22/07/2024
Mary Magdalene Feast Day (7/22)
According to the Gospel, the first person to encounter the risen Christ is the female disciple Mary of Magdala, also known as Mary Magdalene.
Nothing in the Gospel occurs by mere chance. It is highly significant that in a society where men wielded power in almost every aspect of life, Christ chose a woman to be the first to see him after his resurrection and to announce the news to his apostles.
Underscoring this significance, three years ago Pope Francis elevated the memorial of St. Mary Magdalene, traditionally observed on July 22, to the status of a feast day. In this way, the pope accorded a dignity to the liturgical celebration of St. Mary Magdalene similar to that of the apostles, who are each celebrated as feasts. (The church has a hierarchy of celebrations from memorials to feasts to solemnities.) This recognition was long overdue to a woman famously called the “apostle of the apostles” by St. Thomas Aquinas.
Magdalene’s Feast Day is July 22nd- the day the Sun moves from Cancer (Moon-ruled) to Leo (Sun-ruled) in Tropical Astrology. Incidentally in the Magi Card system July 22nd is the 6 of clubs- one of the most powerful and psychic cards in the entire deck. This card is the Way Shower and the Messenger and is the same card as John the Baptist (his feast day is June 24th).
Why is Mary Magdalene important? We might not have Christianity without her. She was the first to recognize Jesus as the risen Christ and she followed his instructions to tell the Apostles what had happened. Because of this, she has the title of Apostolorum Apostola, or “Apostle to the Apostles.”
With the exception of a few, we hear little about the women who accompanied Jesus and participated in his ministry.
On this Feast Day, take time to recognize the women who helped you to grow in faith. They may not be mentioned in any history books, but probably included your mother, grandmother, teacher, women religious, sister or aunt.
source: https://stm.yale.edu/blog/the-feast-of-st.-mary-magdalene-a-celebration-of-women-leaders
Image: Mary Magdalene Preaching in Marseille, c. 1518,
John G. Johnson Collection, Philadelphia Museum of Art
