Our Patron Saint:

Saint Mary Magdalene

The city from which Mary came is located at the southern end of the Plain of Gennesaret, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee to the north of Tiberias. The city is not mentioned by its name in the Bible, although a form of it occurs in Scripture exclusively as a description of Mary Magdalene.

According to Luke, a Mary called Magdalene was one of a large group of women who provided for Jesus and the Twelve out of their means. The group included some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities. One of these was Mary, "from whom seven demons had gone out ", an indication that because of her serious condition, an exorcism had been performed on her, most probably by Jesus himself. Mary was with the band of Galilean women who accompanied Jesus to Jerusalem, witnessed his crucifixion from a distance, observed the tomb with his body in position, went to the tomb with the burial spices which they had prepared, found the tomb empty, and experienced the startling appearance of two men in dazzling apparel. Mary Magdalene is specifically identified as one of those who told the apostles about the Easter day events, only to have the report fall on deaf ears.

In Mark's gospel, the presence of Mary Magdalene at the crucifixion, the tomb, and the empty tomb provides a link of continual witness to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. In this role Mary is accompanied by Mary, the mother of Joses, but the role of Mary is preeminent since she is always cited in the first instance. These women are clearly identified as disciples of Jesus, who ministered to him. Their purpose in going to the tomb on the day after the Sabbath was to anoint Jesus’ body. At the site, they discovered the open tomb and heard the paschal proclamation. Overcome with astonishment, they were afraid to tell anyone about the occurrence.

Matthew’s gospel identifies Mary Magdalene as one who observed the crucifixion, the burial, and the empty tomb which she had come out to see. Matthew cites the names and purpose of the women who accompanied Mary Magdalene. Matthew also states that the women joyfully ran from the empty tomb in order to tell the disciples the good news. Subsequently they encountered the risen Jesus who likewise entrusted to them the task of announcing the Pascal proclamation

Mary Magdalene, in John's gospel, is portrayed as being at the cross in the company of the mother of Jesus and Mary, the wife of Clopas. The gospel of John also includes a significant narrative account of Mary Magdalene's presence at the empty tomb. In John 20:1-2, an unaccompanied Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb, which she finds empty, and thereupon runs to tell Peter that they have taken the Lord out of the tomb.

From about the 6th century in the Western Church, traditions developed which tended to identify Mary Magdalene with the sinful woman of of Luke's gospel and/or Mary of Bethany, but there is no historical evidence or scriptural evidence on which to base such identifications. Probably, the unsavory reputation of the city of Magdala contributed to the identification of Mary Magdalene and the woman in Luke's gospel.

- adapted from the Anchor Bible Dictionary, edited by David Noel Freeman, ©1992, 1997.