Saint of the day · July 22
St Mary Magdalene
FeastLiturgical colour : White
On July 22, the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Mary Magdalene, one of the most significant female disciples of Jesus with a prominent place in the Gospels. According to Scripture, Mary Magdalene was present at the crucifixion of Jesus and was the first to witness the Resurrection, earning her the title 'apostle to the apostles.' While she has historically been identified with other women in the Gospels—such as the repentant sinner who anointed Jesus’ feet—there is no explicit biblical evidence that supports this conflation, and recent scholarship as well as the liturgical reforms highlight her distinct role. What is certain, and profoundly important, is her deep devotion to Christ: she followed Him during His public ministry (Luke 8:1-3), stood by Him during His passion, and was chosen by Him to announce the good news of the Resurrection to the apostles (John 20:11-18).
The Church honors Mary Magdalene as a model of faith, repentance, and mission. Her life serves as a powerful reminder of the transforming power of Christ’s forgiveness and of the call to bear courageous witness. Pope Francis elevated her memorial to the rank of a feast in 2016, emphasizing her role in salvation history and the dignity of women in the Church. The liturgical color is white, signifying joy and the glory of the Resurrection. The celebration of this feast invites all Christians to contemplate the merciful love of Christ and to embrace the mission of proclaiming His risen life to the world.
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The liturgical day
Mass readings
"I have found him whom my soul loves" — Ct 3, 1-4a
Words of the beloved.
On my bed, at night, I sought
him whom my soul loves;
I sought him;
I did not find him.
Yes, I will get up, I will go about the city,
in the streets and squares:
I will seek
him whom my soul loves;
I sought him;
I did not find him.
The guards found me,
those who go about the city:
"Him whom my soul loves,
have you seen him?"
Hardly had I passed them,
I found him whom my soul loves:
I held him
and would not let him go.
– The word of the Lord.
OR
"We no longer regard Christ in a purely human way" — 2 Co 5, 14-17
Brothers and sisters,
the love of Christ overwhelms us
when we consider that one died for all,
and thus all have died.
For Christ died for all,
so that those who live might no longer live for themselves,
but for him who died and was raised for them.
From now on, we regard no one
in a purely human way:
if we once knew Christ in this way,
we no longer know him like this now.
So if anyone is in Christ,
there is a new creation.
The old order has passed away,
a new world has already begun.
– The word of the Lord.
Ps 62 (63), 2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
God, you are my God,
I seek you at dawn:
my soul thirsts for you;
my body longs for you,
in a land that is dry, parched, without water.
I have gazed upon you in the sanctuary,
I have seen your strength and your glory.
Your love is better than life:
you will be the praise on my lips!
All my life I will bless you,
lifting up my hands in calling your name.
As with a feast I shall be satisfied;
with joy on my lips, I will praise you.
Yes, you have been my help;
I shout for joy in the shadow of your wings.
My soul clings to you,
your right hand upholds me.
"Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" — Jn 20, 1.11-18
On the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning;
it was still dark.
She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb.
She stood outside the tomb,
weeping.
And as she wept,
she bent over to look into the tomb.
She saw two angels in white,
sitting, one at the head and one at the feet,
where the body of Jesus had been laid.
They said to her:
"Woman, why are you weeping?"
She replied:
"They have taken my Lord away,
and I do not know where they have laid him."
Having said this, she turned around;
and saw Jesus standing there,
but did not know that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her:
"Woman, why are you weeping?
Whom are you looking for?"
Thinking he was the gardener, she said to him:
"Sir, if you have carried him away,
tell me where you have laid him,
and I will take him."
Jesus said to her:
"Mary!"
Turning, she said to him in Hebrew:
"Rabbouni!",
that is to say: Master.
Jesus said to her:
"Do not hold on to me,
for I have not yet ascended to the Father.
Go to my brothers and tell them
I am ascending to my Father and your Father,
to my God and your God."
So Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples:
"I have seen the Lord!",
and she told them what he had said to her.
– Let us acclaim the word of God.
Liturgical texts: © AELF — aelf.org