Feast of St. Mary Magdalene

Seeking Christ in the Darkness: The Witness of Mary Magdalene

Today, as we come together to celebrate the Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene, we pause to honor one of the most compelling witnesses to the Resurrection, a disciple whose love and devotion to our Lord invite each of us into deeper intimacy with Christ.

Mary Magdalene is often referred to in the Church as the ‘Apostle to the Apostles.’ That title is no exaggeration. The Gospels tell us she was the first to encounter the Risen Lord and the first to proclaim to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord.’ For this reason, Pope Francis elevated her memorial to a feast day, placing her celebration on par with those of the other Apostles. It is a striking reminder of the dignity and vocation that each disciple, male or female, has in proclaiming the Good News.

The Church Fathers offer us deep insights into Mary Magdalene’s transformation and devotion. Saint Gregory the Great, in one of his homilies, reflects deeply on her encounter with Christ at the tomb. He writes: ‘She longed for him, though she thought he was taken away; and so she wept. And the force of her love heightened her desire, and the intensity of her desire drove her to seek. She kept on seeking, and it happened that she found him. And so it was that her desires were fulfilled because they were so strong…’

Let us linger with that thought for a moment: her desires were fulfilled because they were so strong. Mary Magdalene sought Christ with a love that was undeterred by confusion, by grief, or even by what appeared to be failure. She came to the tomb while it was still dark — not just literally, but also spiritually. And it was in that darkness that she found the light of the Resurrection.

This feast day speaks powerfully to those of us who gather daily at the table of the Eucharist. Mary Magdalene comes to us today as a witness of hope, reminding us that love for Christ compels us to seek him, even when everything seems lost. Her example invites us to bring our sorrows, our longing, our past wounds, and even our confusion, and to lay them at the place where Christ is most profoundly encountered — his tomb that has become the source of life.

She also shows us what mission looks like. Having encountered the Risen Lord, she does not keep the joy to herself. She runs to tell the others. At this Eucharist, we too encounter the Risen Lord — Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. And like Mary, we are sent forth, even if our mission field today is a small one — a family member needing comfort, a coworker in distress, or a stranger we meet who needs hope.

Let us imitate Mary Magdalene in our love for Christ. Let it be persistent, passionate, unwavering — a love that seeks him early, even in darkness, and a love that proclaims him boldly once he has been found.

May Saint Mary Magdalene intercede for us today, that we too might become fearless witnesses of the Resurrection.