Morning Prayer: St. Mary Magdalene: What Scripture Actually Says, What Tradition Discerns, and What Culture Gets Wrong

 



Today’s Mass is consecrated to St. Mary Magdalene, a woman whose name carries centuries of devotion, misunderstanding, projection, and—finally—rediscovery. She is one of the most important disciples in the New Testament, yet her identity has been repeatedly distorted by secular portrayals and even by earlier Christian preaching. A clear-eyed look at scripture reveals someone far more compelling than the caricatures.

1. Why is Mary Magdalene a saint?

She is a saint because she was:

  • A faithful disciple of Jesus

  • A witness to His crucifixion when most others fled

  • A witness to His burial

  • The first witness to the Resurrection

  • The first to proclaim the Resurrection to the apostles, earning her the ancient title apostola apostolorum—the apostle to the apostles.

Holiness in the Christian tradition is not about perfection but about fidelity. Mary Magdalene’s fidelity is absolute: she stays when others run, she seeks when others hide, she proclaims when others doubt.

2. What does scripture actually say about her?

She was healed by Jesus.

Luke 8:2 states that Jesus healed her of “seven demons.” Scripture does not describe the nature of these demons. It does not say she was immoral, a prostitute, or socially disgraced. It simply says she was healed—and then became a devoted follower.

In biblical symbolism, “seven” often represents completeness. Many scholars interpret this as meaning she was fully liberated—body, mind, and spirit.

She financially supported Jesus’s ministry.

Luke 8:1–3 lists her among the women who provided for Jesus “out of their resources.” This implies she was a woman of means, independence, and agency.

She remained at the cross.

John 19:25 places her at the foot of the cross. This is not a small detail. When courage was costly, she stayed.

She witnessed the burial.

Mark 15:47 shows her watching where Jesus was laid. She knows the tomb because she was there.

She was the first to encounter the risen Christ.

John 20:11–18 gives the most intimate Resurrection narrative in scripture. Jesus speaks her name—“Mary”—and she recognizes Him. He commissions her: “Go to my brothers and say to them…” She becomes the first herald of Easter.

3. How secular portrayals differ from scripture

Secular culture often collapses Mary Magdalene into three inaccurate tropes:

Trope 1: “The repentant prostitute.”

There is no biblical evidence that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. This confusion arose from a 6th‑century homily by Pope Gregory the Great, who merged three different women into one:

  • Mary Magdalene

  • The unnamed “sinful woman” who anoints Jesus in Luke 7

  • Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus

Modern biblical scholarship—and official Church teaching—has corrected this. Mary Magdalene is never described as sexually immoral.

Trope 2: “Jesus’s lover or wife.”

This is a modern secular fantasy, popularized by novels and films. There is no scriptural or historical evidence for this claim. It reflects contemporary fascination with conspiracy, not ancient reality.

Trope 3: “A marginalized woman rescued from shame.”

Scripture portrays her as a disciple, a benefactor, and a witness, not a social outcast. Her healing is spiritual, not moral. Her role is leadership, not rehabilitation.

4. The real Mary Magdalene is more powerful than the myths

The myths make her smaller—either a cautionary tale or a romantic subplot. Scripture makes her larger:

  • She is a woman who experiences profound healing.

  • She responds with unwavering discipleship.

  • She stands at the darkest hour.

  • She receives the greatest revelation in Christian history.

  • She becomes the first preacher of the Resurrection.

In a world that often sidelines women’s voices, the Gospel does the opposite: it places a woman at the turning point of salvation history.

5. Why her feast matters today

Mary Magdalene’s feast is a reminder that:

  • Healing leads to mission.

  • Witness requires courage.

  • God entrusts revelation to those who remain faithful.

  • Women’s leadership is woven into the earliest Christian story.

She is a saint not because she was perfect, but because she was present—fully, fiercely, and without hesitation.

Read more Morning Prayer posts: MSI Press Blog


Note about Morning Prayer: Each morning prayer post reflects on one phrase from the Morning Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours. which can be found in the iBreviary (a downloadable app), Universalis (website) or Divine Office (publication and website).

post production may be assisted by AI in image generation and content (research and wording)


Morning Prayer posts inspired by Being Catholic in Troubled Times (Dennis Ortman)


Book Description:

These are times that try our souls. This book is addressed to all, not just Catholics, who search for deeper meaning in tough times. Our age is marked by division and alienation. We long for some message that will bring peace to our world and our hearts.

This book suggests that the Catholic faith can provide strength in these troubled times. The word "catholic" means "all-embracing, universal." Nothing is excluded in the catholic mind. The truth that sets us free can be found everywhere, especially in unexpected places. It is often hidden in plain sight. In our darkest moments, we find new light and life. When we are most despairing, a ray of hope shines through.



Dr. Dennis Ortman, former priest and current psychologist, is the author of Anger Anonymous, Anxiety Anonymous, Depression Anonymous, Being Catholic in Troubled Times, and Life, Liberty, and COVID-19.


For more posts by and about Dennis and his award-winning books, click HERE.



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