The Faith of Mary Magdalene

Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator

Dic nobis, Maria, quid vidisti in via. Tell us, Mary, what you saw on the way. (Easter Sequence)

These words, taken from the Sequence for the Solemnity of Easter, identify St. Mary Magdalene properly within the tradition of the Church as the one who first saw the Risen Lord Jesus. The Gospel tells us this about Mary and identify her as one from whom Jesus expelled seven demons. Unfortunately, other than these two facts, we know nothing else about this important figure.

Much more has been said about her, however; so much so that a recent article appeared entitled "Rescuing Mary Magdalene." There are those who maintain that she is the woman in St. John's Gospel who was caught in the sin of adultery. Others have maintained that Mary is the woman who washes the feet of Jesus in the home of Simon the Pharisee as recorded by St. Luke in his Gospel. Some have also identified Mary Magdalene as the sister of Lazarus, the one who sat at the feet of Jesus and who anointed his feet with the costly ointment immediately before his passion and death. Such speculation is useless. The fact of the matter is that Mary (or Miriam in Aramaic) was a very common name. There are many women in the Gospel, Jesus' mother among them, who bear this name.

Icons of St. Mary Magdalene show her holding an egg, sometimes a red egg, the primitive symbol of the Resurrection. She was the first witness. She was the one who brought the news of the Resurrection to the Twelve. She was the one who, according to St. John, went to the burial place of Jesus by herself while it was still dark to weep and mourn the death of Jesus. This is what we know with certainty about this woman, and nothing more.

However, it is enough. She stands for us as the witness, the first missionary, the one who boldly gives witness to her faith even though she was liable to be the object of ridicule. Remember that the Gospel tells us that she had been possessed by seven demons; she had been a demoniac. Now she comes with a wild story; Jesus is no longer dead but alive.

According to St. John, Mary was the first to whom Jesus appears after the Resurrection. This honor is bestowed on her for the simple reason that believing her will take an act of faith. Facts are scarce in the Gospel account of the post-Resurrection accounts. Facts are not the issue here. Do you believe? Mary did, and for this she is remembered yet today as we keep her memorial.