Feast of St. Mary Magdalene
The Feast of St. Mary Magdalene is celebrated on July 22 each year, primarily within the Roman Catholic Church, to honor a significant figure in the ministry of Jesus. Mary Magdalene is often associated with the unnamed woman in Luke 7 who anointed Jesus' feet, and she is recognized in Luke 8 as someone who supported Jesus and his Apostles during their travels. Distinct from Mary of Bethany, who also anointed Jesus, many scholars debate the identification of these figures, highlighting the complexities of her legacy. Mary Magdalene is noted for her presence at the Crucifixion and her role as the first witness to the resurrection, making her a pivotal figure in the New Testament narrative.
In various traditions, particularly within Eastern Christianity, Mary Magdalene is revered as a separate saint from other Marys, leading to differing interpretations of her life and contributions. Legends suggest she traveled to France, where she significantly influenced the spread of Christianity in Provence. There are also varying beliefs regarding her later life, with some traditions claiming she retired to Ephesus alongside Mary, the mother of Jesus, and St. John before her death. The Feast of St. Mary Magdalene serves as a reminder of her importance in Christian history and the diverse perspectives that surround her identity and legacy.
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Feast of St. Mary Magdalene
Feast of St. Mary Magdalene
July 22 of every year is the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, during which the Roman Catholic Church honors a woman closely associated with the ministry of Jesus, as recorded in the Gospel accounts. She has been identified as the unnamed sinner, at Luke 7:37–50, who entered the Pharisee's house where Jesus had been invited to dinner, washed his feet with her tears, dried them with her hair, and then anointed them with precious ointment. At Luke 8:1–3 she is Mary, called Magdalene, who cared for the needs of Jesus and the Apostles in their travels. At John 11:2, Mary of Bethany (sister of Martha and Lazarus, who was raised from the dead by Jesus) is identified as “that Mary which anointeth the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair.” However, many scholars find it impossible to identify the unnamed penitent or Mary of Bethany with the woman called Mary Magdalene—that is, Mary of Magdala. The Eastern churches honor three Marys as separate saints, adhering to the conclusions of Origen, the early Greek theologian and teacher.
According to the scriptures, Mary Magdalene was present at the Crucifixion. She was one of the women who went to Christ's tomb to perform the rituals for the dead, found the tomb empty, and ran to tell the Apostles Peter and John, and she was the first to whom Christ appeared after the resurrection. Some legends claim that in later years, Mary Magdalene traveled with Martha and Lazarus to France and converted the whole of what is now Provence to Christianity. However, just as there is a difference of opinion about her identity, there is also a lack of agreement on what became of her after Christ's death. The Eastern churches hold that she retired to Ephesus with Mary, the mother of Jesus, and St. John. According to this particular tradition, she died there and her body was transferred in the ninth century A.D. to Constantinople, where it is supposedly still preserved.