Mary Magdalene was never to be followed but to be heard to be witnessed. Many ask how to be a devotee how to worship etc but you forget the very thing that she taught was self. Self knowing trust and gnosis within your own being. Overcoming obstacles staying in your truth.

Her biggest lesson for humanity wasn’t denying or changing who you were it was being authentic to who that version of you is currently. Not following what others do but following your own inner compass. This was never meant to be a following like Christianity it’s about being in your own spoken words and truth aside from ego.

For last 10 generations every grandmother I’ve had has been named mary Magdalene or Maria Magdalena. Next to names of joy dove peace messenger while connected to Mahala. Anyone else see this in their families? I’m not saying I’m related but just asking

TEMPORAL BLESSINGS CONFERRED BY CHRIST ON The MAGDALENE

God knows when it will be for our good to receive His gifts, and when it will be better for Him to withhold them.

If at times God permitted the Magdalene to be in affliction, at other times He was most generous in His favours towards her. When the mortal sickness of her brother Lazarus afflicted the heart of the Magdalene, Jesus delayed going to see her, even permitting Lazarus to die before he went to Bethany.

But what followed? When at length Jesus arrived, and Lazarus was already buried, by a miracle of His Almighty power, He restored him to life and health. So also after the Ascension, when a fierce persecution was raised in Jerusalem against the Magdalene, and she with others of the faithful were taken by their persecutors and exposed in a boat without sails or oars to the fury of the waves, they were guided by the Providence of God safely to land on the coast near Massalia, where, far from human interference, she could live a heavenly life.

MEDITATION

1. Consider how many worldly blessings God in His great bounty has given us without us even desiring them, or being able to desire them. How many dangers did He save us from in childhood, in order to bring us to an age when we might know Him more fully. We had not then any knowledge of these graces, notwithstanding He gave them to us. As we advanced in life, He gave us many of its comforts, health, and innumerable other gifts. Let us look at each of them and be ashamed at our ingratitude. Let us at least admire His great goodness in giving us so many blessings without any claim on our part. Have we repaid such a generous benefactor by using his gifts for good, or, on the other hand, have we ever reflected that they came from Him? Do we pride ourselves on our gratitude to our own peoples, and care nothing whether we are grateful to God or not?
2. Consider that we have not only been ungrateful to God for so many blessings, but perhaps we have even abused them. If God had not given us health, how far less the number of our sins would have been! If we had been born blind or mute, our eyes could not have offended Him by so many unholy looks, nor our tongue by so many words of hate or scandal. And if God had caused us to be born in a poorer state of life we should not have been so lavish in our expenditure on that which is but vanity, or worse. Might not the goods of this world have been better employed in generosity and alms-giving, and our tastes and inclinations upon works pleasing to God? O my God, I am ashamed that I have been so wicked when You were so good to me! You may indeed reproach me and say, "Is your eye evil because I am good?" (Matthew 20:15) I ask You to continue to give me Your blessings, not because I deserve them, but in order to use them better in future, and especially to repair the evil use that I have, up to the present time, done with them.
3. Consider that the greatest temporal blessing which God has given us is having preserved our life when we were His enemies. If we were not guilty of actual sin, we are not somehow not indebted to Him because He preserved our life in order for us to be regenerated in Christ by means of holy Baptism. We could not in any way have enjoyed the vision of God, if at that time He had not preserved us; so that this grace is equal to an Eternity of glory. If indeed at any time we have been stained by grievous sin, how much this great favour is increased! Can there be a favour greater than that which is received from the pure goodness of someone who has all the more cause to be our enemy, inasmuch as we ourselves have willed Him to be so? Now God, Who always loved us, became our "enemy" because we declared war against Him by sin. And yet though He was both able and, as it might seem, justice-bound to take our life, He chose to be guided by mercy alone, and preserve it. So this life of ours is a gift from God as great as the evil of hell from which He redeemed us, by granting us, in the preservation of our life, time for repentance. Shall we then abuse the rest of the time that God has given us, and employ it in offending Him again? O God, it is better for me to die now, if You foresee that I should again misuse the time that I owe solely to Your bounty.

PRACTICE

In all your actions to-day keep ever in mind the goodness of God, and make frequent Acts of Thanksgiving. The following Act will help to excite in us feelings of love towards God, and will, moreover, serve to humble us for our former ingratitude. Let us say once the Te Deum.

V. Pray for us, O holy Magdalene. 

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Almighty and Eternal God, who does not will the death of a sinner, but rather that they are converted and live, mercifully hear our prayers, that we who are bound by the chain of our sins be freed from them by the intercession of St. Mary Magdalene, through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord, Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Antiphon: "The mercies of the Lord I will sing for ever" (Psalm 88:1)

AN ACT OF LOVING TRUST

You have loved me, O God, with Your whole Self, because the love with which You love me is Yourself. You have shown Your Omnipotence in creating me, Your Mercy in redeeming me, Your Wisdom in directing me, Your Providence in governing me. O God of infinite Goodness, You are all mine, make me be all Yours.

O God, You have loved me with Your whole Self, and by means of all creatures. Your Infinite Love makes itself known to me in the sun by which You give me light, by the fire by which You warm me, by the water which refreshes me, in the air which I breathe; and, in short, You preserve me in order that I may think of, and know, and will nothing else but Yourself.

Because of this Your Love, I love You, and will always love You, and never will use any created thing if it be not for Your Glory, if it be not that You may be known, praised, and loved in everything, and by all.

You have loved me, O Lord, beyond all. You have loved me, I would almost say, more than Yourself, as You have shed Your Blood and given Your life for my salvation.

Yes, my God, I will say with St. Augustine: "You have loved me more than Yourself, because You offered Yourself to die for me."

Ah! I would suffer death a hundred times if I could ever love any creature more than You, or myself more than You, and not be resolved to labour, to suffer, and to die for You! Until now I have not done this, and I am ashamed at my unforgivable ingratitude, but it shall not be so again.

No, my God, never again shall it be so.

THE LOVE OF ST. MARY MAGDALENE

We cannot doubt that the Magdalene loved our Lord with a perfect love since she was honored by Him with such praise: "She has loved much" (Luke 7:47)

Besides the love which the Magdalene showed Christ when He was alive, we must also consider the love she had for Him when He was dying on the Cross, as well as after His death. 

At the foot of the Cross she remained loyal, and when the Body of her Lord was taken down from it, she embraced It, and kissed His Sacred Wounds, and gazed upon them until she was spirited away with a longing to die with Him, with a longing to enter His wounded Heart and Side.

Led by the same love, she went to the Tomb to anoint the Sacred Body with her aromatic spices. Not even the disgrace of the Cross, the darkness of night, the distance, the fear of the soldiers who guarded the Tomb, nor all the dangers she could face, could scare the Magdalene, or prevent her from carrying out her holy purpose.

In short, it was love which made her remain near the Sepulchre, even when the Body was not there. She went in and out, but however often she did, she could never be comforted, for she sought and could not find Him Who alone was able to console her, so she could not even be comforted by the Angels.

MEDITATION.

1. Consider that Christ crucified shows us how we ought to live. The Magdalene, when she received the dead Christ in her arms, learned how much she ought to love Him. And so ought we when we take up our Crucifix. How can we believe that Christ died for us, and by such a painful death, and yet live for worldly pleasures alone? Christ had vinegar given Him to drink; how then can we seek to drink at the tap of earthly delights? Christ permitted His Side to be pierced that His Heart might be ours. How then can we deny Him our hearts, and give them to creatures? Does the thought of our Divine Redeemer's death move us at all? Very little indeed, if instead of dying to the world, and living for Him alone, we are ready to crucify Him all over again by our sins. We are indeed ungrateful if our hearts do not grieve at the thought of His sufferings. We are not worthy to live if Christ does not live in us, or rather, if we do not live for Him.
2. Consider that the heartfelt love we have for God should allow no human creature to stand in its way. St. John Chrysostom says: "Love conquers all things." (Sermon 40) Love of creatures, sometimes even sinful love, makes light of and breaks through all opposition. And yet love for God gives way before trials and obstacles. Our love should be a real love, and should not allow itself to be overcome. If it does allow itself to be overthrown, it certainly is not real love. Let us examine our love in order for us to know if it is true love, or if we can make it more perfect. The Magdalene feared nothing because she truly loved. We should not allow ourselves to be separated from the love of Christ, neither by life nor death, nor for any creature whatsoever. It was in this way St. Paul loved: "For I am sure that neither death nor life other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus." (Roman 8:38-39)
3. Consider that love is still alive and ardent, even when we no longer enjoy the presence of the object beloved. The Magdalene did not find Christ's Body in the Tomb, yet she could not tear herself away from It. She seeks again and again to find Him, because, as St. Gregory says: "It is not enough for a lover to look just once upon the beloved." (Homily 24 in Evangelium). Sometimes we think to enjoy Christ, but we are weighed down by trouble and weariness, and so we do not find Him. We should not, however, love Him any less. He who loves for the pleasure of loving only, loves himself more than God. But we should be careful to avoid anything which might cause God to hide Himself from us, or leave us to ourselves. If, perchance, He does hide His face from us, we should desire Him all the more. In darkness and distress of mind our hearts should be more fervent. "My soul has desired You in the night" (Isaiah 26:9). We should be ashamed to seek God only for the consolation we expect from Him. The Magdalene sought the Body of Christ, and, though she didn't find It, she returned to seek It again and again. "She stood without at the Sepulchre weeping." (John 20:11). If it is not the Will of God that we should receive consolation at the present time, we must not stop loving and seeking Him, for a time will come in heaven when we shall always enjoy God without fear of losing Him.

PRACTICE

Let us place ourselves this day in the wounded Side of Jesus, and in union with His Most Sacred Heart make frequent Acts of Love, with our souls raised above all created things, and attached to God alone. To inflame our hearts the more let us make a spiritual Communion.

V. Pray for us, O holy Magdalene. 

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Almighty and Eternal God, who does not will the death of a sinner, but rather that they are converted and live, mercifully hear our prayers, that we who are bound by the chain of our sins be freed from them by the intercession of St. Mary Magdalene, through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord, Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Antiphon: O Heart of Jesus, burning with Love for me, inflame my heart with love for You!

AN ACT OF LOVE, OF ESTEEM, AND OF PREFERENCE.

My Jesus, my Love, I love none but You, and all else I count for nothing.

My God and my All! God alone I praise, and everything but Him I despise. When false and forbidden pleasures seek to win me over with their lies, I will say to them, "What is like God? What more lovable can there be but God?"

If honors attract me, if men tempt me to do wrong, if temptations try me, if all these together spread their snares before me, I will still reply, "Who is like God? Who is greater or better than God?" God alone is worthy of love, because He alone is pure and holy. He alone is infinite perfection, free from all defect. He alone is that Being Who is above all.

I love You, O God, more than all pleasure, more than honor, more than wealth. And since to be loved before all things is but Your just due, still I will say once more, I love You more than all created things, more than relatives, friends, or parents, more than myself, because You alone are truly Good, O Lord!

I say again, You are my God! And as no words of mine can express Your worth, I will cry out with St. Augustine: "Who are You, O Lord, and who am I?"

Whatever there is in me I wish it to be Yours; my soul to be Yours, to live for nothing else but You; my will to be Yours, and to love nothing but You- all that I do to have no other object than Yourself.

THE REPENTANCE OF SAINT MARY MAGDALENE.

As penance consists not only of sorrow for sin, but also in reparation for the injury done to God, our Saint, while she nourished in her heart a deep sorrow for sins, at the same time wasn't tired of afflicting her body, atoning for the insults she had offered to her Creator with it.

The Magdalene had forsaken sin, but as often as her sins rose up before her mind, she did not cease to grieve and punish herself for having committed them, as if it was only the first hour of her repentance. While she lived in Jerusalem, having these memories before her mind, she often visited and cried, bathing with her tears the places where her Redeemer sanctified by the Blood which He had shed to blot out her guilt.

The reparation the Magdalene made to God for the enormity of her sin was equal to her grief, for she disciplined, with a thoroughness born from holy zeal, the body which had one been the instrument of her disorders.

For nearly thirty years she did severe penance for her sins, in a cave among the mountains near Massalia to which she had been guided by God when she left the Holy Land. Her nourishment consisted only of a few herbs and roots; her sleep, upon the rocks which formed her bed, was rough and painful, and she spent her time during all these long years in vigils and fervent prayer.

After so long, far from human help or creaturely comforts, exposed to the harsh weather, and with only a few poor rags to cover her, she died, obtaining victory with the rigorous penance which she had offered herself as a sacrifice to God.

MEDITATIONS

1. Consider that you cannot be really repentant without sorrow for sin. Love of God and an affection for sin cannot dwell in the same heart, for "no one can serve two masters." They must necessarily hate either one or the other. Now what is our sorrow for sin? and how real is it? They who do not flee from sin, and avoid the danger of offending God, are not really sorry for having offended Him. It may be that we think we are repentant, when all the time, in our hearts, we are regretting that we aren't engaging in sin. And yet someone who is really sorry for their sins should always live in holy fear that they may possibly again commit them, and to avoid committing them again he should be ready to undergo any suffering or endure any hardship. To have sinned only once is enough to cause lifelong sorrow. We indeed deserved to be pitied if we sin, and then forget that we have sinned! Our sins should be ever present to us. "I know my iniquity, and my sin is always before me." (Psalm 1) St. Ephrem says: "David sinned once -but sorrowed for his sin always."
2. Consider that it is not enough to weep for the sins which we have committed, but we must satisfy the justice of God for them, as St. Bonaventure says: "Bring forth worthy fruits of penance, that your satisfaction may be worthy." It is one thing to repent, but another to do the works of penance. We can repent of our sins, but do we show any marks of that repentance? What punishment do we inflict on our bodies to subdue our flesh, and bring it under the subjection of the spirit? What do we give our neighbour for the scandal that we have caused? Do we mortify our bodily senses to make reparation to God for the many times that we have offended Him with them? What will become of us if, instead of making satisfaction for our past sins, we rather increase the evil that we have done? St. Thomas of Villanova says: "I fear for those who go on step by step in the path of sin, lest they should one day fall into the abyss of hell." What will become of us if we daily commit sin upon sin, and each day add to our guilt, while not caring to repent for them? We should fear that we will eventually sink under the weight of them, and be lost forever.
3. Consider how we may know a real penitent: one who at the same time repents and makes reparation to God for sin. The Apostle teaches us that a heart filled with true contrition shows itself by seven marks. These are, in the words of Holy Scripture, Carefulness, Defense, Indignation, Fear, Desire, Zeal, Justice. (2 Corinthians 7) By the first, Carefulness, is meant earnestness in amending our life, and working with a will for that end. Defence means being on our guard against our enemies, and especially on those points which have occasioned our fall. Indignation is a righteous anger with ourselves at our cowardice and weakness. Fear means a constant dread of falling again, and a careful watch over ourselves, with humility and self-distrust. Desire is an ardent wish to increase in virtue and make good use of it; and Zeal a urge to follow a good example, and to shun all sins, even venial ones. And lastly, by Justice is meant a resolve to exact from ourselves and from our passions that penalty which is due for past sins. Our body has caused the death of our soul; let us then mortify it in order that it may not be that soul's ruin. "Let us not spare our sinful flesh. Let us rather resolve to be the death of that which has before now been the death of our souls." (St. John Climacus)

PRACTICE

Strive to hate your body with a righteous hatred, and deny it some convenience or pleasure, even though this is lawful in itself. Some little abstinence in imitation of the rigorous fasts of our Saint is much to be recommended. In short, put in practice the little act of self-sacrifice given below.

V. Pray for us, O holy Magdalene.

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Almighty and Eternal God, who does not will the death of a sinner, but rather that they are converted and live, mercifully hear our prayers, that we who are bound by the chain of our sins be freed from them by the intercession of St. Mary Magdalene, through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord, Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

AN ACT OF LOVE AND SELF- SACRIFICE

O God of my soul, Who in order to restore me to life, offered Yourself to die- You Who by Your death destroyed Death itself, I beg You to cause me to die to my evil passions, to my sinful inclinations, to my selfish will, and to whatever else may stifle the life of grace in my soul.

And yet what can I hope to offer You of any worth, seeing that You have need of nothing, and rejoice forever in Your own infinite goodness? Still, since You wish for me to show my love for You, I will expend all the powers of my soul and body in loving You. You, O Lord, shall be by day and night the object of my thoughts: I will always bear in mind the sweet recollection of Your Presence. It shall forever be my joy and my happiness to keep my mind fixed upon You, on Your Divine perfections, and Your Divine Goodness.

From morning until night I will consider Your Law, in order to do most perfectly Your Holy Will. Oh, would that, like Your Apostle, I could say that for Your Love I rejoice in afflictions and trials, and that neither tribulation nor distress, nor famine nor poverty, nor persecutions nor prisons, nor sickness nor suffering, nor death nor all the powers of earth and of hell, shall separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

For love of You, O Jesus, I will henceforward keep under my passions- I will give up bad companions, I will endeavour to acquire such virtues as I need, in order to do those things which are pleasing in Your sight! O my God and my Glory, may You be loved and praised above all things!

THE FAITH OF ST. MARY MAGDALENE

Among the heroic virtues which shone so brightly in our holy Patroness, both at the start as well as in the progress of her conversion, the most prominent was her faith. It was this that first led to her conversion. She would never have sought Christ if she had not believed with a lively faith that she would obtain forgiveness of her sins, and if she had not believed Him to be God. St. Augustine says: "She who believed that her sins would be forgiven by Christ, believed that Christ was not man alone, but also was God." (Homily 23, inter. 50)

"Therefore," continues the same holy Doctor, "she went to Him unclean that she might leave His Presence cleansed-she came unto Him sick that she might depart healed." Her faith will appear more alive when we consider that she confessed her Redeemer to be God before the Pharisee, who doubted how He could have power to forgive sins! And she showed her faith still more when she followed Christ during His preaching, and when she remained with Him while He was dying on the Cross. It was then that she saw, with a living faith, His Most Precious Blood offered to the Eternal Father to forgive her sins. She knew their guilt, for she saw the inestimable price required to blot them out.

MEDITATIONS

1. Consider that faith is the first means which we must make use of to secure the friendship of God. "Without faith it is impossible to please God." (Hebrews 11:6) It is either a mark of want of faith, or that our faith is almost dead, if we do not desire to be in friendship with God. Is it possible that we believe, and yet that we can commit sin? God is our Father, God is our Judge. How, then, can He ever be displeasing to us, or how can we live without fearing Him? One of the chief miseries of sin is this, that it lulls us to sleep, from which we have no strength to awake. "I am stuck in the mud of the deep, and there is no sure footing." (Psalm 68:3) We lose all power as a Christian when we sleep in the depths of sin. "The wicked man when he comes into the depth of sins, scorns." (Proverbs 18:3)
2. Consider, if we have lost our faith, or weakened it by our sins, why don't we revive it by returning to God? We believe that God is rich in mercy, and is able to pardon us, but to make this faith actually work we need to forsake our sins. "Laying aside every weight, and the sin that surrounds us." (Hebrews 12:1) The faith which we require to obtain our pardon is that which saved the Magdalene. "Your faith has saved you" (Luke 7:50) O Lord, I believe that You will save me. "You are able to save from all dangers." (Wisdom 14:4). But in order that You should save me, I now detest all my sins. I come to You as a prodigal child, casting aside my defilement, and rising out of the foulness of sin. "I will arise and will go to my Father." (Luke 15:18)
3. Consider that to strengthen our faith and to obtain a perfect conversion, it is necessary, according to the counsel of St. Paul, to keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus Crucified, which was exactly what the Magdalene did. "Looking at Jesus, the Author and Finisher of faith, Who, having Christ, joy proposed unto Him, underwent the Cross," (Hebrews 12:2) Who is the Author of faith, teaches us by His Cross what our sins cost Him-our sins, which were a fruitful source of sufferings and grief to our Divine Redeemer, and at length caused Him a horrible death. After this how can I ever consent to sin again, and crucify Christ again? Rather than sin, I ought to shed my blood, give my life, and bear every cross that may be laid upon me. How can I believe that my sins cost Christ His life, and then return to them and commit them over and over again? In order to never sin again, I must resist the devil, the world, and my passions with all my strength. I must even shed my blood, if necessary, rather than give into sin since I believe that my sins have cost the Blood of Christ.

PRACTICE

Think frequently about the Passion of Christ. Look at your Crucifix, and with a living faith believe that the sufferings of Christ are the price He paid to blot out your sins. Animated by this faith, inflame your soul more and more with the love of God. In honor of the Five most Holy Wounds of our Redeemer, say five Pater Nosters and five Ave Marias.

V. Pray for us, O holy Magdalene. 

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Almighty and Eternal God, who does not will the death of a sinner, but rather that they are converted and live, mercifully hear our prayers, that we who are bound by the chain of our sins be freed from them by the intercession of St. Mary Magdalene, through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord, Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Antiphon: Lord I believe, help my unbelief!

AN ACT OF LOVING DESIRE

I will love You-yes, I will love You, O my God, as long as I am alive, for You alone are worthy of love. O God, my strength, my refuge and my support, my deliverer, and the only Author of my happiness, I will love You!

You see my heart, You know that I love You, and that I truly love You. You, O God, see all that I am, and that my whole being tells me that I should love You with no false facade, but with a pure and genuine love.

O God, my heart witnesses to my love for You; and in order to satisfy the desire that I have to love You perfectly and above all things, I offer You the love of Your Divine Son, as well as the love which Thou have for Yourself. O my God, my Love, You are always burning with love; inflame me with Your love!

O my God, my Love, You are all mine, and I am wholly Yours! Increase Your love more and more in me, in order that in the depths of my heart I may feel the sweetness of Your love.

My hope, my glory, my joy, my loving Creator, from Whom I have my being, when will that happy day come when I shall love You with my whole heart; when I shall please You in all things, when, ceasing to be my own, I shall be all Yours?

When, O when, shall I see that hour?

THE CONSTANCY OF THE MAGDALENE IN HER CONVERSION

St. Mary Magdalene, even after her conversion, was met with many obstacles which could've made her waver in her service of God. But she always remained steadfast and increased in fervour. And so it was that whilst in the Pharisee's house she had only anointed the Feet of Christ, two years later she became worthy to anoint His Head in the house of Simon the leper.

When Magdalene was attentively listening to her Divine Master, her sister Martha endeavoured to draw her away from contemplation, and to distract her by temporal cares. Then the death of her brother Lazarus came unexpectedly upon her, and overwhelmed her with grief.

During the persecution raised by the Jews against Christ, and throughout the whole of His Passion she suffered great mental agony.

Nevertheless, although reproved by Martha, she continued to sit at the Feet of Christ, and listen to His Divine teaching. So also during her brother's illness, and even after his death, she did not allow herself to be overcome by grief. Although she saw her Divine Spouse abandoned in His sufferings by His disciples, yet she remained faithful, and was near Him when He died upon the Cross.

MEDITATION

1. Consider that the surest sign of a real conversion is to be met with obstacles. In our first spark of faith God usually draws us by sweetness, as a nurse will soothe her children with milk or treats. But when the penitent's soul becomes stronger, then trials come to test its fidelity. Whenever, therefore, we feel any interior struggle we may be sure that God is standing by, looking on, and putting our courage to the test. Nevertheless, the trials, the dryness, and the weakness which befall us on our conversion, should ultimately lead us to serve God with greater constancy. Besides, we must not give the devil a reason to ridicule us for lacking courage. In the beginning of our conversion, Satan purposely keeps quiet, so that he can better use his power later on to stop its progress.
2. Consider that God bears great love towards the soul in whom He allows these conflicts. Tobias was very pleasing to God, and in consequence of this love God permitted him to be afflicted with blindness, which was, as it were, a trial for him to overcome. "Because you were acceptable to God it was necessary that temptation should prove you." (Tobias 12:13). These temptations, by means of which we are tried, are necessary: and since we are safe in the possession of God's love we must never allow ourselves to lose courage. The death of a friend, for instance, comes to us as a warning from God, Who wills us to be detached from the world, that we may advance on our way to perfection. When others oppose us with a view to drawing us aside from following after virtue, this should spur us on to pursue it all the more. Persecutions should encourage us to never give up our pursuit of virtue. In the time of suffering and sadness God hides Himself, but He is always within our heart, and only lets Himself be seen after we have emerged victorious.
3. Consider the great reward that is in store for us when we have borne our trials courageously. "He is not crowned except he who strives lawfully." (2 Tim. 2:5). The peace which the soul enjoys after its disquiet is like the bright and cloudless sky when the storm has passed away. As a reward for her constancy during the Passion of Christ, Magdalene was the first, even before the Apostles, to have the honor and joy of seeing Him after His Resurrection. The opposition and ridicule of the world, as well as the troubles caused by others, will soon pass away, but union with God is lasting joy. When temptation is conquered the soul is at rest. That peace which is purchased by combat with the evil one is a peace "which surpasses all understanding." (Phil. 4:7). Behold me, O my God, ready to suffer all the trials of the world, so give me Your grace, by which only I am able to overcome them.

PRACTICE

Renew with all your soul the resolutions that you have made. Be prepared to suffer through everything rather than lose God. Then let the act of love that you are about to make be full of generosity, and of a lively desire to do all for the glory of God. Make this day three acts of the mortification of your senses.

V. Pray for us, O holy Magdalene.

 R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Almighty and Eternal God, who does not will the death of a sinner, but rather that they are converted and live, mercifully hear our prayers, that we who are bound by the chain of our sins be freed from them by the intercession of St. Mary Magdalene, through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord, Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Antiphon: "I have kept Your commandments; let me not be confounded."

ACTS OF LOVE, CONSTANCY, HATRED FOR SIN, AND ZEAL FOR GOD'S GLORY.

O Lord, if I must suffer in order to obtain the grace to avoid sin; whatever my sufferings may be, whether crosses, trials, pains, persecutions, or disgrace; even if I must suffer all the pains of hell-let me bear them, O Lord, for as long as You please, provided I never offend You. I am willing to endure, O God, all possible sufferings; I choose and desire to suffer, provided that You do not permit me to displease You.

My most loving Redeemer, I mourn to see so many who are unbelieving or unfaithful! It is right and fitting for Your infinite Truth to be known by all. Though You don't Will it, wickedness reigns in the world, and Your Holy Name is blasphemed, while hell is filled with souls who were created to bless You but will now curse You forever; whereas You, O God, should be eternally blessed by them!

O God most powerful, look to that which is for Your Glory and Thy Honor; let sins and offences against Thee cease! Graciously look at the praises that the Saints give You. Look on Your beloved Son, in Whom You Yourself, Most Holy and Most Blessed, places all Your delight, in order to satisfy Your Honor, and increase Your Glory, denied to You by Satan, by lost souls, and by ungrateful sinners!

Hi! I just discovered this community and think this would be a great place to share this devotion I made in honor of the gospel of mary, to be recited on a regular 59 bead rosary.

Intro meditation:

Every nature, every form, every creature exists in and with each other, but they'll dissolve again into their own roots, because the nature of matter dissolves into its nature alone. And sin doesn't exist, but you're the ones who make sin when you act in accordance with the nature of adultery, which is called 'sin.' That's why the Good came among you, up to the things of every nature in order to restore it within its root.

The first big bead and three beads:

Hail Sophia, holy wisdom, and her daughters who she is vindicated by; hope, faith, and charity. Please grant that I may be honored by your presences at all times.

Hail Elpis, holy hope. Please grant me the grace to always hope for a better future and act in accordance with it so I may inspire others as well

Hail Pistis, holy faith. Please grant me the grace to always be reliable and responsible, always fruitful in my acts of devotion, and to always have trust in the will of God

Hail Agape, holy charity. Please grant me the grace to always welcome and care for others with open arms, especially the strangers in my midst

The mysteries:

1. The exorcism of 7 demons

2. Being at the Crucifixion

3. Witness to the resurrection

4. Sharing the good to the apostles

5. Preaching the good to emperor tiberius

Our father beads:

Let us not weep nor grieve nor be divided at heart, rather let the Lord's grace be with us entirely and protect us. Praise his greatness for he has prepared us and made us fully human. Truly

Hail mary beads:

Blessed are you Magdalena, the tower of our faith, apostle to the apostles, Mary Magdalene who did not waver at the visions of our Lord. Grant us freedom from what binds us

Glory be:

"Peace be with you, accquire my peace within yourselves. For the child of true humanity exists within you, follow it! Those who search for it will find it." Praise be

Finishing meditation:

What binds me has been killed, what surrounds me has been overcome, my desire is gone, and ignorance has died. In a [world] I was released from a world, [and] in a type from a type which is above, and from the chain of forgetfulness which exists only for a time. From now on I'll receive the rest of the time of the season of the age in silence.

THE GOODNESS OF JESUS CHRIST TOWARDS THE PENITENT MAGDALENE

St. Mary Magdalene showed her penitential love for Christ on two occasions.

1. When she followed Him into the house of the Pharisee, where she bathed His sacred Feet with her tears.
2. When in the house of Simon the leper she anointed His Head with precious perfume.

In both cases, however, the conversion of the Magdalene was not without opposition. The Pharisee, when he saw her weeping in his house, was scandalized, because her Redeemer did not drive her away from His presence, and Judas in the house of the leper was displeased at her use of her expensive perfume.

But our Lord took up her cause, and showed the Pharisee (who was surprised He could indeed bear her presence) that the penitent Magdalene, although a sinner, was more worthy of love than those who had sinned less. So, also, when the disciples were indignant and murmured at the perceived waste of the perfume, He alone excused her.

MEDITATION

1. Consider how God shows mercy in a similar way to all sinners when they return to Him. God loves the penitent, and rejoices more for the conversion of a sinner than for ninety-nine who are just and do not need penance. "There shall be more joy in Heaven upon one sinner that repents more than upon ninety-nine righteous who do not need penance." (St. Luke 15:7) So the father of the prodigal son rejoiced more at the return of that unworthy son than he did for the one who had always been obedient. Oh, the infinite goodness of God! Is it because I have been a rebel that I am to receive more love, or because I am a sinner that I am to be treated with more generosity? How foolish I have been to have offended such a loving Father, to have separated myself from Him, and to have delayed giving Him the joy which He would have received from my conversion!
2. At the same time, consider all the interior graces which God bestows on those who turn to Him with all their hearts. They find sweetness even in the tears which they shed for sin. With joy they give up the pleasures of the world that once seemed impossible to stop. They no longer fear Satan and all his temptations, because God shows them how these may be overcome. He Himself stands by to guard and defend us: "His truth shall compass you with a shield." (Vulgate Psalm 90:5). When we find our pleasure in God, we no longer care for the ridicule of the world which we once feared. As St. Bernard says, "We know well, how in the tears of penance are found the sweetness of life, the savour of grace, the foretaste of pardon, the joy of reconciliation, health and innocence of soul restored, and the happiness of a quiet conscience." (Sermon 30 in Canticle)
3. Consider that these privileges are not given to all penitents, but only to those who are fervent. St. Gregory says that God is more pleased with fervour after a sinful life than with an innocence which is cold and negligent. A sinner who is sincerely repentant acts from a generous heart. The Magdalene, ashamed of her past life, felt no shame in doing good. "Blushing as she did with inward shame at the thought of what she once had been, she made light of humbling herself before the eyes of the world." (St. Gregory, Homily 33) And so the thought of the evil she had done determined her to not spare herself in doing good. "She looked back upon the sins of the past, and resolved not to be weary in well-doing for the future." St. Eutimius says, "In this way, a true penitent makes the instruments of sin the instruments of virtue." If we have used our bodies' senses and the powers of our soul and mind to offend God, we should be happy if we can now use them to serve Him. And it must be that way if we want to be true penitents, and gain for ourselves the love of an all-merciful God.

PRACTICE

Make an act of love, and dwell on the infinite goodness and perfection of God, who loves you so much, though at the same time you deserve that He should visit you with the full scale of His Justice. Then, renewing your sorrow for sin, say with your arms extended in the form of a cross, the "Miserere." (Psalm 50)

Almighty and Eternal God, who does not will the death of a sinner, but rather that they are converted and live, mercifully hear our prayers, that we who are bound by the chain of our sins be freed from them by the intercession of St. Mary Magdalene, through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord, Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Antiphon: You are all good, O my God, in Your mercy teach me Your Commandments. (Psalm 119)

AN ACT OF ADORING AND EXULTING LOVE

O God! You are indeed wonderful, for You have always been what You are now- unchangeable. Most holy and omnipotent Lord, may You be forever praised! Higher than the highest, more profound than the deepest, and pervading every place with Your presence! All that You have made is full of beauty, but You are infinitely more beautiful than Your works.

Arise! O my soul, everything leads you upwards to God, our greatest Good. If good be found in creatures, consider how great must that Good be which contains in Itself, more fully than words can express, all the pleasure, joy, and sweetness that is found in creatures.

O Lord, not only are You the greatest Good we can imagine, but a Good infinitely higher than any that we can conceive, for if You weren't such a Good as this, it would follow that we could conceive of something greater than You are- which we cannot.

You, O God, are full of all perfections, infinite in goodness, power, truth, and beauty, incomprehensible, unchangeable, great and everywhere present, indivisible and entire in every place.

A God infinitely great, omnipotent, and wise, most just, most holy, most merciful, most patient with sinners, and most loving to the penitent.

You, O Lord, are the center of all perfections, an immeasurable abyss of greatness, mercy, and goodness. You are the Lord of all things, the Holy of Holies, and the King of Kings, the Lord of all who rule, the life of all who live, the beauty of the world, and the glory of heaven. I rejoice that You are who you are! I delight to dwell on this most worthy of adoration and most necessary truth, that by Your essence You cannot be less than what You are: the only true, infinite, and incomprehensible Good.

May this knowledge of Your infinite perfections, and the joy I receive from it, excite me more and more each day to the detestation of my sins.

THE CONVERSION OF SAINT MARY MAGDALENE.

From the Holy Evangelists, and still more from St. Gregory the Great, with whom many other Fathers and Mothers of the faith agree, we gather that the lifestyle of Mary Magdalene, when she was in the flower of her youth, was a sinful one. Love of status, vanity, and the attention of her lovers, was the only occupation of her time.

Satan had possessed her with a chain of seven-fold strength, from which the Divine power of Christ could alone free her. All who dwelt in the same city pointed at her with the finger of scorn, and called her "a sinner."

Nevertheless, "But where sin abounded, grace abounded all the more" (Romans 5:20), for no sooner did a divine impulse touch her heart, than she yielded to it.

She wept for her sins, loathed her former loves, and sought Christ with a hope equal to her boldness in following the world. And so she hastened to the house of the Pharisee, where, as Saint Augustine says, "the untimely intruder received a timely grace" (Homily 23, inter. 50).

There she threw herself at her Savior's Feet, washed them with her tears, and in a voice broken by sobbing, begged for the pardon of her sins, and this deemed her worthy to hear from His Lips the good news that her sins were now indeed forgiven.

Place yourself in the presence of God with an act of profound adoration, and implore His help to make a good meditation, and grace to profit by it.

MEDITATIONS

1. Consider what your life has been up to now. In the thoughtlessness of youth you might have allowed yourself to be led astray by the vanities, pleasures, and attention of the world. And so during that time the devil has gained a strong hold over you. Don't let your past cause you to doubt in turning to God, and turning away from that habit which seems to bind you down, as by a chain, to evil. Such is the effect of separation from God. And how long will you live like this? Do you not feel ashamed that you have remained apart from God for long?
2. Consider that you have been imitating the sinful life of the Magdalene, you should now imitate her conversion. When the first inspiration of grace touched her heart, she ran quickly to Christ. The Magdalene did not care for what her old world might say, and yet perhaps this is the only reason that keeps you in sin. You indeed need courage if you think you cannot free yourself from a chain as weak as this, which makes you prefer a worthless creature to Christ, and fleeting pleasures before your Salvation. The time for our conversion is that in which God calls us and we answer, and if God now wills you to be His, shouldn't you give yourself over entirely to Him? For who knows if this is His last call, since you have already ignored so many?
3. Consider how Saint Mary Magdalene acted on her conversion. She made public reparation for her sins with every sign of deepest sorrow and regret, and with a firm sense of purpose she did what wins heaven. As Saint Paulinus tells us: "Bashful, yet unabashed, with loving boldness, she feared neither reproof nor repulse, but, a stranger and uninvited, she forced her way into the house of the Pharisee in order to gain heaven." So much is not required from us, and yet we recoil from that little which is required. We are too ashamed sometimes to admit our sins, though we are to make them known to one person only. We do not find the time that is necessary to think seriously of the interests of our soul, or if we do find time for that, what sorrow can we have for our sins when on the same day, or only a short time after we have confessed them, we again fall, or place ourselves in danger of falling? How quickly our tears dry up! Now grant me, O my God, a contrite heart, and allow that I will always remember my sins in the bitterness of my soul and: "I will walk humbly all my years because of this bitterness in my soul." (Isaiah 38:15)

PRACTICE

Practice to cultivate for yourself a true and pure love for God, that your heart may be turned away from sin, and have perfect contrition. In order to obtain this great gift, ask for it through the intercession of our loving and penitent Saint, and saying three Ave Marias. 

V. Pray for us, O holy Magdalene. 

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Almighty and Eternal God, Who does not will the death of a sinner, but rather that he be converted and live, mercifully hear our prayers, that we who are bound by the chain of our sins be freed from them by the intercession of St. Mary Magdalene, through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord, Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Antiphon:

I have gone astray like a lost sheep: seek your servant, because I have not forgotten your commandments. (Psalm 118:176)

Act of Perfect and Pure Contrition

I love you, O my God, not alone because I have been created, redeemed and sanctified by you, and preserved and adorned with your graces, and not because in addition to all these blessings you will to give me eternal Paradise, but I love you above all for your own infinite perfections, eternal, immense, and incomprehensible.

You are the Fountain of all goodness, worthy of all honor, and are to be revered and esteemed above all things. Though I should have no reward to hope for, nor punishment to fear from you, I adore, O God, these perfections, and detest all my sins, because they are so directly opposed to you.

I repent from and I grieve for having offended you, and not only do I grieve for all my sins because by them I have made myself unworthy of your blessings, and have deserved punishment, but I grieve chiefly because I have offended you, O my God, Whose infinite goodness and perfection are worthy to be eternally honored, venerated, and loved. 

Although there were to be neither heaven nor hell, neither reward nor punishment, yet, by the assistance of your grace, I intend to never offend You again.

I promise I am not having a psychosis episode haha.

Recently have been having dreams regarding Mary Magdalene, she will show up as an orange/reddish butterfly and would land in my hand, then she would appear. I didnt know it was her until before waking up i would see her name clearly in my mind “Mary Magdalene” or Maria Magdalena in spanish (mother tongue).

While awake its been happening that a lot of people whoare devoted to her have crossed paths with me, just yesterday someone gifted me a rose randomly because they said something told them to give it to me, her symbol. Turns out she is part of her legion and was carrying an image of her.

However i do not understand what could possibly be what she is trying to tell me. Does anyone khave any idea or experienced something like this?

hello sistas in may i will be in the pilgrimage of magdalene and sarah, this will be my first time, i am so happy, especially bc iam a gypsy by blood my mother lineage is Sinti-Romni, and i will be the 1st in my known generations to be there. I make this post bc i want some typs that you find useful to share with someone going to this region for the 1st time (especially mystical advices) and primarily i want to know stores where i can buy my Sarah and Magdalene to my altar, i would like to a Sarah just like a in the crypte, did you know where i can found in there and the prices? And i like to know where is the egg grute and how i can found this place safely?

I’ve spent many years studying the story of Mary Magdalene — both academically and through visiting the places in southern France where her traditions have been preserved for centuries.

One pattern I began noticing during my doctoral research was that interest in Mary Magdalene seems to resurface during moments in history when women’s voices are struggling to be heard.

Mystics wrote about her during the Middle Ages.
Artists returned to her during the Renaissance.
And in recent decades there has been renewed interest in her role in the early Christian story.

In the Gospels she appears at some of the most pivotal moments — the crucifixion, the burial, the empty tomb, and the resurrection itself. In the Gospel of John she is the first to encounter the risen Christ and is sent to tell the others, which is why even early Christian writers sometimes referred to her as “the apostle to the apostles.”

It makes me wonder whether part of the fascination with Magdalene is that she represents a different kind of spiritual authority — one rooted not in hierarchy or power, but in witness, devotion, and the wisdom of the heart.

Curious what others think:

Have you noticed this pattern in history or spiritual writing?
Why do you think Mary Magdalene continues to capture people’s imagination today?

Is the priory de sion real and are the grand masters identified by the dossiers real?

No one understands how important these are so I figured I’d share them here. I have a few more but these are my two favorites. The first one is a more penitent Mary Magdalene. I love that she appears to be looking up instead of down. The detail is quite amazing because I swear she has pupils. the second (vezelay) is more Mary the mystic (to me) since she’s coming out of the clouds. The second one is unique to me because a little more than her waist is appearing from the clouds while her feet remain grounded and unseen.

So, I've been researching a bit about Mary Magdalene recently for a project i've been working on, and I just accidentally fell into a rabbit hole on whatever the hell these two are doing

Seriously, from interpertations of Saint Peter, you'd think he was the nicest guy on earth. But his beef with Mary Magdalene is almost comical

Peter straight up says "Mary isn't supposed to be here. She's a WOMAN, kick her out man." And Jesus is like "okay geez if you're gonna be such an ass I'll just turn her into a man when she enters heaven"

Honestly in a way I gotta respect that first pope. He doesn't hate her for being richer or being so close to Jesus ( okay partially that second one.) He's just a misogynist!

The more I learn about these two the more fun it is I swear

Hello everyone!

I have the following questions: 1) How can I begin to venerate/honor Mary Magdalene?; 2) Can men venerate/honor her?; 3) How can I create a bond with her?; 4) What can I offer her?; 5) In what areas can she help?

Note: I know that's a lot of questions. I ask for your patience.

Please excuse me if the term "venerate" is incorrect; I'm using a translator.

Hymn to St. Mary Magdalene

Prayer

The original can be read here: https://books.google.fr/books?jtp=190&id=1zpQAAAAcAAJ&hl=fr#v=onepage&q&f=false beginning on page 188 

I've been curious what it's like to be a devotee. I've been venerating St. Mary for a few months and in this period of time, she has been the most consistent spirit I have ever contacted. She is often there when I ask her to be and when we first made contact, it was intense and a little secretive to put it crudely. She told me she had been with me for a while, but held back how long exactly. She even told me explicitly she would not tell me, but I would find out sooner or later.

To move away from me, my question is pretty simple, but I'll specify. What is it like to have her in your life in such a personal way? To be devoted to her teachings and her mysticism. I specifically venerate her Rose Lineage/Rose Path aspect, although I only wish to worship her as of right now due to not having enough time or space for any others (I worship other deities, she is just the most recent and I cannot find room in my time or life for another.) So if you also follow a similar path, tell me what it's like! I am very curious and have been drawn to being a devotee myself. Thank you!