The Church recognizes the role of Mary Magdalene as one of the first witnesses to Christ resurrection and as a true and authentic evangelizer. In recognition of her important role in the history of the Catholic faith, Pope Francis raised the July 22 memorial of St. Mary Magdalene to a feast on the church's liturgical calendar back in 2016.
The Catholic faithful remember Mary Magdalene as having remained loyal to Jesus throughout his suffering and death on the cross, in addition to being the first witness to his resurrection. The Gospel reading from John focuses upon her visit to Christ’s tomb. She arrives at the tomb, finding it empty; she breaks down weeping. She does not recognize Jesus when he appears to her as she is blinded by her grief and her own failings. She is overwhelmed by the death of Jesus and by her our struggles.
We hear Jesus instruct Mary Magdalene to deliver a message to his disciples about his death and resurrection, that he is going to his father and our father, to his God and our God. The wording of these instructions teaches us that we have the ability to have a personal relationship with God. In these instructions, Christ teaches us that through his suffering and death, he has transcended his earthly death and has opened the gates of heaven to us.
We can learn from Mary Magdalene because her journey is so relatable. We ourselves can be blinded by our own fears and hardships. Mary Magdalene’s faith and courage give an example of faith to follow. She learns to have faith and to trust in the presence of Christ’s love and mercy. She is the apostle to the apostles, bringing them news of Christ’s resurrection. Her witness was very important to the Early Church. We honor Mary Magdalene today, uniting our prayers with her prayers.
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