Saint Mary Magdalene
by VP
Posted on Monday July 22, 2024 at 12:00AM in Saints
Domenico Fetti. The Repentant Mary Magdalene
Sanctuary of the Saint Baume, France
St. Mary Magdalene said to St. Mechtilde: Whosoever shall give God thanks for all the tears I shed upon the feet of Jesus, our most merciful God will grant him through my intercession remission of all his sins before his death, and a great increase of love to God.
O most merciful Jesus, I give thee thanks for that work of piety which the blessed Mary Magdalen wrought on thee when she washed thy feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed them and anointed them with fragrant ointment; whereby she obtained from thee such signal grace that thou didst pour into her heart and soul so great love of thee that she could love nothing apart from thee: beseeching thee that by her merits and intercessions thou wouldst vouchsafe to me tears of true repentance, and pour into my heart thy divine love. Amen. (Preces Gertrudianae; Prayers of St. Gertrude and St. Mechtilde.)
I. LAUDA MATER ECCLESIA. (Office hymn for the feast of St. Mary Magdalene)
Now let the Church in earth and heav'n
To Christ upraise her melody:
By sev'nfold grace from devils sev'n
A captive soul is now set free.
Full oft she sinned of whom we tell,
Mary, the sister of Lazarus ;
Who, from the very jaws of hell,
Repentant life hath shewn to us.
To Christ the Healer see her go,
With precious ointment for her Lord:
The Good Physician speaks, and lo!
He heals her sickness by His Word.
Ounction from a broken heart!
O rivers from those laden eyes!
Such choosing of love's better part
Brings pardon with a glad surprise.
This loving Saint was first to see
The Victor, rising from His rest:
The earliest joy was hers to be
Who loved Him most, who loved the best.
Now GOD in mercy grant to us,
In life's incessant storms and cares,
That all the Saints most glorious
May aid us sinners with their prayers.
To GOD Alone be glory giv'n,
For sev'n-fold pow'r and glad release:
To souls of men, from sin forgiv'n,
He gives new life and joy and peace.
(S. Odo of Cluny, 11th Century.)
St. Mary Magdalen:
"She had lived a long time in all the disorders of luxury and vice; but touched at length with the sense of her crimes, and knowing Christ to be her only physician, she runs in to him, while he is at table with the Pharisee, and throws herself at his feet. She washes his feet with her tears, and wipes them with her hair; she kisses them, and pours forth her sweet perfumes, and departs not thence till she has Christ her advocate, and hears those words of comfort from his sacred mouth: Thy sins are forgiven thee: thy faith hath made thee safe, go in peace.
Adore the goodness of your Redeemer, and bless his mercy who has given such encouragement to repenting sinners. Pray for all those unhappy ones, who, like Magdalen, are engaged in sin; that being sensible of their misery, they may, with her, seek their Redeemer, and by a sincere conversion be received into his favour. Let this day's mercy raise up your hopes in Christ; and, whatever your sins have been, preserve you from all despair.
St. Mary Magdalen having thus obtained pardon of her sins, became a true disciple of Jesus: and her heart, which she had rescued from the love of the world, she gave now entirely to him. She delighted in his sacred doctrine, and her place of rest was at his feet, where she first found wonderful effects of his goodness. She poured perfumes on his head, to prepare him for his burial, she followed him to the cross with tears, she was the first at his sepulchre, and there continued watching for her Lord. She was informed of His resurrection by the angels, and was the first mentioned in Scripture, to whom Christ appeared.
Learn from her the method of a true conversion. If God has mercifully drawn you out of a state of sin, express your sense of this mercy, in a more than ordinary fidelity to your Lord. Endeavour to outdo all in every Christian duty, in prayer, fasting, and all kinds of humiliation. The innocent Christian is obliged to a life of virtue; the converted sinner ought to do something more, and make his life a penance, bearing some proportion to his past offences. But whatever your life has been, pray on this day to be delivered from all temptations, or strengthened against them. Resolve upon avoiding all immediate occasions of sin; be cautious in the choice of company, and in all your conversation; avoid all familiarities; keep a strict guard on your thoughts, your eyes and your tongue. Never read books which are likely to soften and injure your soul; beseech God to take from you the love of the world, and of all its vanities and snares; to give you a true sense of your own weakness, and of all the dangers before you, and to inspire you with courage necessary for your security. As far as you forsake the world, you may hope God will approach to you, and prepare you for a better." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
Litanies of Saint Mary Magdalene
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy,
God, the Holy Ghost, have mercy, &c.
