On July 22nd, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, one of the most beloved and significant figures in all of the Gospels. Known throughout Christian history as the “Apostle to the Apostles,” Mary Magdalene holds a place of remarkable honor in the story of our faith. Her wholehearted love for Jesus, her faithfulness at the cross, and her role as the first witness to the resurrection have made her an enduring example of devoted discipleship. All four Gospels mention her by name, and her presence at the most pivotal moments of Jesus’ ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection speaks to the depth of her commitment to Him.
On her feast day, we remember her profound witness and give thanks for the courage with which she carried the Good News of the Risen Christ to the world.
About Mary Magdalene
As her name suggests, Mary Magdalene most likely came from Magdala, a small fishing village on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. We first encounter her in the opening verses of Luke 8, where she is listed among the women who traveled with Jesus and his twelve disciples as they moved through nearby towns and villages, preaching and proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God. Luke tells us that Jesus had cast seven demons out of Mary Magdalene, and that she, along with the other women in the group, supported Jesus and his disciples out of her own resources (Luke 8:1-3).
From that point forward, Mary Magdalene appears at the most significant moments of Jesus’ life and death. She was among the small group of faithful women who remained at the foot of the cross as Jesus died. She was present as Joseph of Arimathea wrapped Jesus’ body in clean linen and placed it in his own new tomb, rolling a great stone across the entrance. As evening fell, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary sat across from the tomb and watched.
Early on Sunday morning, as the Sabbath ended and the new day began, Mary Magdalene and the other women went to the tomb carrying spices they had prepared to anoint Jesus’ body. Finding the tomb empty, they were met by angels who told them of the resurrection and instructed them to share the good news with the disciples. In Matthew’s account, the women encountered the risen Lord Himself on their way to find the disciples. He reassured them and sent them on their way.
John’s Gospel focuses the resurrection morning account entirely on Mary Magdalene. Lingering near the empty tomb, she encounters the risen Christ but does not immediately recognize Him, thinking He is the gardener. It is only when Jesus speaks her name that she knows Him. She turns and cries out, “Rabboni!” - Teacher. Jesus then sends her to His brothers with a message, and Mary Magdalene goes to find the disciples with the most extraordinary announcement in human history: “I have seen the Lord.”
It is for this reason that the Church has called her the Apostle to the Apostles. She was the first to see the Risen Christ and the first to proclaim His resurrection. As Pope John Paul II wrote in his apostolic letter Mulieris Dignitatem, this event, in a sense, crowns all that has been said previously about Christ entrusting divine truths to women as well as men.
Finally, in Acts 1:14, after Jesus ascends to the Father, the apostles return to the upper room in Jerusalem to await the promised Holy Spirit. Luke mentions that they, along with the women, Mary (the mother of Jesus), and his brothers, were constantly praying. Mary Magdalene was among those present when the Holy Spirit descended.
Confusion Around Mary Magdalene
Over the centuries, various interpretations and legends have developed around Mary Magdalene that are not supported by biblical evidence. Much of the confusion in the Western Church can be traced to a sermon preached in 591 AD by Pope Gregory I, in which he merged Mary Magdalene with Mary of Bethany and the unnamed “sinful woman” who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears. Despite the Bible never identifying the nature of this woman’s sin, Pope Gregory asserted it to be prostitution - a claim that had no scriptural foundation and that shaped Western perceptions of Mary Magdalene for centuries.
The Eastern Church never made this identification and continued to honor Mary Magdalene as the faithful and virtuous woman the Gospels actually describe.
Thankfully, a growing movement to restore Mary Magdalene’s image as a faithful disciple in the Western Church has arisen. It emphasizes her significance within early Christian communities. Even Pope John Paul II issued a corrective statement on Mary Magdalene to right the wrongs done to her reputation. In his apostolic letter Mulieris Dignitatem (“On the Dignity and Vocation of Women”), dated August 15th, 1988, he said,
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. This event, in a sense, crowns all that has been said previously about Christ entrusting divine truths to women as well as men.
The Gospels themselves are clear. Mary Magdalene was a woman from whom Jesus cast out seven demons, who supported His ministry financially, who stood faithfully at the cross, and who was among the first to see the Risen Lord. That is her story, and it is extraordinary enough on its own.
What Happened to Mary Magdalene?
There is some disagreement about Mary Magdalene’s life after the early Church was established. The Eastern tradition holds that she traveled to Ephesus with Mary, the mother of Jesus, where they lived out the remainder of their lives. In Western Europe, a different set of legends developed, including the popular medieval tradition that she traveled to the south of France and spent her later years as a contemplative in a cave in Provence. Various churches throughout Europe have claimed at different times to possess relics associated with her, reflecting the deep affection the Church has always held for this remarkable woman.
Traditions of Mary Magdalene
Over time, both the Eastern and Western churches have developed beautiful practices and traditions surrounding Mary Magdalene. While some of these are rooted directly in Scripture, others emerge from later legends and local customs. Each has shaped in its own way how the Church remembers and honors her.
The Myrrh Bearers and the Three Marys
The Church has always revered Mary Magdalene as one of the faithful women present at the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and Christian art has depicted these women since at least the third century.
The Eastern Church refers to them as the Myrrh-Bearers, because they carried myrrh to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body on the morning of the resurrection. Their celebration falls on the third Sunday of Pascha, known as the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women, when hymns and readings focus on their encounter with the Risen Christ and their role in proclaiming the Good News. Icons of the myrrh-bearing women at the empty tomb are prominently displayed in Eastern churches on this occasion.
The Western Church has often referred to them as the Three Marys. In a number of Catholic countries, particularly Spain, the Philippines, and throughout Latin America, Good Friday processions include images of the three Marys. Some regions of France and Italy also observe the Feast of the Three Marys in their local traditions.
The Miracle of the Red Egg
One of the most beloved traditions associated with Mary Magdalene in the Eastern Orthodox Church is the legend of the red egg. According to this tradition, after the resurrection, Mary Magdalene traveled to Rome to share the Gospel with Emperor Tiberius. She presented him with an egg as a symbol of the resurrection of Jesus, explaining that just as new life emerges from within the egg, so Christ had risen from the tomb. The emperor was skeptical, declaring that a person rising from the dead was as impossible as the egg in her hand turning red. At that moment, the egg miraculously turned red, astonishing all who witnessed it. This event is said to have opened the door for Mary Magdalene to continue her missionary work, and it is the reason Eastern Orthodox Christians dye their Easter eggs red to this day.
How to Celebrate the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene
Feast days are most meaningful when we mark them in simple, tangible ways that bring the story of the saint into the life of the home. Here are a few ideas for celebrating July 22nd with your family:
Read the Gospel accounts together. Begin with John 20:1-18, where Mary Magdalene encounters the risen Jesus at the tomb. Read it slowly and let the details of the story sink in - her grief, her confusion, the moment He speaks her name.
Dye red eggs in honor of the miracle of the red egg. This is a particularly beautiful tradition to share with children. You can find instructions for naturally dyed eggs here. Set them out on the table as a reminder of Mary Magdalene’s courage in proclaiming the resurrection. Here’s my favorite children’s book on the Miracle of the Red Egg.
Light a myrrh-scented candle or myrrh incense. In honor of the myrrh the women carried to the tomb that morning, filling your home with that fragrance is a simple and evocative way to mark the day. My favorite myrrh candle, incense burner, and myrrh incense.
Bake something spiced. In keeping with the tradition of the myrrh-bearers and Mary’s act of bringing spices to anoint Jesus’ body, prepare something fragrant and spiced for the family, like my favorites - Chai or spiced cupcakes. (See below for the Spiced Cupcakes recipe.)
Pray together and give thanks. Take a moment on July 22nd to thank God for Mary Magdalene - for her faithfulness, her courage, and her witness. She stood at the cross when others fled. She came to the tomb before dawn. She was the first to hear her name spoken by the Risen Lord. Her example continues to inspire and encourage the Church two thousand years later.
“I have seen the Lord.”
— John 20:18
the recipe -
Spiced Cupcakes
Cupcakes
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground allspice
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup light brown sugar, packed
½ cup sour cream
2 large eggs – room temp
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Frosting
½ cup unsalted butter, room temp
8 oz cream cheese, room temp
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt
4 cups confectioner’s sugar
1-2 tablespoons of milk, as needed
Dust with cinnamon
Cupcakes
To begin, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a muffin tin with 12 cupcake liners. In a bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice. Once sifted, proceed to beat the softened butter and sugars in a large bowl until creamy.
Next, beat in the eggs and vanilla until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. Next, add half of the dry mixture and incorporate it into the batter, along with the sour cream. Then, mix the remaining dry mixture until just combined, being careful not to over-mix.
Place the batter into the preheated oven and bake for 23-25 minutes. To check if they are done, use a toothpick to test the center of the cupcakes. The toothpick should come out dry. Afterward, let the cupcakes cool on a wire rack until they are completely cooled, then frost them.
Cream Cheese Frosting
For the Cream Cheese Frosting, begin by beating the room-temperature butter until creamy, then add the cream cheese and beat until well combined and smooth. Mix in the vanilla and salt. Gradually add the confectioner’s sugar and continue to beat until the frosting is smooth. If necessary, you can thin the frosting by adding one to two tablespoons of milk.
Recipe from www.mamaneedscake.com
“I have seen the Lord” - I can only imagine with what joy these words must have been spoken!