Woman of Courage

Apocryphal stories about Mary Magdalene depict her as a penitent prostitute or a woman with seven devils. There is no validity for this in Scripture. She was always one of the women disciples who accompanied Jesus and stayed with him at the crucifixion. After his death, she came to the empty tomb to anoint the body and, instead, encountered Jesus in the garden. She was then commissioned to tell the apostles the good news of Jesus being alive.

Of course, the apostles did not believe she had seen the Lord and had to see for themselves. They probably thought Jesus would appear to Peter or John first. They had their eyes opened. Not until recently did the Catholic Church acknowledge Mary Magdalene's importance. St. Thomas Aquinas named her the "apostle to the apostles." A few years ago, Pope Francis elevated her memorial to a feast, like the other apostles.

Hers is a familiar story of women not being believed or considered important. Throughout much of history, women have been treated as second-class citizens. Before the nineteenth century, women were considered as property of men in most countries. They did not receive the right to vote in the U.S. until 1919. In many African countries today, girls are still not educated, because they need to stay at home to raise the children. 

Mary Magdalene is an apt role model for women whose voices are still not heard or valued. She was a strong woman who was chosen by Jesus to have a special place among his followers. Jesus never denigrated any woman in the Gospels, but he showed a special regard for her. May Mary Magdalene lend strength and courage to all women today who are still considered second-class citizens.