The Feast of St. Mary Magdalene patroness of the Dominican Order
Fra Angelico (Florentine painter, c. 1400-1455), "Jesus Appearing to the Magdalene" (Noli me tangere, 1440-41). fresco, 180 x 146 cm; Cell 1, Convent of San Marco, Florence.
St. Mary Magdalene is known as the Apostola Apostolorum—the Apostle of the Apostles—because of her role in the accounts of the events surrounding the Resurrection. As Dominicans we seek to imitate her great faith and zeal in proclaiming the Good News of the Lord. Yet, a further connection can be established that links this saint, regarded as a patroness of the Order, to the Dominican family.
Why Mary Magdalene? Dominicans strive to be apostles, preaching the gospel of Christ, and so draw their inspiration from she who was so closely associated with Christ and the early history of the Order. Further, it seems that St. Mary Magdalene, in tradition and in literature, is constantly endowed with three characteristics: she is the converted sinner, she is the contemplative soul and she is the herald of the Resurrection. These characteristics powerfully describe the preaching office and thus our Dominican life. How can one speak of the mercy of God if one has not experienced it oneself? How can one speak of God without speaking with God?
Alexander Ivanov (1806-1858), "Appearance of Christ to Mary Magdalene" (Noli mi tangere, 1835), oil on canvas. The State Russian Museum, Moscow.
Fr. Stanley Azaro's homily for today's feast:
It is very clear from the Easter gospels, that Mary Magdalene had a very important role to play after the resurrection of Christ. The late Pope John Paul II once wrote: "The gospel of John emphasizes the special role of Mary Magdalene ... She is the first to meet the risen Christ ... Hence she came to be called the apostle of the apostles. Mary Magdalene was the first eyewitness of the risen Christ, and for this reason she was also the first to bear witness to him before the apostles."
That is a very important title indeed for Mary Magdalene - the apostle of the apostles. John Paul II borrowed the phrase from my Dominican confrere St. Thomas Aquinas, who wrote in his commentary on the gospel of John: "Mary Magdalene was made the apostle of the apostles through that which was entrusted to her, that she should announce the resurrection of the Lord to the disciples." Very interesting! Mary Magdalene was the first preacher of the resurrection. This explains why from the very beginnings of the Dominican Order, one of its chief patron saints has been Mary Magdalene, precisely because she was the first preacher of the resurrection, the apostle of the apostles.
We can imagine what Mary Magdalene's feelings must have been at this point: "What, go back to them? Go back to those cowards who said they would be loyal to you, who promised to stay with you, who swore they would lay down their lives for you? They ran away in fear, looking out for their own skins. We women stayed right to the awful end. I should go back to them? I'll never forgive them for what they did. Why can't I remain here with you?"
John's gospel depicts the scene of Mary Magdalene's face to face encounter with the Risen Christ. She was in deep sorrow because she believed, like the others, that Jesus was dead, that it was all finished, that the story was all over. But her sorrow was turned to joy when she recognized him in the garden when he spoke her name. She wanted to remain with him to enjoy his presence, just as she had so many times in the past. But the Risen Christ said to her: "Don't cling to me. Go back to my brothers and tell them that I'm risen."
At that moment, I think, Mary Magdalene received another healing. The Risen Christ healed her broken heart so that she could come to forgive the others who had disappointed her so much, just as the Risen Christ himself had already forgiven them. Because the Risen Christ healed the heart of Mary Magdalene, because she was now willing to let go of her hurts and disillusionment, because she was now ready to relate with Christ in a way, because she was now willing to go back to the brothers, she was prepared to become the first preacher of the resurrection, the apostle of the apostles. Mary Magdalene did indeed go back to them. She was able to find the Risen Christ where she had originally lost him - among his disciples and friends.
So we too, like Mary Magdalene, have to find God where we originally may have lost track of God - in that awful situation, in that great disappointment, in that unbearable sorrow, in that experience of hurt and brokenness. So we too, like Mary Magdalene, have to go back and allow the Risen Christ to heal our hearts, to restore the fractured relationships, to mend the bruised feelings, and to reconcile all of us with those with whom we feel most at odds.
The Easter experience is the experience of Mary Magdalene - the experience of being touched by the Risen Christ, revealed as a forgiving and peace-giving Redeemer of whom we needn't be afraid. The Easter experience is the experience of having all our bitterness and ill-will taken away, so that our hearts may be filled with love, and our lips opened to preach the Good News of Mary Magdalene: "I have seen the Lord."
That is a very important title indeed for Mary Magdalene - the apostle of the apostles. John Paul II borrowed the phrase from my Dominican confrere St. Thomas Aquinas, who wrote in his commentary on the gospel of John: "Mary Magdalene was made the apostle of the apostles through that which was entrusted to her, that she should announce the resurrection of the Lord to the disciples." Very interesting! Mary Magdalene was the first preacher of the resurrection. This explains why from the very beginnings of the Dominican Order, one of its chief patron saints has been Mary Magdalene, precisely because she was the first preacher of the resurrection, the apostle of the apostles.
We can imagine what Mary Magdalene's feelings must have been at this point: "What, go back to them? Go back to those cowards who said they would be loyal to you, who promised to stay with you, who swore they would lay down their lives for you? They ran away in fear, looking out for their own skins. We women stayed right to the awful end. I should go back to them? I'll never forgive them for what they did. Why can't I remain here with you?"
John's gospel depicts the scene of Mary Magdalene's face to face encounter with the Risen Christ. She was in deep sorrow because she believed, like the others, that Jesus was dead, that it was all finished, that the story was all over. But her sorrow was turned to joy when she recognized him in the garden when he spoke her name. She wanted to remain with him to enjoy his presence, just as she had so many times in the past. But the Risen Christ said to her: "Don't cling to me. Go back to my brothers and tell them that I'm risen."
Fra Bartolomeo, 1472/5 - 1517 God the Father, Saint Mary Magdalene, and Saint Catherine of Siena, 1509 Oil on canvas 12.3 x 7.8 ft ( 361 x 236 cm)Museo e Pinacoteca Nazionale di Palazzo Mansi, Lucca.
At that moment, I think, Mary Magdalene received another healing. The Risen Christ healed her broken heart so that she could come to forgive the others who had disappointed her so much, just as the Risen Christ himself had already forgiven them. Because the Risen Christ healed the heart of Mary Magdalene, because she was now willing to let go of her hurts and disillusionment, because she was now ready to relate with Christ in a way, because she was now willing to go back to the brothers, she was prepared to become the first preacher of the resurrection, the apostle of the apostles. Mary Magdalene did indeed go back to them. She was able to find the Risen Christ where she had originally lost him - among his disciples and friends.
Above is a picture of Antonio Canova's incredible sculpture of the penitent Mary Magdalene.
The Easter experience is the experience of Mary Magdalene - the experience of being touched by the Risen Christ, revealed as a forgiving and peace-giving Redeemer of whom we needn't be afraid. The Easter experience is the experience of having all our bitterness and ill-will taken away, so that our hearts may be filled with love, and our lips opened to preach the Good News of Mary Magdalene: "I have seen the Lord."
