Mary Magdalene, who was the first to see and touch the resurrected Christ, and who was never able to consummate her love for him this side of Eternity, is remembered today as a saint. The Church celebrates her day today with the “Song of Songs,” Chapter 3, a love song so beautiful it could only be in the Bible. She waited a relatively long time for her vindication, but valiant and strong woman that she turned out to be, she triumphed.
She was always St. Mary Magdalene, but in 2016 Pope Francis gave her her own feast day, elevating her to the same position as the Apostles. The Church has what is known as the communion of saints, an ability and belief that we are able to send messages to those who are gone, by prayer. I do ask her intercession on certain occasions.
Her love of Jesus seemed both intellectual and physical, one of the combinations truly human. Christ’s sympathy for her and that of many fallen individuals was, of course, truly charismatic and heartfelt. He meant what he said, “I have come to call sinners.”
