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St Mary Magdalene: patron of Deliverance & Fidelity
Photo by Wolfgang Weiser on Unsplash
Jerusalem, Judea — Spring equinox, circa 33 A.D.
Climbing to Jerusalem at dawn, the sky is a starry cobalt blue. The cool stings her cheek, as Mary Magdalene breathes heavy. Her veil smells of crushed myrrh and balsam. As the gravel shifts underfoot, she spies two white butterflies frolicking around the fragrant flora, drawn by a Presence that has already changed the world.
Mary Magdalene is the Apostle to the apostles. The first witness to the Resurrection, her fidelity overcame shame and fear. Tradition places her at the foot of the cross and the tomb before sunrise. Here she heard the most love-dripping word ever spoken to a human heart, “Mary.”
Biblical references to the Magdalene
God the Son, graced her with two special gifts; just as He will for us.
- Deliverance. St Luke’s Gospel records that Jesus exorcised her 7 demons. Catholic commentators describe this moment as a “total restoration of the person,” a renewal so complete that she became one of His most faithful disciples. “He had cast seven devils out of her” (Luke 8:2).
- Fidelity. When others fled, she remained. The Church Fathers praise her courage, noting that she “stood by the cross with a constancy that outshone the apostles.” St. Gregory the Great writes: “she longed for Him whom she believed had been taken away.”
The Encounter at Dawn. The garden is damp with dew. The air smells of fresh, wet overturned earth. A being speaks to her.
- “Woman, why are you weeping?” (John 20:13).
- And then, the Voice that shatters all fear. “Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’” (John 20:16).
Repentance Matters. St Mary Magdalene is the Church’s greatest witness for the sacrament of penance.
- Grace transforms completely.
- Witness belongs to the faithful, not the powerful.
- Love is stronger than death.
Her courage is a living invitation. She teaches us to stay when others scatter, to seek when others sleep and to listen for the Voice that calls us each by name.
Prayer for Deliverance & Fidelity
There once was a woman of blame, whose heart Jesus gently reclaimed.
In the garden at dawn, her sorrows were gone; when He whispered her beautiful name.
She stayed when the darkness grew deep and watched while the others away-creeped.
At the foot of the tree, she refused to flee, holding love in her vigil to keep.
At sunrise she ran to the tomb, a dark threat’ning eternal doom.
But a stone rolled away, marked the first Easter Day & morphed gloom into joy in full bloom.
She cried when His voice filled the air, a gift to her heart-breaking prayer.
“Rabboni,” she said, as faith banished all dread & hope replaced grief’s cold despair.
O Lord, make my witness the same, set my spirit and courage aflame.
Let me rise and proclaim Your victorious name, and join boldly in Mary’s acclaim!
Sources
Hahn, Scott, and Mitch, Curtis. The Gospel of John. Ignatius Press.
Herbermann, Charles, ed. Mary Magdalen. Catholic Encyclopedia. New Advent.
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