is the view of the Western Church Fathers and the later French theological

tradition, the Eastern Fathers and the Protestants, especially the English Protestant

tradition, believe that the three women were different individuals. This second view has

had more influence in the Catholic Church in modern times. The Catholic Church does

not define the teachings regarding these three women, and her members are free to

believe what makes sense to them (10). While I prefer the traditional argument of the

Western Fathers, I am only offering an opinion based on my reading, and leave the

readers to discern what to believe for themselves. This is not without dispute within our

tradition or with other denominations.


St. Augustine, St. Gregory the Great, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. John Henry Newman,

and the mystics Venerable Mary of Agreda and Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, all

write that the three Biblical characters were the same woman. This is not insignificant

support for the "Identification Theory" as it is known in exegetical writings. From this

follows a strong theological tradition in France claiming the same, and where tradition

holds that her remains are still kept (11). The relics of St. Mary Magdalene are said to

be housed in the gothic Basilica of Ste. Marie-Madeleine in St. Maximin la St. Baume in

Provence, France (12).


The Evangelists who wrote the Gospels likely did not intentionally hide her identity, as

they assumed that the readers knew of the previous teachings and they only built upon

what proceeded their works. Or conversely, they perhaps were careful with identifying

her, to protect her identity, as they tried to not have the early Church members focus on

her sinful past. John, the last of the evangelists to write his Gospel, most readily

identifies her as the same woman in all these scenes (13). Others in the Bible were

identified by more than one name: Simon Peter and Cleophas /Alphaeus, for example.


It is also believed that Magdalene was set adrift in a boat without sails, oars, or rudders,

with others of Jesus' disciples, including Lazarus, Martha, and St Maximin. It was hoped

by the officials condemning them that they would die in the Mediterranean sea. This

was an attempt to rid them from Palestine and avoid making them known martyrs that

could inspire the people. By God's providence, tradition tells us that the boat landed in

Gaul (modern-day France), and the captives of the sea began evangelizing the region's

inhabitants. Magdalene ended up living as a hermitess in a grotto in the mountains of

St. Baume in Provence and is said to have subsisted on the Eucharist provided to her

by St Maximin (14).


Mary Magalene was often depicted on older holy cards as a penitent in shabby clothing

(or without clothing covered by her long hair) and with a skull. I often associate the

phrase "Memento Mori" (Latin for "remember your death") with Magdalene, for the true

meaning of this phrase is to set our sights on the next life with Christ, and less so on

this present one. I need to remember this more often, especially when overly concerned

with the material world and its enticements. Magdalene, who previously lived a lavish

life (15), inspires a return to simplicity and the essentials of life and faith.


If you will ponder for a moment: what if Mary Magdalene, Mary of Bethany, and the

penitent woman are one and the same? What then does this incredible and powerful

story tell us? Magdalene, a wounded woman suffering from demonic possession,

received the deep healing love of Jesus, repented of her sinful ways, amended her life

by returning to her family, and became a truly devoted disciple of Christ who personally

and financially supported His three-year ministry. She increasingly grew in faith,

gratitude, and holiness. She remained with Him at the foot of the Cross with Mother

Mary, the other women, and John, when His other Apostles were afraid and abandoned

Him. In Scripture, it is said Jesus appeared to her first after His resurrection. What a

special relationship she had with our Lord.


Magdalene gives us a holy example of how to adore Christ, both His human presence

as Jesus, and then His holy presence in the Eucharist. She is called "the Prophetess...” or the “Martyr of Eucharistic Love"(16). The Apostle to the Apostles becomes a quiet

Apostle to us as well, she shows us how to love Jesus. Her devotion to Him is perhaps

near that of what Our Blessed Mother and St. Joseph offered Him. She loves Him most

fully because He first loved her. She inspires us also to love Him much more.


St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us!


REFERENCES:

1. Yatim, R. "Tours with Rami"; (Web Series). "Magdala";. 30 October 2021. https://www.patreon.com/posts/magdala-

58074879 . Accessed: 1 June 2023.

2. "The Chosen"; (TV Series). Season 1, Episode 1. "I Have Called You By Name";. 19 April 2019.

3. "The Passion of the Christ" (Feature Film) 2004.

Accessed: 1 June 2023.

4. Douay-Rheims Bible Online. https://www.drbo.org/


Accessed: 10 July 2024.

5. Yatim, R.

6. Davidson, S. 2017 "Saint Mary Magdalene: Prophetess of Eucharistic Love"; San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 47.

7. Douay-Rheims Bible Online. https://www.drbo.org/ .

Accessed: 10 July 2024.

8. Douay-Rheims Bible Online. https://www.drbo.org/ .

Accessed: 10 July 2024.

9. Davidson. 25-44.

10. Davidson. 19-44.

11. Davidson. 19-44.

12. "Basilica Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, St Maximin la St Baume";. https://www.seeprovence.com/religious/basilica-

sainte-marie-madeleine-st-maximin-la-st-baume-685570 . Updated: 28 April 2021. Accessed: 1 June 2023.

13. Emmerich, A.C. 2005 "Mary Magdalene, In the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich, 1774-1824

Rockford, IL: TAN Books and Publishers.145.

14. Davidson. 13-17.

15. Emmerich. 2-4.

16. Davidson. 200-204.

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