There is no woman in the Bible (other than the Virgin Mary) more famous than Mary Magdalene. And there is no woman more misunderstood.
Pop culture (and The Da Vinci Code) loves to paint her as Jesus' secret wife. Traditional art paints her as a weeping prostitute with long red hair. But the Gospels paint a different picture: She was a wealthy supporter of Jesus. She was a woman delivered from intense spiritual darkness (seven demons). And she was the first person in history to see the Risen Christ.
Here is the real story of the "Apostle to the Apostles."
1. The Case of Mistaken Identity
Was she a prostitute? Probably not. The confusion comes from a sermon by Pope St. Gregory the Great in 591 AD. He combined three women into one:
- Mary Magdalene (Luke 8:2) - From whom 7 demons were cast out.
- Mary of Bethany (John 11) - Sister of Martha and Lazarus.
- The Sinful Woman (Luke 7) - The unnamed woman who washed Jesus' feet with tears.
Gregory said: "She whom Luke calls the sinful woman, whom John calls Mary, we believe to be the Mary from whom seven devils were ejected according to Mark."
However, the Eastern Orthodox Church has always held that these were three different women. In 1969, the Catholic Church updated the calendar to clarify that Mary Magdalene is celebrated separately from Mary of Bethany. So, while she was certainly a sinner (like all of us) and possessed by demons, the textual evidence that she was a "public sinner" (prostitute) is thin.
Why it matters: It shifts the focus from her sexual history to her spiritual deliverance. She represents anyone who has been held captive by the devil and set free by Jesus.
2. At the Cross and the Tomb
While the male Apostles (except John) fled in terror, Mary Magdalene stayed. She stood at the foot of the Cross. She watched Him die. She watched where they buried Him.
On Easter Sunday morning, while it was still dark, she went to the tomb. She wasn't going to witness a miracle. She was going to anoint a dead body. She was going because she loved Him and couldn't stay away. This is her defining trait: Courageous Love.
3. The Encounter (John 20)
This is one of the most beautiful scenes in literature. She finds the tomb empty. She weeps. She sees a man she thinks is the gardener.
"Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."
Think about that. She is a small woman. She thinks this gardener has moved a full-grown man's corpse. And she says, "I will get him." She is willing to carry a dead body by herself. That is fierce devotion.
Jesus says one word: "Mary." She recognizes His voice. "Rabbouni!" (Teacher).
He tells her: "Do not hold on to me... Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father.'"
Apostle to the Apostles
He gives her the job of evangelizing the first bishops. Without Mary Magdalene, Peter and John wouldn't have known the tomb was empty. In 2016, Pope Francis elevated her memorial to a Feast, putting her on the same level as the other Twelve Apostles.
4. The Legend of the Red Egg
Why do we dye eggs at Easter? Tradition says that after the Ascension, Mary Magdalene traveled to Rome to preach the Gospel to Emperor Tiberius. She held up a plain white egg and proclaimed: "Christ is Risen!" The Emperor laughed. "A man can no more rise from the dead than that egg in your hand can turn red." Before he finished the sentence, the egg in her hand turned blood red. Tiberius was stunned. (Some say he listened to her; others say he just let her go). To this day, Eastern Christians exchange red eggs at Easter saying, "Christos Anesti!"
5. The Hermit in the Cave
What happened to her after Pentecost? Tradition (especially in France) says she was exiled from the Holy Land along with Martha and Lazarus. They were put on a boat with no sails or oars. Miraculously, the boat landed in Marseille, France. They converted the whole region of Provence.
Mary then retired to a cave in the mountains (La Sainte-Baume) where she lived as a hermit for 30 years. She ate no food; angels brought her the Eucharist daily. She wore only her long hair (after her clothes wore out). You can still visit the cave today. It is a major pilgrimage site. It smells of sanctity (literally—many claim to smell roses there).
Conclusion: Don't Let Go
Mary Magdalene is the [patron saint](/guides/who-is-my-patron-saint) of contemplatives and penitents. She shows us that:
- No past is too dark: 7 demons couldn't keep Jesus away from her.
- Love waits: If you seek Jesus "while it is still dark," you will find Him.
Prayer to St. Mary Magdalene:
"O St. Mary Magdalene, you heard the voice of Jesus and loved Him with your whole heart. Pray for us, that we may have the courage to stand at the Cross and the joy to witness the Resurrection. Amen."
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