Saint Mary, whom Jesus converted, and who witnessed His last
moments in company with Mary, His Mother, and St. John, the
beloved disciple, was called Magdalen from the town of Magdala in
Galilee. At least St. Clement of Alexandria and others identify the
penitent woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears with Mary
Magdalen.
She was by descent a Galilean and followed Jesus with other devout
women. Some also suppose that she was the same Mary who was the
sister of Martha and Lazarus. After His Resurrection, Jesus appeared
first to Mary Magdalen and then to His Apostles. It is an ancient
tradition in Provence, France, that Saint Mary Magdalen, or Mary the
sister of Lazarus, together with Lazarus, Martha, and some other
disciples of Our Lord, being expelled by the Jews, put to sea and
landed at Marseilles; and that St. Lazarus became the first Bishop of
that See. The feast of St. Mary Magdalen is celebrated by the Greeks,
as well as the Latins on July 22nd
.
PRAYER: We beseech Thee, O Lord, that we be helped by the
intercession of Blessed Mary Magdalen, by whose prayer Thou raised her
brother Lazarus to life after he had been dead four days. Amen.
Lives of the Saints, pages 278-280