July 22 marks the feast day of one of the most beloved and misunderstood figures in Christian history—St. Mary Magdalene. Revered as the “Apostle to the Apostles,” Mary Magdalene holds a unique place in the Gospel story as a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, a witness to His death, and the first to see Him after the Resurrection.
Who Was Mary Magdalene?
Mary Magdalene is mentioned more than any other woman in the New Testament, aside from the Blessed Virgin Mary. Hailing from the town of Magdala, a fishing village on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, she is often mistakenly identified with other women in Scripture. However, the Gospels clearly portray her as a woman of deep faith and unwavering love for the Lord.
According to the Gospel of Luke, Jesus cast seven demons out of her—a sign not only of physical healing but spiritual transformation. From that moment on, she became one of His most faithful followers. She traveled with Him during His public ministry, supported Him financially, and stood by Him even as He suffered on the Cross.
Witness to the Resurrection
Perhaps her most significant role in salvation history came on Easter morning. According to the Gospel of John, Mary Magdalene was the first to arrive at Jesus’ tomb and found it empty. When she encountered the Risen Christ, she didn’t immediately recognize Him—mistaking Him for the gardener. But when He called her by name, “Mary,” her eyes and heart were opened. She ran to tell the disciples the good news: “I have seen the Lord!” (John 20:18).
Because of this sacred moment, St. Mary Magdalene was honored by early Christians with the title Apostola Apostolorum—the Apostle to the Apostles.
A Saint for Our Times
In 2016, Pope Francis elevated her liturgical celebration from a memorial to a feast day, placing her on par with the male apostles in the Church calendar. In his decree, the Vatican emphasized her role as a “witness of Divine Mercy,” a model of conversion, and a symbol of the new evangelization.
St. Mary Magdalene reminds the faithful that no one is beyond redemption and that true love for Christ leads to bold witness. In a time when the Church is called to proclaim the Good News with joy and conviction, her story inspires believers to live with courage, faith, and deep personal devotion.
As we celebrate her feast, let us ask St. Mary Magdalene to intercede for all those who seek healing, and for those who—like her—long to encounter the Risen Christ in the everyday moments of life. May we, too, be able to say with confidence and joy, “I have seen the Lord.”