Mary Magdalen (of Magdala in Galilee)

July 22nd is the Feast Day of St Mary Magdalen (in the 1549 BCP and the
Canadian 1962 BCP but not for the English 1662 or the American 1928 BCP)

It is so easy to confuse this Mary with one or other of the other Mary’s.
The outline of her encounters with Jesus provides the headings for a good
sermon!

1. From her Jesus expelled seven demons (Mk 16:9; Lk 8:2)
2. Mary ministered to the needs of Jesus (Luke 8:2)
3. Mary witnessed the Crucifixion (Mt 27:56; Mk 15:40; John 19:25)
4. Mary witnessed the burial of Jesus ( Matt 27:61; Mk 15:47)
5. Mary witnessed the empty tomb (Matt 28:1-10; Mk 16:1-8; Luke 24:10)
6. The risen Jesus appeared to Mary (Mk 16:9 John 20:1-18)


Note that the picture of Mary Magdalene as the classic example of the
penitent sinner is due to the identification of her with the sinful and
repentant woman of Luke 7:36-50, but this woman is not named and there is no
compelling reason to name her as Mary Magdalene (but early in chapter 8,
Mary Magdalene is named as the woman from whom Jesus had expelled seven
demons and this is the basis of the connexion of Mary with repentance.)

The COLLECT in the Canadian 1962 BCP celebrates Mary Magdalen as the woman
who was sanctified by Jesus and became a witness of the Resurrection. The
COLLECT in the English 1549 BCP, following the medieval pattern, presents
Mary as the example of the repentant sinner and thus may be based upon a
wrong interpretation of Luke 7:36ff.

The Rev’d Dr Peter Toon www.episcopalian.org/pbs1928