The Apostle to the Apostles

July 22nd Readings Reflection: Feast of St. Mary Magdalen

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Mary Magdalen. We know from Sacred Scripture that Our Lord cast seven demons out of her (see Mark 16:9 DRB). According to some Roman traditions, she is also the sinful woman who washed Christ’s feet with expensive ointment and wiped them with her hair, as well as the sister of Lazarus and Martha. The Greek Fathers of the Church held that these were three separate women rather than their all being St. Mary Magdalen. Regardless of who is correct on the matter, most agree that St. Mary Magdalen spent the rest of her life practicing penance after Our Lord’s Resurrection and Ascension.

Today’s reading and Psalm tell of a divine love story between each soul—the bride—and Christ the Bridegroom. This analogy is particularly fitting for St. Mary Magdalen. After Jesus freed her from her demonic possession, she lived the rest of her life for the love of God. She recognized the power of God that lifted her out of the darkness of sin and into the light of His grace. After Our Lady, St. Mary Magdalen was the first to see Jesus after His Resurrection. He told her, “Stop holding on to [M]e, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to [M]y brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to [M]y Father and your Father, to [M]y God and your God.’” St. Mary Magdalen did as Christ commanded her, earning the title “Apostle to the Apostles.”

The word “apostle” comes from the Greek word apostello, which means “to send forth” (New Advent Encyclopedia). Jesus sent St. Mary Magdalen forth to tell His disciples the good news of His Resurrection. Jesus’ words, “Stop holding on to [M]e,” can seem harsh at first. However, the Fathers of the Church explained that there is a deeper theological meaning to Christ’s words.

Our Lord wished to draw St. Mary Magdalen into a deeper understanding of what His Resurrection means. She understood Him on one level from witnessing His public ministry, but her weeping at Christ’s empty tomb revealed that she did not fully understand His Death on a spiritual level. Rather than believing in Jesus as a Divine Person Who cannot die, “she wept for Him as a man,” St. Augustine explained. In telling St. Mary Magdalen not to hold onto Him, Jesus called her to let go of her former way of thinking and believe in Him more fully as the Son of God, the Redeemer Who frees us from our sins. St. Mary Magdalen’s words to the Apostles, “I have seen the Lord,” show that she accepted Christ’s call, and she lived the rest of her life accordingly. May St. Mary Magdalen intercede for us as we answer God’s call to grow deeper in our own Faith and recognize the healing power of God’s love and grace.

St. Mary Magdalen, ora pro nobis!