Who Mary is, and who she is not

By Tony Staley
Compass Editor

	St. Mary Magdalene When and where: First century Palestine What: Apostle to the Apostles Feast: July 22

Have you ever done something relatively small that gets blown up into a story that bears little resemblance to the truth, but which others believe? Or worse, has someone ever made up something - perhaps malicious - about you that others believe?

Anyone who has had an experience of this sort should identify with St. Mary Magdalene. Many wrongly think of her as the sinful woman - perhaps a prostitute - who repented, washed Jesus' feet with her tears, dried them with her hair, kissed and perfumed them and then became one of his closest followers.

The problem, scripture scholars say, it's not true. Basically, what happened is that the stories of Mary Magdalene and this unnamed sinful woman of Lk 7:36-50 were combined.

How did the confusion arise? Possibly because, right after the story of the sinful woman, Luke says: "After this Jesus journeyed through towns and villages preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve accompanied him and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and maladies: Mary called the Magdalene, from whom seven devils had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who were assisting them out of their means" (Lk 8:1-3).

Scripture scholars believe Mary's demons indicate either extreme demonic possession or severe illness. Whatever they were, Jesus cured her and she believed and followed him.

Nor should she be confused with Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus.

	Related article this week: • Foundations of Faith --     A great saint with a big case of mistaken identity     Mary Magdalene confused with three other women

Who is Mary Magdalene? She hailed from Magdala on the west shore of the Sea of Galilee near Tiberias. After her cure, she stayed with Jesus to his death and resurrection.

Unlike the Twelve, who fled after Jesus' arrest, Mary Magdalene was with the women at the Crucifixion (Mt 27:56, Mk 15:40 and Jn 19:25). On Easter, she, Joanna, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome, went to Jesus' tomb to anoint his body (Mk 16:1). There, they received the joyful, surprising and confusing news that Jesus had risen (Mt 28:9, Mk 16:9).

In Luke's Gospel, two men in dazzling garments instruct Mary Magdalene and the other women to tell the Apostles that Jesus is risen. But the Apostles refused to believe them because it sounded like nonsense (Lk 24:1-11).

In Mark's Gospel, Jesus told an unaccompanied Mary Magdalene to inform the disciples, who refused to believe her (Mk 16:9-11).

In John's Gospel, after Mary Magdalene found the empty tomb, she told Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved, who ran back, saw that she was right and then went home. Mary stayed in the garden, where she was the first to meet the risen Lord, who sent her to tell the good news to the disciples (Jn 20:1-18).

Because of her role in telling the Apostles Jesus was risen, the early church called Mary "The Apostle to the Apostles." A pious legend in the West said Mary went to Provence, France, with Martha and Lazarus, where she died.