Saint Mary Magdalene – 22 July

Mary of Magdala (a village on the shore of the Sea of Galilee) was a leading figure among Jesus’ followers.
The men abandoned him when he was arrested but Mary stayed close and she was one of the women who were at the crucifixion.
She was present at the tomb and was the first person to whom Jesus appeared after his resurrection
and the first to tell of the good news of the resurrection.

There is much confusion over Mary’s past and her character, much of which has probably been “invented”.
In the Gospels she is portrayed as a powerful woman who accompanied Jesus but,
over the centuries her character was morphed into that of a repentant sinner,
possibly by those who felt under threat from a female and wished to remain dominant.