|
|
St Mary Magdalene
Mary, called "Magdalene" almost certainly came from the
small
village of Magdala, by the lake of Galilee between Tiberias and
Capernaum. Today "Migdal" is small, but still there, at the junction
where the road from Nazareth comes down to the lake.
We read in Luke 8 that she was one of the women who followed Jesus and
had been healed of various infirmities; in her case, Jesus had cast
"seven demons" out of her. For this reason, she has by
tradition
come to be associated with the penitent sinner of the previous chapter
- a woman who anoints Jesus' feet and washes them with her loose
hair. Such behaviour suggests that the woman's virtue had
been
compromised and Mary Magdalene has, therefore, traditionally been
regarded as rescued from a promiscuous lifestyle.
In the gospel narrative, Mary Magdalene is present with the other
women, including Jesus' mother Mary, at the crucifixion.
Above
all, to her is given the joy of being the first to witness the risen
Jesus by the garden tomb. She does not recognise him until he
addresses her by name.
Her feast day is celebrated on 22nd July.
|
