Our Lady of Guadalupe

Date: July, 22

The Church celebrates St. Mary Magdalene because of her example of virtue and loyalty to Christ.

She was a devoted disciple and close friend of Jesus during the time of His ministry, and one of the few who remained with Him during His agony on the Cross.

Finally, she was one of the three women who went to anoint His body in the tomb on Easter morning, becoming the first person to announce the Resurrection to others, when she went and told the Apostles that He had risen.

• Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and what he told her. ~John 20:11–18

Mary Magdalene is perhaps best known for being the woman who had seven demons cast out of her (Mark 16:9) and for her immoral lifestyle.

St. Mary Magdalene is thought to be the woman caught in adultery, whose stoning the Lord prevents, and whom He tells to “go and do not sin again” (John 8:11).

• “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7).

Though her life of sin is an important part of her story, far more important is how she lived after meeting Christ. Her life of virtue, and penitence for her past sins, is why she is considered a great saint and looked to as proof of God’s mercy and grace.

Prayer: 

Saint Mary Magdalene, you lived a sinful life, but when you encountered Jesus, you repented and followed Him. You were faithful to Him throughout His ministry and were a witness to His death and Resurrection.

Please pray for me, that I may always have the courage to repent of my sins and stand with you at the foot of the Cross so that I may also be a witness to the transforming effects of the Resurrection. Saint Mary Magdalene, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.