She is called "the Penitent". St. Mary was
given the name 'Magdalen' because, though a Jewish girl, she lived in
a Gentile town called Magdale, in northern Galilee , and
her culture and manners were those of a Gentile. St. Luke records
that she was a notorious sinner, and had seven devils removed from her. She was
present at Our Lords' Crucifixion, and with Joanna and Mary, the mother of James and
Salome, at Jesus' empty tomb. Fourteen years after Our Lord's death,St. Mary was
put in a boat by the Jews without sails or oars - along with Sts. Lazarus and
Martha, St. Maximin (who baptized her), St. Sidonius ("the man born
blind"), her maid Sera, and the body of St. Anne, the mother of the
Blessed Virgin. They were sent drifting out to sea and landed on the shores of
Southern France, where St. Mary spent the rest of her life as
a contemplative in a cave known as Sainte-Baume.
She was given the Holy Eucharist daily
by angels as her only food, and died when she was 72. St. Mary was
transported miraculously, just before she died, to the chapel of St.
Maximin, where she received the last sacraments.
More about this saint: St. Mary Magdalen (Feast
day - July 22) Mary Magdalen was well known as a sinner when she
first saw Our Lord. She was very beautiful and very proud, but after she met
Jesus, she felt great sorrow for her evil life. When Jesus went
to supper at the home of a rich man named Simon, Mary came
to weep at His feet. Then with her long beautiful hair, she wiped His feet dry
and anointed them with expensive perfume. Some people were surprised that Jesus
let such a sinner touch Him, but Our Lord could see into Mary's
heart, and He said: "Many sins are forgiven her, because she has loved
very much." Then to Mary He said kindly, "Your faith has
made you safe; go in peace." From then on, with the other holy women, Mary humbly
served Jesus and His Apostles.
When Our Lord was crucified,
she was there at the foot of His cross, unafraid for herself, and thinking only
of His sufferings. No wonder Jesus said of her: "She has loved
much." After Jesus' body had been placed in the tomb, Mary went to
anoint it with spices early Easter Sunday morning. Not finding
the Sacred Body, she began to weep, and seeing someone whom she thought was the
gardener, she asked him if he knew where the Body of her beloved Master had
been taken. But then the person spoke in a voice she knew so well:
"Mary!" It was Jesus, risen from the dead! He had chosen to show
Himself first to Mary Magdalen, the repentent sinner.
Feastday: July 22
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