9 Days with

Mary Magdalene

A Meditation Novena

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Pray with us this novena written by Jennifer Ristine, CRC, and illustrated by Danielle Storey and Pati Te.

Mary Magdalene

In an increasingly secular world that still admires heroes, the saints are to the world what Superman is to Comics – classic figures of perennial value, representing goodness and triumph over society’s maladies, no matter the multitude of idols invented to distract the common seeker. Unlike comic book figures, the saints are neither mythical nor born of experimental scientific procedures or freak natural phenomena.  They are born of fragile clay vessels receptive to God-given grace. Like superhero figures, the saints are unique and above the ordinary.  But, unlike superheroes, the possibility of enrolling in the communion of saints is open to all. It is an open and universal school.

Saints “come to be” through free, profound, and continual encounters with the Lord. They offer us a reality check. No one is exempt from the daily battle. They remind us that the universal heart desires something more, seeks meaning, and discovers purpose within and beyond itself. Ultimately, the saints are beacons showing us the way to full maturity in freedom and love. The saints defy the “bad guys” by their simple testimony of holiness lived amidst the messiness of life’s challenges.  They choose the right ally, a leader who demands nothing less than what he himself gave – his life out of love. The saints constantly reroute or maintain the course of faith, hope, and love no matter what comes their way.

They are faithful to the end. And they continue their fidelity to the Lord, unseen by human eyes. Their strategy? Befriending us.

Saints are friends. And as any good friend, they invite us to share in the spiritual treasures that they have already received. They want to share the joy of a deep encounter with the Lord that they have been blessed to know. For example, St. Francis invites us to the joy of living gospel simplicity, so as to discover the ultimate jewel of the Father’s providence when we detach our hearts from all worldly gains.

Saint Teresa of Calcutta invites us to an intimate understanding of Jesus’s thirst for souls found in an encounter with the destitute and most impoverished. When we find a saint that attracts us, be assured, God has sent his ambassador to encourage us, teach us essential life-giving messages, and be our guide as we enter into the mystery of a dynamic relationship with God.

In this novena, a nine-day reflection, you are invited to walk with Mary Magdalene. Let her share with you the spiritual goods and treasures she discovered in her journey of becoming a missionary disciple. Her journey reminds us of a fundamental truth: we are created out of love and for love.  We carry this vocation in fragile vessels. The inherent desire to love implies a freedom to do so, but necessitates a compass or guide. Mary Magdalene likely tasted the depths of freedom, one type of freedom led her to a certain spiritual death and the other led to new life.  A misguided use of freedom bound her with “seven demons.” Perhaps we can all relate in some way, as we recognize the subtle idols that snuff out the life of God within. But the good news is that Jesus steps into the messiness of our life. We have Mary Magdalene as a witness to this good news.  As he did with Mary Magdalene, Jesus reaches out, takes us by the hand, and invites us to an ever new and deeper freedom – a freedom lived in accordance with our dignity, made in God’s image.

As we begin this novena, let us reflect on the journey of a soul.  The fact of mere existence is a sign of God’s desire to draw us into loving communion.  Beyond that, another sign of God’s love is his invitation to participate in his mission of extending his Kingdom, bringing many others to experience the personal, redemptive love of the Lord.  No one is excluded from this invitation. Reflecting on the personal and unique call of Christ to us throughout our lives, may we be filled with hope and ask Mary Magdalene to intercede for us and for those in need of the hope that does not disappoint (Romans 5:5).

“God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.”

Genesis 1:27

When I sit upon the shores of the Sea of Galilee, I cannot help imagine what went through the heart of Mary Magdalene as she too sat upon the sand many years ago. The scene feels something like this: the rhythmic lapping of the sea upon the shore, the wind rustling the tall seagrass, the blue-domed sky with wisps of white cloud formations, the multitude of birds flitting about, and the majestic hills standing upon the shoreline beyond.

The beauty of nature has a nostalgic effect, giving the sense that you are one among many people over centuries who have tapped into a fundamental truth as they sat upon these same shores. All of this is a gift, created for me.  But none of it compares to the great gift of life, open to an eternal horizon; I, who stand in a unique place in creation, am called to enter into friendship with my Creator (CCC 355).

While all creation glorifies God, the grass, clouds, water, and hills cannot know God. The birds do not consciously choose to love God.  I alone, as a human person, made in God’s image, I am invited to participate in God’s own life. I possess within me the potential of a loving and faith-filled acceptance of that graced covenant and all that it entails, or of slighting the hand of God by attempting to live apart from the inherent vocation to which I am called: loving communion with God and others.

No matter what condition or circumstances life’s trajectory has dealt us, we cannot shake our fundamental dignity.  No past, present, or future event or choice can change our identity as a pinnacle creation of God, made in his image.  At times this truth is a faint beacon that sustains hope. Perhaps Mary Magdalene experienced this on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, helping her to maintain hope of a new and better life beyond her “seven demons.”

Heavenly Father, you have created us out of love and for love.  Let the truth of our dignity echo deeply in our hearts. Help us to live according to this identity in your beloved image.  Come to the aid of those who struggle with a sense of identity and purpose in life. May they discover you as a loving Father who invites them to life-giving communion with you and others.   Teach us to reach out in a spirit of communion to all we encounter in our daily life, reflecting the love you have for each one of your children.

Amen.

St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us.

Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Matthew 4:17

One thing I love about Mary Magdalene is that she was human.  Like men and women since Adam and Eve, she knew the reality of sin. She fought the battle that takes place in the depth of the human heart when misguided or ill-formed freedom gives into desires that snuff out God’s life within.  The evangelists labeled her as the “woman from whom Jesus expelled seven demons” (Luke 8:2).  What were those seven demons?  Theories abound:  a mental illness, epilepsy, schizophrenia, or a real possession?

Mary Magdalene’s seven demons, whatever their cause, represent the real threat in every person’s life: idols.  Idols come in many forms and take the shape of misconstrued loves, from self-idolatry through pride to the subtle ways I replace the real God with the things of God.  How easy it is to put my securities in the possession of material goods, the success of my own endeavors, affirmations from others, my attempt to control circumstances, and all the subtle idols that bind me when I pursue self-seeking satisfactions.

The reality of temptation and the possibility of sin cannot be ignored.  Like Mary Magdalene, our hearts are the battleground where choices are made between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan.  Jesus came to fight this battle and has conquered sin and death, the consequences of Satan’s reign.  From the first moment of Jesus’s public life, he overcame temptations posed by Satan.  His first recorded words were an urgent invitation, “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand!”  (Mt 4:17).

From the shores of the Sea of Galilee in Magdala, Mary may have heard those words.  The biting torment of conscience in her spirit acted as a warning that something was amiss.  But Jesus’s words were far from chastisement. They were an invitation.  He extends that invitation to each one of us, every day.   May our first step be to recognize our shortcomings and sinfulness in the context of God the Father’s waiting and open arms.

Heavenly Father, you desire your children to return to your embrace. Enlighten me by your Holy Spirit to clearly see the idols that seek to establish themselves in my heart, taking the place reserved for your Son, Jesus Christ. Grant me true repentance for my sins and the desire to love you above all else. Hear the plea of all those estranged from friendship with you, especially those experiencing loneliness, confusion, and despair, and those who explicitly reject you. Send your Spirit with salutary gifts, leading to a conversion of heart and courage for a new beginning.

Amen.

St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us.

Mary Magdalene novena

“If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

Luke 11:20

The excavated marketplace and ancient synagogue in Magdala are the perfect places to imagine Jesus teaching, healing, and encountering many people.  I love to imagine Mary Magdalene observing Jesus there.  Little by little Jesus’s words piqued her curiosity, becoming personal, and she seeks him out.  Initially, she keeps her distance as a mere observer.  Perhaps she watches him in the marketplace confronting the Pharisees as he reveals how much he sees into their hearts.  “Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the chief seats in the synagogues and the respectful greetings in the market places” (Luke 11:43). She must wonder, “If he can see the hypocritical hearts of those men, what does he see in me?”

Then one day she dares to enter the synagogue when he is teaching.  She watches Jesus approach a woman crippled for 18 years.  He puts his hand on the woman’s stooped back and immediately she straightens up.  Surprise, delight, and anger ripple through the onlookers.   The synagogue leaders challenge the morality of his healing on the Sabbath.  With an unpretentious authority Jesus holds his ground, exclaiming that it was only right that this woman, bound by Satan, be set free on the Sabbath day (Luke 13:10-17).

Mary feels a glimmer of hope. “Could he set me free too?”  A certain surrender and child-like vulnerability brings her to her knees before Jesus.  She believes.  She trusts.  Only he is capable of conquering the evil spirits that bind her.  His loving and pure gaze makes her a new woman, one who knows her dignity and that she is unconditionally loved.

We do not know where or when Jesus set Mary free, but this was a pivotal moment in her journey. His way was not imposing, but welcoming.  It was at once a “being set free” and an initiation into God’s Kingdom.  Jesus said, “If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Luke 11:20). The finger of God is the Holy Spirit that has the power to restore life.  Jesus invites us to a fullness of life, a deep communion with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, beginning with our baptism and maturing throughout our lives.

Too often our “falling short” makes us fear God and flee from his invitation of friendship (CCC 29).  Perhaps we see only the eyes of a disappointed father, rather than the loving and open arms of Jesus.  While we were originally banished from the garden, the Father sent his Son “to free us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father” (Rev 1:5-6).  Entrance into this Kingdom requires a trusting, child-like spirit. As Jesus tells us, “Unless you change and become like a little child, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).

Lord Jesus, transform our hearts with your personal and unconditional love. Heal my brokenness, restore my dignity, and cast out all that prevents a deeper relationship with you. Through the gift of Redemption, may I experience authentic freedom. Grant me fortitude so that I may faithfully follow you, even in the shadow of the Cross. Pour out your Spirit upon me that I may passionately witness to the good news of your victory over sin and death. And at the end of this earthly pilgrimage, may I be with you forever in your Kingdom.

Amen.

St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us.

“In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs.”

Mark 15: 41

Jesus’s preaching from the boat must have hit home in the heart of Mary Magdalene.  “Whoever has ears, let them hear” (Mt 13:9).  He spoke a parable about the necessity of cultivating the spirit to hear God’s Word. Her heart, once rocky or thorny, was discovering how fertile it could be the more time she spent in the presence of her Messiah.  The expulsion of seven demons was a mere beginning.  I doubt that Mary Magdalene had any idea how much her life would be transformed as she began to follow Jesus around Galilee and eventually to the foot of the cross in Jerusalem.

Mark’s simple statement teaches us a profound lesson: “…the women had followed him and cared for his needs” (Mk 15:41). The few or many months she was able to care for Jesus‘s needs were sufficient to forge a faithful follower.  Depth of friendship and commitment trump length of time in this case.  As she followed Jesus, perhaps she also discovered the rich gift of her feminine genius at the service of her newly found mission.

Differing traditions dispute the association of Mary of Bethany with Mary of Magdala, but the grateful and loving feminine spirit shines through both Marys.  She may have detected the slight given by Simon the Pharisee when dining in his home (Luke 7:36-50). He did not offer Jesus the typical hospitality, but Mary made up for that.   I love to imagine her show of attentive reverence by washing Jesus’s feet with her tears and anointing him with an expensive nard.

Her womanly presence amidst the band of male disciples may have added a new “family dynamic” to their travels through Galilee, adding that feminine sensitivity towards those they encountered along the way.  Her feminine heart may have bled long before she watched Jesus shed his blood on the cross, simply from perceiving his pensive sorrow as his hour approached or when he prophesied that the Son of Man was to be handed over and crucified.  Eventually, her attentive spirit bore fruit in solidarity with Jesus’s suffering on the cross.

Mary Magdalene preaches without words, showing us how transformative and life-bearing it is to follow Jesus.  But to follow we must have ears to hear and eyes to see.  We are invited to ponder his Word without rush or distractions.  We are invited to be in his presence through the Eucharist.  We are the blessed ones who will mature in our knowledge of and friendship with Jesus.  Mary did not follow merely with her feet that walked where he walked.  She followed Jesus in the depth of her interior, letting his word and presence bear life within.  Like her, we can reverently adore Jesus with grateful hearts for all he has done for us, and let his life bear fruit in and through us.

Lord Jesus, like Mary Magdalene, I desire to know you more deeply, so as to love you more fully and follow you more faithfully. Make me attentive to your presence in your Word, Sacrament, and providential action in the world. May I praise and adore you in your most Holy Eucharist. Bring all to know, love, and follow you, especially those who have never heard your Word or rejected it. Grant that all who profess to be Christian may come to know you more fully and be witnesses through their fidelity to authentic Christian living.

Amen.

St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us.

“Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.”

Luke 8:1-3

Following Jesus may seem like a romantic ideal, until the novelty wears off.  I imagine that with the passing of time, Mary Magdalene entertained doubts about continuing her journey with the Lord.  But she walked on.  Her nickname, “the Magdalene” has its root in the Hebrew word migdal, meaning tower, alluding to the strength and courage she must have had to persevere in walking with Jesus.

Scripture testifies to the fact that she was one of the women supporting Jesus out of her own means.  But that doesn’t mean she was offering respite to Jesus and his disciples in the Comfort Inn every night.  Jesus did not promise an easy road.  To those who eagerly desired to follow him he offered a reality check, “The Son of Man has no place to lay his head” (Luke 9:58) and “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).  If that wasn’t enough to scare her away Jesus also warned of suffering and rejection by the Jewish authorities (Luke 9:22).  His invitation to commitment was not for the faint of heart.   He wanted his disciples’ “Yes” to be a solid “Yes.”  “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).

The glow of the first conversion may have faded out after long, dusty, and tired days of following Jesus from town to town, watching the leaders challenge Jesus’s teachings, and not always understanding his ways.  But faith, trust, and love matured in the crucible of purification.  Initially she thought that she, with her resources, was providing for Jesus.  She soon learned that there was one Great Provider.  She had to hold onto Jesus’s promise of a heavenly Father who provides all things.  “Do not worry about your life,” Jesus proclaimed, assuring them that their heavenly Father knows what they need (Mt 6:25,32).

Jesus invites us, not to a life of hardship, but to an ever-deeper friendship, identifying with his love for his Father and all people in his willingness to lay down his life.  He invites us to enter a new realm of thinking, understanding, feeling, believing, trusting, and loving.  He invites us into the Kingdom of heaven.  The key is childlike trust.  We are called to offer our time, treasure, and talents, not seeking our own securities and glory; but rather, with single-mindedness, seeking the heart of Christ.  His program of the blessed life demands poverty of spirit, meekness, mercy, purity of heart, and perseverance through persecution (Mt 6:3-11).  He reminds us to keep our eyes on “his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Mt 6:34).

As we walk with Jesus, we hold onto the same promise that Mary once heard, “Truly I tell you…no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age…—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life” (Mark 10:29-30).

Heavenly Father, I trust in you. Teach me to walk with Jesus, abandoning all pretenses and securities so as to seek only the Kingdom of heaven in faith, trust, and love. Help me to be steadfast in my commitment to you. Grant all pastors, religious, consecrated persons, and missionaries a special grace to leave all behind as they walk with you.

Amen.

St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us.

“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.”

John 19:25

What moves the heart of a woman to overcome fear and human respect, remaining steadfast at the cross?  Not mere emotion, but rather conviction and love.  Only an authentic, maturing love kept Mary Magdalene anchored in her determination to be present with Jesus to the end, while the tumultuous sea of sorrow, confusion, and pain practically drowned her.   Awe, wonder, and peace at the site of humanity’s redemption at hand would have to wait until her understanding of God’s plan came to light.  In her observation of the bloody disfigurement of her beloved “Rabboni,” horror and anger at the injustice fueled her decision to see him accompanied.  She would not abandon him.

Mary Magdalene may have been at the foot of the cross regardless of John and the other women’s presence, but the desire to remain in solidarity with her friends was an added incentive.  Untold lessons were forged in her heart in those three life-giving hours.  As she stood with Jesus’s mother, the Magdalene could glimpse what true love was capable of enduring.  A mother’s love, this mother’s love, bore fruit in silent suffering and deep faith, for she, more than anyone, knew who her Son was.  Prophecies of a suffering servant who “was pierced for our transgressions” sustained hope as they recalled the triumphant verse, “After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied” (Isaiah 53). And faith was nourished by a song in which a messiah figure, seemingly forsaken by God yet righteous and remembered by future generations, is victorious (Psalm 22).

The Christian life inevitably entails suffering.  Call it a path of purification.  In those moments, Mary Magdalene encourages us to remain steadfast in faith, hope, and love at the foot of the cross.  She teaches us that we are not merely following a crucified Christ whom we are called to imitate, nor are we called to simply throw up our hands and passively endure what we cannot control.  She teaches us to enter into the mystery of redemptive suffering itself, when life circumstances don’t pan out according to our logic.

As Christians, we are called to see beyond what life brings us and discover that the Lord opens a path of beatifying the soul through faith, trust, and love.  He welcomes us into the crucible of purification so as to burn away impediments to holiness, namely selfishness.  After journeying with the Lord, listening and heeding his Word, and striving to be faithful followers, we can easily think that we deserve a trophy for our achievements.  But the Lord’s love seeks to bring us deeper into his heart, identifying with his being for-the-other.  He invites us to enter the mystery of his divine heart that fears not to suffer for love.  Like Mary Magdalene, may we learn this from the school of Jesus’s cross and from his first disciple, his Mother.

Lord Jesus, you invite us to a deeper love by uniting our suffering to your cross. Help us to see life’s sufferings through the heart of the Father who desires to bring us to the fullness of life in and through you. Help all who suffer to look to you, realizing the beauty and redemptive power of a life laid down for love of another. Help us to remain steadfast in faith, hope, and love.

Amen.

St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us.

“At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.”

John 19:41-42

I imagine that Mary Magdalene lived the first Holy Saturday in an obscurity of faith.  Jesus’s death appeared ignoble and did not paint his disciples in a favorable light among the authorities.  But anxiety over what others thought of her was not foremost in Mary Magdalene’s mind.  John and the women, with the help of Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, had hastily washed and prepared Jesus’s body for burial as dusk fell on Friday afternoon. Then, impatient waiting loomed over the Sabbath day.  The Sabbath day of rest was far from restful as Mary desperately longed to see the Lord once again.

How did she spend that long Saturday?  Memories of Jesus lingered in her heart: his gaze, his words, his laughter, his seriousness, his reprimands that called out hypocrisy, and his gentle invitations that provoked a sense of deep freedom and joy.  The memories made his absence more real as she longed for the comfort of Jesus’s presence.  She seemed to flitter between longing that bordered on despair and quiet peace that assured her that all would be well, the latter coming only temporarily to temper the empty longing she felt.  She did not want to accept Jesus’s absence.  She could not let go of her Lord.  She would seek him out, even if only to accompany his dead body.

Finally, as the first three stars appeared on the horizon, dawning a new day, Mary set out to the tomb.  Her mind was fixed on seeing her Lord and giving him the reverent anointing that was his due.  Imagine her dismay upon seeing the tombstone cracked in two and lying on the ground.  The garden was abandoned and, alas, the tomb was empty.  Where was her Jesus?  Her sorrow over the cruel death of Jesus was doubly intensified at the loss of his precious body.  It seemed as if she couldn’t get her bearings as confusion and a sort of despair began to cloud her vision. But we know the end of the story.  She had only to wait by that empty tomb for one of the most transforming encounters of her life, when the Risen Lord would appear.

Our passing moments of despair, darkness, and confusion are temporary in this life.  The essential posture in these moments is a longing and seeking heart.  Memories of brighter days, past encounters with the Lord, and his promise of a reward in this life and the next sustain us in hope.  Those memories are signals from the Lord, like a guiding light tower.  We find the way to navigate through a dark moonless and starless sea, maintaining the course by hoping to find him once again.

And while he is seemingly absent, he works wonders in his precious and beloved souls.  The ancient Holy Saturday liturgy recalls Jesus’s descent to the dead, where he preaches the good news of his triumph over sin and death, releasing all those bound since the time of Adam and Eve.  The Author of Life descends into darkness to bring light and salvation (CCC 633-635).

In the spiritual life, Christ calls us to a deeper transformation and conversion of heart.  The long Sabbath wait and empty tomb experience are God’s way of integrating us into the Paschal Mystery.   The painful longing gives birth to the gift of hope that sustains us through a seemingly empty and dark void.  But the emptiness and darkness that we feel is pregnant with the hidden presence of Christ.  While we wait in patience, the Lord is at work.  Hope itself places us in the presence of who we long for and gives us a taste of the salvation that is ours if we persevere, for “in hope we were saved” (Romans 8:24).

Lord Jesus, grant us an unwavering hope that sustains us in patient longing and unswerving seeking for you above all else. Sustain those who walk faithfully, yet in darkness. Have mercy and release the souls in purgatory that they may fully rest in your presence. Console all who have lost loved ones with the hope of reuniting in eternal life in communion with you, the Father, and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us.

He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

John 20:15-17

Mary Magdalene’s long journey of conversion, her time of following Jesus, suffering at the foot of the cross, and longing for the Lord in darkness culminates in a surprise revelation from the Lord.  At first glance, Mary Magdalene appropriately mistakes Jesus for a gardener, for he is the tender of all God’s gifts in our souls.  He is also the Good Shepherd who will soon be recognized when he calls her name, “Mary.”  To hear her name spoken by Jesus works wonders within her.  Her sorrow turns to joy.  According to her, he was lost and now is found.  And she dare not lose him again.  She throws herself at his feet, clinging to him.  She cannot believe her good fortune.

But Jesus has other plans for her.  “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God’” (Jn 20:17).  A new challenge surfaces for Mary Magdalene.  She is to discover a new way of relating to her Rabboni.  No longer will she see him in the flesh, but in faith.  No longer will she hear him audibly, but in the Spirit.  He must go to his Father, completing the gift of salvation that he came for, to bring humanity back into communion with the Father.

Perhaps Jesus’s words did not bear fruit instantly amidst the shock of this new revelation.  Perhaps Mary Magdalene, seemingly impulsive in her emotional state, had to learn from Jesus’s mother how to ponder his words in her heart.  Ponder she did, because the revelation of Jesus made it to John’s ears who preserved it for generations to come.  “I am going to my Father and your Father” (Jn 20:17).   Mary, in her new state of relating to Jesus, discovers that she is not abandoned, but has acquired a deeper rootedness in the Father.  Her foundations had appeared shaken, yet now she stands firm on her new identity as the daughter of a loving Father.

Like Mary, falling in love with Jesus takes us through the mysterious cloud of the Paschal Mystery where we discover what it means to convert, leave ourselves behind, and accompany Jesus in his travels from Galilee to the foot of the cross in Jerusalem.  He may leave us waiting for him on that silent Sabbath, confused at the empty tomb, but he also rewards us with the gift of himself through deeper faith, hope, and love.  The fruit of persevering in this journey is the joy of finding our place in the family of God.  We discover our identity as sons and daughters of a providential Father and beloved friend of the Shepherd of our souls.

Lord Jesus, open the eyes and ears of our hearts to recognize your presence and voice in our daily lives. Thank you for the gift of salvation and the chance to be fully embraced by our heavenly Father. Grant us perseverance in the journey of knowing, following, and loving you. Help us to live according to our identity as a beloved child of God. To those who struggle in faith, who fear giving themselves wholeheartedly, and who are weary of the journey, grant perseverance and new hope.

Amen.

St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us.

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news:

I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

John 20:18

Mary Magdalene jumps at Jesus’s commission to “go to his brethren.”  Such a prompt response to Jesus’s call to mission comes from a deep impulse, echoing St. Paul’s profession, “The love of Christ impels me” (2 Cor 5:14).  Before St. Paul spoke those words, they were embodied in Mary Magdalene’s missionary enthusiasm.  She went to the disciples and proclaimed, “I have seen the Lord!”  “But these words seemed to them an idle tale” (Luke 24:11).  The simple task of sharing the good news was ill-received by many.  Perhaps the apostle to the apostles found solace in the few who did believe.  John and Jesus’s mother may have been a comfort to her, encouraging her to continue sharing the good news.

With the coming of Jesus Christ, the Kingdom of God was sown among the first believers.  After Jesus’ resurrection, the early Church remained a small nucleus, pondering the mysteries that had just occurred.  They waited with anticipation for the coming of the promised Spirit.  Mary was not to miss out on this great gift as the outpouring of the Spirit buoyed up the small remnant and increased the number of Jesus’s followers.

They would soon discover that the Kingdom of God had boundaries that expanded through the acceptance of Jesus into their lives and the communion that bound them together under Peter, to whom Jesus entrusted the keys.  The disciples were commissioned to go forth and make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19). Mary Magdalene continued in the spirit of accompanying Jesus and the disciples, playing her part in the building of the Kingdom.

Traditional stories of Mary Magdalene’s adventures after Jesus’s resurrection cast light on her missionary zeal.  Disbelief in the good news would not silence her.  She traveled to Rome to speak to Caesar himself.  She preached the good news to the Roman court.  Providence took her to southern France during the early Christian persecution.  At the sight of pagan worshippers, she boldly taught about the one God and Jesus Christ, the Son of God who became man to save all.  These traditions contain marks of the Mary Magdalene we encounter in Sacred Scriptures, where she shows courage in her witness to the leaders of the pack.  Some laughed and scoffed at her. Others heeded the message and converted, multiplying the disciples wherever she went.

What began as an impulse of love would eventually be tested and forged into virtue, as well as gifted with the spirit of courage.  Mary Magdalene was continually formed by divine grace and life circumstances.  Isn’t this our own experience?  For all the plans and strategies we make, for our attempts to be sagacious in the new evangelization, the Holy Spirit will build the Kingdom through both rejection and acceptance of our efforts to share the good news.  Our mission is to be docile to the Spirit and let the winds of courage take us to the corners of our social milieu that are in need of the redemptive message and the extension of God’s Kingdom.

Lord Jesus, make us your courageous missionary disciples so that the good news will arrive to the hearts of all those in need of your saving grace. Make us docile to your promptings and sagacious in the work of evangelizing. Guide us in our efforts to multiply faith-filled disciples and grant strength to all those who are fully dedicated to serving you, that you may reign in the hearts of all and your Kingdom will be extended to the farthest corners of the world.

Amen.

St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us.

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news:
“I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

John 20:18

Saints are ordinary people who open themselves to God’s extraordinary action. They discover an interior freedom to love God and others and let themselves be loved in the midst of the messiness of life.  They do not wait for ideal circumstances, but live their humanity with grace-filled hearts.  They accept the invitation to enter into the dynamics of Christian living, which in turn immerses them into the Paschal mystery of Christ in all its facets.

The image of Mary Magdalene at Pentecost offers hints of this dynamic.  The new image, created by Danielle Storey, reveals the beauty of her transformation at Pentecost.  Mary Magdalene reminds us that by our very creation we possess great dignity; however, our wounded human nature is in need of redemption and life circumstances may throw us off.  Jesus steps into the messiness of our lives to restore what was lost and unite himself, the bridegroom, with his bride.  The bride is the Church, of which each person is called to be a part.  In a mystical way, we are all called to be a bride, accepting the loving invitation of the bridegroom.  The invitation is one of deeper intimacy and a participation in his mission, to love as he has loved us.  We must be ready with our lamps lit.

In this new image, Mary is holding two artifacts found on the site of Ancient Magdala.  The Herodian style oil lamp represents her love for Jesus enkindled as she bears the light of Christ to the world.  The small vessel was used for ointments, balsams, or perfume, representing her feminine genius that acts as a healing agent in the world.  Mary Magdalene gazes outward with a posture of readiness, a flame upon her head to represent the gifts of the Holy Spirit that anoint her for the mission.

The hearts and rosettes on her garment are actual symbols discovered on a stone table in the middle of a first-century synagogue, uncovered in 2009 in Ancient Magdala.  A rosette and heart shapes are located at the top center of that stone.  On Mary Magdalene the hearts represent the ardent love that compels her to share the good news.  The rosette on the Magdala Stone represents the veil before the Holy of Holies, where God’s presence dwells.  On the image of Mary Magdalene, they symbolize the mystery of God’s presence that her humanity veils, reminding us that we too carry the Lord in fragile vessels.  Through grace, God dwells within us in an intimate way and desires that we make him known to others.

Let us befriend her, asking her to share the spiritual goods that she has received from the Lord, so we too will more fully respond to Jesus’s call to conversion, to accompany him no matter life’s circumstances, and to be missionary disciples full of ardent love for our Lord.

Mary Magdalene

In an increasingly secular world that still admires heroes, the saints are to the world what Superman is to Comics – classic figures of perennial value, representing goodness and triumph over society’s maladies, no matter the multitude of idols invented to distract the common seeker. Unlike comic book figures, the saints are neither mythical nor born of experimental scientific procedures or freak natural phenomena.  They are born of fragile clay vessels receptive to God-given grace. Like superhero figures, the saints are unique and above the ordinary.  But, unlike superheroes, the possibility of enrolling in the communion of saints is open to all. It is an open and universal school.

Saints “come to be” through free, profound, and continual encounters with the Lord.  They offer us a reality check. No one is exempt from the daily battle. They remind us that the universal heart desires something more, seeks meaning, and discovers purpose within and beyond itself.  Ultimately, the saints are beacons showing us the way to full maturity in freedom and love. The saints defy the “bad guys” by their simple testimony of holiness lived amidst the messiness of life’s challenges.  They choose the right ally, a leader who demands nothing less than what he himself gave – his life out of love. The saints constantly reroute or maintain the course of faith, hope, and love no matter what comes their way. They are faithful to the end. And they continue their fidelity to the Lord, unseen by human eyes. Their strategy? Befriending us.

Saints are friends. And as any good friend, they invite us to share in the spiritual treasures that they have already received.  They want to share the joy of a deep encounter with the Lord that they have been blessed to know. For example, St. Francis invites us to the joy of living gospel simplicity, so as to discover the ultimate jewel of the Father’s providence when we detach our hearts from all worldly gains.

Saint Teresa of Calcutta invites us to an intimate understanding of Jesus’s thirst for souls found in an encounter with the destitute and most impoverished. When we find a saint that attracts us, be assured, God has sent his ambassador to encourage us, teach us essential life-giving messages, and be our guide as we enter into the mystery of a dynamic relationship with God.

In this novena, a nine-day reflection, you are invited to walk with Mary Magdalene. Let her share with you the spiritual goods and treasures she discovered in her journey of becoming a missionary disciple. Her journey reminds us of a fundamental truth: we are created out of love and for love.  We carry this vocation in fragile vessels. The inherent desire to love implies a freedom to do so, but necessitates a compass or guide. Mary Magdalene likely tasted the depths of freedom, one type of freedom led her to a certain spiritual death and the other led to new life.  A misguided use of freedom bound her with “seven demons.” Perhaps we can all relate in some way, as we recognize the subtle idols that snuff out the life of God within. But the good news is that Jesus steps into the messiness of our life. We have Mary Magdalene as a witness to this good news.  As he did with Mary Magdalene, Jesus reaches out, takes us by the hand, and invites us to an ever new and deeper freedom – a freedom lived in accordance with our dignity, made in God’s image.

As we begin this novena, let us reflect on the journey of a soul.  The fact of mere existence is a sign of God’s desire to draw us into loving communion.  Beyond that, another sign of God’s love is his invitation to participate in his mission of extending his Kingdom, bringing many others to experience the personal, redemptive love of the Lord.  No one is excluded from this invitation. Reflecting on the personal and unique call of Christ to us throughout our lives, may we be filled with hope and ask Mary Magdalene to intercede for us and for those in need of the hope that does not disappoint (Romans 5:5).

“God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.”

Genesis 1:27

When I sit upon the shores of the Sea of Galilee, I cannot help imagine what went through the heart of Mary Magdalene as she too sat upon the sand many years ago.  The scene feels something like this: the rhythmic lapping of the sea upon the shore, the wind rustling the tall seagrass, the blue-domed sky with wisps of white cloud formations, the multitude of birds flitting about, and the majestic hills standing upon the shoreline beyond.

The beauty of nature has a nostalgic effect, giving the sense that you are one among many people over centuries who have tapped into a fundamental truth as they sat upon these same shores. All of this is a gift, created for me.  But none of it compares to the great gift of life, open to an eternal horizon; I, who stand in a unique place in creation, am called to enter into friendship with my Creator (CCC 355).

While all creation glorifies God, the grass, clouds, water, and hills cannot know God.  The birds do not consciously choose to love God.  I alone, as a human person, made in God’s image, am invited to participate in God’s own life. I possess within me the potential of a loving and faith-filled acceptance of that graced covenant and all that it entails, or of slighting the hand of God by attempting to live apart from the inherent vocation to which I am called: loving communion with God and others.

No matter what condition or circumstances life’s trajectory has dealt us, we cannot shake our fundamental dignity.  No past, present, or future event or choice can change our identity as a pinnacle creation of God, made in his image.  At times this truth is a faint beacon that sustains hope. Perhaps Mary Magdalene experienced this on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, helping her to maintain hope of a new and better life beyond her “seven demons.”

Heavenly Father, you have created us out of love and for love.  Let the truth of our dignity echo deeply in our hearts. Help us to live according to this identity in your beloved image. Come to the aid of those who struggle with a sense of identity and purpose in life. May they discover you as a loving Father who invites them to life-giving communion with you and others. Teach us to reach out in a spirit of communion to all we encounter in our daily life, reflecting the love you have for each one of your children.

Amen.

St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us.

Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Matthew 4:17

One thing I love about Mary Magdalene is that she was human.  Like men and women since Adam and Eve, she knew the reality of sin. She fought the battle that takes place in the depth of the human heart when misguided or ill-formed freedom gives into desires that snuff out God’s life within.  The evangelists labeled her as the “woman from whom Jesus expelled seven demons” (Luke 8:2).  What were those seven demons?  Theories abound:  a mental illness, epilepsy, schizophrenia, or a real possession?

Mary Magdalene’s seven demons, whatever their cause, represent the real threat in every person’s life: idols.  Idols come in many forms and take the shape of misconstrued loves, from self-idolatry through pride to the subtle ways I replace the real God with the things of God.  How easy it is to put my securities in the possession of material goods, the success of my own endeavors, affirmations from others, my attempt to control circumstances, and all the subtle idols that bind me when I pursue self-seeking satisfactions.

The reality of temptation and the possibility of sin cannot be ignored.  Like Mary Magdalene, our hearts are the battleground where choices are made between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan.  Jesus came to fight this battle and has conquered sin and death, the consequences of Satan’s reign.  From the first moment of Jesus’s public life, he overcame temptations posed by Satan.  His first recorded words were an urgent invitation, “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand!”  (Mt 4:17).

From the shores of the Sea of Galilee in Magdala, Mary may have heard those words.  The biting torment of conscience in her spirit acted as a warning that something was amiss.  But Jesus’s words were far from chastisement. They were an invitation.  He extends that invitation to each one of us, every day.   May our first step be to recognize our shortcomings and sinfulness in the context of God the Father’s waiting and open arms.

Heavenly Father, you desire your children to return to your embrace. Enlighten me by your Holy Spirit to clearly see the idols that seek to establish themselves in my heart, taking the place reserved for your Son, Jesus Christ. Grant me true repentance for my sins and the desire to love you above all else. Hear the plea of all those estranged from friendship with you, especially those experiencing loneliness, confusion, and despair, and those who explicitly reject you. Send your Spirit with salutary gifts, leading to a conversion of heart and courage for a new beginning.

Amen.

St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us.

Mary Magdalene novena

“If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

Luke 11:20

The excavated marketplace and ancient synagogue in Magdala are the perfect places to imagine Jesus teaching, healing, and encountering many people.  I love to imagine Mary Magdalene observing Jesus there.  Little by little Jesus’s words piqued her curiosity, becoming personal, and she seeks him out.  Initially, she keeps her distance as a mere observer.  Perhaps she watches him in the marketplace confronting the Pharisees as he reveals how much he sees into their hearts.  “Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the chief seats in the synagogues and the respectful greetings in the market places” (Luke 11:43). She must wonder, “If he can see the hypocritical hearts of those men, what does he see in me?”

Then one day she dares to enter the synagogue when he is teaching.  She watches Jesus approach a woman crippled for 18 years.  He puts his hand on the woman’s stooped back and immediately she straightens up.  Surprise, delight, and anger ripple through the onlookers.   The synagogue leaders challenge the morality of his healing on the Sabbath.  With an unpretentious authority Jesus holds his ground, exclaiming that it was only right that this woman, bound by Satan, be set free on the Sabbath day (Luke 13:10-17).

Mary feels a glimmer of hope. “Could he set me free too?”  A certain surrender and child-like vulnerability brings her to her knees before Jesus.  She believes.  She trusts.  Only he is capable of conquering the evil spirits that bind her.  His loving and pure gaze makes her a new woman, one who knows her dignity and that she is unconditionally loved.

We do not know where or when Jesus set Mary free, but this was a pivotal moment in her journey. His way was not imposing, but welcoming.  It was at once a “being set free” and an initiation into God’s Kingdom.  Jesus said, “If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Luke 11:20). The finger of God is the Holy Spirit that has the power to restore life.  Jesus invites us to a fullness of life, a deep communion with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, beginning with our baptism and maturing throughout our lives.

Too often our “falling short” makes us fear God and flee from his invitation of friendship (CCC 29).  Perhaps we see only the eyes of a disappointed father, rather than the loving and open arms of Jesus.  While we were originally banished from the garden, the Father sent his Son “to free us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father” (Rev 1:5-6).  Entrance into this Kingdom requires a trusting, child-like spirit. As Jesus tells us, “Unless you change and become like a little child, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).

Lord Jesus, transform our hearts with your personal and unconditional love. Heal my brokenness, restore my dignity, and cast out all that prevents a deeper relationship with you. Through the gift of Redemption, may I experience authentic freedom. Grant me fortitude so that I may faithfully follow you, even in the shadow of the Cross. Pour out your Spirit upon me that I may passionately witness to the good news of your victory over sin and death. And at the end of this earthly pilgrimage, may I be with you forever in your Kingdom.

Amen.

St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us.

“In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs.”

Mark 15: 41

Jesus’s preaching from the boat must have hit home in the heart of Mary Magdalene.  “Whoever has ears, let them hear” (Mt 13:9).  He spoke a parable about the necessity of cultivating the spirit to hear God’s Word. Her heart, once rocky or thorny, was discovering how fertile it could be the more time she spent in the presence of her Messiah.  The expulsion of seven demons was a mere beginning.  I doubt that Mary Magdalene had any idea how much her life would be transformed as she began to follow Jesus around Galilee and eventually to the foot of the cross in Jerusalem.

Mark’s simple statement teaches us a profound lesson: “…the women had followed him and cared for his needs” (Mk 15:41). The few or many months she was able to care for Jesus‘s needs were sufficient to forge a faithful follower.  Depth of friendship and commitment trump length of time in this case.  As she followed Jesus, perhaps she also discovered the rich gift of her feminine genius at the service of her newly found mission.

Differing traditions dispute the association of Mary of Bethany with Mary of Magdala, but the grateful and loving feminine spirit shines through both Marys.  She may have detected the slight given by Simon the Pharisee when dining in his home (Luke 7:36-50). He did not offer Jesus the typical hospitality, but Mary made up for that.   I love to imagine her show of attentive reverence by washing Jesus’s feet with her tears and anointing him with an expensive nard.

Her womanly presence amidst the band of male disciples may have added a new “family dynamic” to their travels through Galilee, adding that feminine sensitivity towards those they encountered along the way.  Her feminine heart may have bled long before she watched Jesus shed his blood on the cross, simply from perceiving his pensive sorrow as his hour approached or when he prophesied that the Son of Man was to be handed over and crucified.  Eventually, her attentive spirit bore fruit in solidarity with Jesus’s suffering on the cross.

Mary Magdalene preaches without words, showing us how transformative and life-bearing it is to follow Jesus.  But to follow we must have ears to hear and eyes to see.  We are invited to ponder his Word without rush or distractions.  We are invited to be in his presence through the Eucharist.  We are the blessed ones who will mature in our knowledge of and friendship with Jesus.  Mary did not follow merely with her feet that walked where he walked.  She followed Jesus in the depth of her interior, letting his word and presence bear life within.  Like her, we can reverently adore Jesus with grateful hearts for all he has done for us, and let his life bear fruit in and through us.

Lord Jesus, like Mary Magdalene, I desire to know you more deeply, so as to love you more fully and follow you more faithfully. Make me attentive to your presence in your Word, Sacrament, and providential action in the world. May I praise and adore you in your most Holy Eucharist. Bring all to know, love, and follow you, especially those who have never heard your Word or rejected it. Grant that all who profess to be Christian may come to know you more fully and be witnesses through their fidelity to authentic Christian living.

Amen.

St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us.

“Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.”

Luke 8:1-3

Following Jesus may seem like a romantic ideal, until the novelty wears off.  I imagine that with the passing of time, Mary Magdalene entertained doubts about continuing her journey with the Lord.  But she walked on.  Her nickname, “the Magdalene” has its root in the Hebrew word migdal, meaning tower, alluding to the strength and courage she must have had to persevere in walking with Jesus.

Scripture testifies to the fact that she was one of the women supporting Jesus out of her own means.  But that doesn’t mean she was offering respite to Jesus and his disciples in the Comfort Inn every night.  Jesus did not promise an easy road.  To those who eagerly desired to follow him he offered a reality check, “The Son of Man has no place to lay his head” (Luke 9:58) and “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).  If that wasn’t enough to scare her away Jesus also warned of suffering and rejection by the Jewish authorities (Luke 9:22).  His invitation to commitment was not for the faint of heart.   He wanted his disciples’ “Yes” to be a solid “Yes.”  “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).

The glow of the first conversion may have faded out after long, dusty, and tired days of following Jesus from town to town, watching the leaders challenge Jesus’s teachings, and not always understanding his ways.  But faith, trust, and love matured in the crucible of purification.  Initially she thought that she, with her resources, was providing for Jesus.  She soon learned that there was one Great Provider.  She had to hold onto Jesus’s promise of a heavenly Father who provides all things.  “Do not worry about your life,” Jesus proclaimed, assuring them that their heavenly Father knows what they need (Mt 6:25,32).

Jesus invites us, not to a life of hardship, but to an ever-deeper friendship, identifying with his love for his Father and all people in his willingness to lay down his life.  He invites us to enter a new realm of thinking, understanding, feeling, believing, trusting, and loving.  He invites us into the Kingdom of heaven.  The key is childlike trust.  We are called to offer our time, treasure, and talents, not seeking our own securities and glory; but rather, with single-mindedness, seeking the heart of Christ.  His program of the blessed life demands poverty of spirit, meekness, mercy, purity of heart, and perseverance through persecution (Mt 6:3-11).  He reminds us to keep our eyes on “his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Mt 6:34).

As we walk with Jesus, we hold onto the same promise that Mary once heard, “Truly I tell you…no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age…—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life” (Mark 10:29-30).

Heavenly Father, I trust in you. Teach me to walk with Jesus, abandoning all pretenses and securities so as to seek only the Kingdom of heaven in faith, trust, and love. Help me to be steadfast in my commitment to you. Grant all pastors, religious, consecrated persons, and missionaries a special grace to leave all behind as they walk with you.

Amen.

St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us.

“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.”

John 19:25

What moves the heart of a woman to overcome fear and human respect, remaining steadfast at the cross?  Not mere emotion, but rather conviction and love.  Only an authentic, maturing love kept Mary Magdalene anchored in her determination to be present with Jesus to the end, while the tumultuous sea of sorrow, confusion, and pain practically drowned her.   Awe, wonder, and peace at the site of humanity’s redemption at hand would have to wait until her understanding of God’s plan came to light.  In her observation of the bloody disfigurement of her beloved “Rabboni,” horror and anger at the injustice fueled her decision to see him accompanied.  She would not abandon him.

Mary Magdalene may have been at the foot of the cross regardless of John and the other women’s presence, but the desire to remain in solidarity with her friends was an added incentive.  Untold lessons were forged in her heart in those three life-giving hours.  As she stood with Jesus’s mother, the Magdalene could glimpse what true love was capable of enduring.  A mother’s love, this mother’s love, bore fruit in silent suffering and deep faith, for she, more than anyone, knew who her Son was.  Prophecies of a suffering servant who “was pierced for our transgressions” sustained hope as they recalled the triumphant verse, “After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied” (Isaiah 53). And faith was nourished by a song in which a messiah figure, seemingly forsaken by God yet righteous and remembered by future generations, is victorious (Psalm 22).

The Christian life inevitably entails suffering.  Call it a path of purification.  In those moments, Mary Magdalene encourages us to remain steadfast in faith, hope, and love at the foot of the cross.  She teaches us that we are not merely following a crucified Christ whom we are called to imitate, nor are we called to simply throw up our hands and passively endure what we cannot control.  She teaches us to enter into the mystery of redemptive suffering itself, when life circumstances don’t pan out according to our logic.

As Christians, we are called to see beyond what life brings us and discover that the Lord opens a path of beatifying the soul through faith, trust, and love.  He welcomes us into the crucible of purification so as to burn away impediments to holiness, namely selfishness.  After journeying with the Lord, listening and heeding his Word, and striving to be faithful followers, we can easily think that we deserve a trophy for our achievements.  But the Lord’s love seeks to bring us deeper into his heart, identifying with his being for-the-other.  He invites us to enter the mystery of his divine heart that fears not to suffer for love.  Like Mary Magdalene, may we learn this from the school of Jesus’s cross and from his first disciple, his Mother.

Lord Jesus, you invite us to a deeper love by uniting our suffering to your cross. Help us to see life’s sufferings through the heart of the Father who desires to bring us to the fullness of life in and through you. Help all who suffer to look to you, realizing the beauty and redemptive power of a life laid down for love of another. Help us to remain steadfast in faith, hope, and love.

Amen.

St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us.

“At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.”

John 19:41-42

I imagine that Mary Magdalene lived the first Holy Saturday in an obscurity of faith.  Jesus’s death appeared ignoble and did not paint his disciples in a favorable light among the authorities.  But anxiety over what others thought of her was not foremost in Mary Magdalene’s mind.  John and the women, with the help of Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, had hastily washed and prepared Jesus’s body for burial as dusk fell on Friday afternoon. Then, impatient waiting loomed over the Sabbath day.  The Sabbath day of rest was far from restful as Mary desperately longed to see the Lord once again.

How did she spend that long Saturday?  Memories of Jesus lingered in her heart: his gaze, his words, his laughter, his seriousness, his reprimands that called out hypocrisy, and his gentle invitations that provoked a sense of deep freedom and joy.  The memories made his absence more real as she longed for the comfort of Jesus’s presence.  She seemed to flitter between longing that bordered on despair and quiet peace that assured her that all would be well, the latter coming only temporarily to temper the empty longing she felt.  She did not want to accept Jesus’s absence. She could not let go of her Lord.  She would seek him out, even if only to accompany his dead body.

Finally, as the first three stars appeared on the horizon, dawning a new day, Mary set out to the tomb.  Her mind was fixed on seeing her Lord and giving him the reverent anointing that was his due.  Imagine her dismay upon seeing the tombstone cracked in two and lying on the ground.  The garden was abandoned and, alas, the tomb was empty. Where was her Jesus? Her sorrow over the cruel death of Jesus was doubly intensified at the loss of his precious body.  It seemed as if she couldn’t get her bearings as confusion and a sort of despair began to cloud her vision. But we know the end of the story.  She had only to wait by that empty tomb for one of the most transforming encounters of her life, when the Risen Lord would appear.

Our passing moments of despair, darkness, and confusion are temporary in this life.  The essential posture in these moments is a longing and seeking heart.  Memories of brighter days, past encounters with the Lord, and his promise of a reward in this life and the next sustain us in hope. Those memories are signals from the Lord, like a guiding light tower.  We find the way to navigate through a dark moonless and starless sea, maintaining the course by hoping to find him once again.

And while he is seemingly absent, he works wonders in his precious and beloved souls.  The ancient Holy Saturday liturgy recalls Jesus’s descent to the dead, where he preaches the good news of his triumph over sin and death, releasing all those bound since the time of Adam and Eve.  The Author of Life descends into darkness to bring light and salvation (CCC 633-635).

In the spiritual life, Christ calls us to a deeper transformation and conversion of heart.  The long Sabbath wait and empty tomb experience are God’s way of integrating us into the Paschal Mystery.   The painful longing gives birth to the gift of hope that sustains us through a seemingly empty and dark void.  But the emptiness and darkness that we feel is pregnant with the hidden presence of Christ.  While we wait in patience, the Lord is at work.  Hope itself places us in the presence of who we long for and gives us a taste of the salvation that is ours if we persevere, for “in hope we were saved” (Romans 8:24).

Lord Jesus, grant us an unwavering hope that sustains us in patient longing and unswerving seeking for you above all else. Sustain those who walk faithfully, yet in darkness. Have mercy and release the souls in purgatory that they may fully rest in your presence. Console all who have lost loved ones with the hope of reuniting in eternal life in communion with you, the Father, and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us.

He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

John 20:15-17

Mary Magdalene’s long journey of conversion, her time of following Jesus, suffering at the foot of the cross, and longing for the Lord in darkness culminates in a surprise revelation from the Lord.  At first glance, Mary Magdalene appropriately mistakes Jesus for a gardener, for he is the tender of all God’s gifts in our souls.  He is also the Good Shepherd who will soon be recognized when he calls her name, “Mary.”  To hear her name spoken by Jesus works wonders within her.  Her sorrow turns to joy.  According to her, he was lost and now is found.  And she dare not lose him again.  She throws herself at his feet, clinging to him.  She cannot believe her good fortune.

But Jesus has other plans for her.  “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God’” (Jn 20:17).  A new challenge surfaces for Mary Magdalene.  She is to discover a new way of relating to her Rabboni.  No longer will she see him in the flesh, but in faith.  No longer will she hear him audibly, but in the Spirit.  He must go to his Father, completing the gift of salvation that he came for, to bring humanity back into communion with the Father.

Perhaps Jesus’s words did not bear fruit instantly amidst the shock of this new revelation.  Perhaps Mary Magdalene, seemingly impulsive in her emotional state, had to learn from Jesus’s mother how to ponder his words in her heart.  Ponder she did, because the revelation of Jesus made it to John’s ears who preserved it for generations to come.  “I am going to my Father and your Father” (Jn 20:17).   Mary, in her new state of relating to Jesus, discovers that she is not abandoned, but has acquired a deeper rootedness in the Father.  Her foundations had appeared shaken, yet now she stands firm on her new identity as the daughter of a loving Father.

Like Mary, falling in love with Jesus takes us through the mysterious cloud of the Paschal Mystery where we discover what it means to convert, leave ourselves behind, and accompany Jesus in his travels from Galilee to the foot of the cross in Jerusalem.  He may leave us waiting for him on that silent Sabbath, confused at the empty tomb, but he also rewards us with the gift of himself through deeper faith, hope, and love.  The fruit of persevering in this journey is the joy of finding our place in the family of God.  We discover our identity as sons and daughters of a providential Father and beloved friend of the Shepherd of our souls.

Lord Jesus, open the eyes and ears of our hearts to recognize your presence and voice in our daily lives. Thank you for the gift of salvation and the chance to be fully embraced by our heavenly Father. Grant us perseverance in the journey of knowing, following, and loving you. Help us to live according to our identity as a beloved child of God. To those who struggle in faith, who fear giving themselves wholeheartedly, and who are weary of the journey, grant perseverance and new hope.

Amen.

St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us.

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news:

I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

John 20:18

Mary Magdalene jumps at Jesus’s commission to “go to his brethren.”  Such a prompt response to Jesus’s call to mission comes from a deep impulse, echoing St. Paul’s profession, “The love of Christ impels me” (2 Cor 5:14).  Before St. Paul spoke those words, they were embodied in Mary Magdalene’s missionary enthusiasm.  She went to the disciples and proclaimed, “I have seen the Lord!”  “But these words seemed to them an idle tale” (Luke 24:11).  The simple task of sharing the good news was ill-received by many.  Perhaps the apostle to the apostles found solace in the few who did believe.  John and Jesus’s mother may have been a comfort to her, encouraging her to continue sharing the good news.

With the coming of Jesus Christ, the Kingdom of God was sown among the first believers.  After Jesus’ resurrection, the early Church remained a small nucleus, pondering the mysteries that had just occurred.  They waited with anticipation for the coming of the promised Spirit.  Mary was not to miss out on this great gift as the outpouring of the Spirit buoyed up the small remnant and increased the number of Jesus’s followers.

They would soon discover that the Kingdom of God had boundaries that expanded through the acceptance of Jesus into their lives and the communion that bound them together under Peter, to whom Jesus entrusted the keys.  The disciples were commissioned to go forth and make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19). Mary Magdalene continued in the spirit of accompanying Jesus and the disciples, playing her part in the building of the Kingdom.

Traditional stories of Mary Magdalene’s adventures after Jesus’s resurrection cast light on her missionary zeal.  Disbelief in the good news would not silence her.  She traveled to Rome to speak to Caesar himself.  She preached the good news to the Roman court.  Providence took her to southern France during the early Christian persecution.  At the sight of pagan worshippers, she boldly taught about the one God and Jesus Christ, the Son of God who became man to save all.  These traditions contain marks of the Mary Magdalene we encounter in Sacred Scriptures, where she shows courage in her witness to the leaders of the pack.  Some laughed and scoffed at her. Others heeded the message and converted, multiplying the disciples wherever she went.

What began as an impulse of love would eventually be tested and forged into virtue, as well as gifted with the spirit of courage.  Mary Magdalene was continually formed by divine grace and life circumstances.  Isn’t this our own experience?  For all the plans and strategies we make, for our attempts to be sagacious in the new evangelization, the Holy Spirit will build the Kingdom through both rejection and acceptance of our efforts to share the good news.  Our mission is to be docile to the Spirit and let the winds of courage take us to the corners of our social milieu that are in need of the redemptive message and the extension of God’s Kingdom.

Lord Jesus, make us your courageous missionary disciples so that the good news will arrive to the hearts of all those in need of your saving grace. Make us docile to your promptings and sagacious in the work of evangelizing. Guide us in our efforts to multiply faith-filled disciples and grant strength to all those who are fully dedicated to serving you, that you may reign in the hearts of all and your Kingdom will be extended to the farthest corners of the world.

Amen.

St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us.

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news:
“I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

John 20:18

Saints are ordinary people who open themselves to God’s extraordinary action. They discover an interior freedom to love God and others and let themselves be loved in the midst of the messiness of life.  They do not wait for ideal circumstances, but live their humanity with grace-filled hearts.  They accept the invitation to enter into the dynamics of Christian living, which in turn immerses them into the Paschal mystery of Christ in all its facets.

The image of Mary Magdalene at Pentecost offers hints of this dynamic.  The new image, created by Danielle Storey, reveals the beauty of her transformation at Pentecost.  Mary Magdalene reminds us that by our very creation we possess great dignity; however, our wounded human nature is in need of redemption and life circumstances may throw us off.  Jesus steps into the messiness of our lives to restore what was lost and unite himself, the bridegroom, with his bride.  The bride is the Church, of which each person is called to be a part.  In a mystical way, we are all called to be a bride, accepting the loving invitation of the bridegroom.  The invitation is one of deeper intimacy and a participation in his mission, to love as he has loved us.  We must be ready with our lamps lit.

In this new image, Mary is holding two artifacts found on the site of Ancient Magdala.  The Herodian style oil lamp represents her love for Jesus enkindled as she bears the light of Christ to the world.  The small vessel was used for ointments, balsams, or perfume, representing her feminine genius that acts as a healing agent in the world.  Mary Magdalene gazes outward with a posture of readiness, a flame upon her head to represent the gifts of the Holy Spirit that anoint her for the mission.

The hearts and rosettes on her garment are actual symbols discovered on a stone table in the middle of a first-century synagogue, uncovered in 2009 in Ancient Magdala.  A rosette and heart shapes are located at the top center of that stone.  On Mary Magdalene the hearts represent the ardent love that compels her to share the good news.  The rosette on the Magdala Stone represents the veil before the Holy of Holies, where God’s presence dwells.  On the image of Mary Magdalene, they symbolize the mystery of God’s presence that her humanity veils, reminding us that we too carry the Lord in fragile vessels.  Through grace, God dwells within us in an intimate way and desires that we make him known to others.

Let us befriend her, asking her to share the spiritual goods that she has received from the Lord, so we too will more fully respond to Jesus’s call to conversion, to accompany him no matter life’s circumstances, and to be missionary disciples full of ardent love for our Lord.

Do you want to know more about Mary Magdalene?

“MARY MAGDALENE: INSIGHTS FROM ANCIENT MAGDALA”

BY JENNIFER RISTINE

“The story of Mary Magdalene reminds everyone of a fundamental truth: she is a disciple of Christ who, in the experience of human weakness, has had the humility to ask for his help, has been healed by him, and had followed him closely, becoming a witness of the power of his merciful love, which is stronger than sin and death.” Pope Benedict XVI. July 23, 2006a

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