July 21, 2009

  • The REAL Mary Magdalen July 22 Feast Day

    St. Mary Magdalen: July 22 Feast Day

    Forgiven Much©
    The Forgiven Mary Magdalene washes
    Jesus' feet with her tears.     By Keith Johnson
    Click image to go to artist gallery
     
    St. Mary Magdalene said to St. Mechtilde: "Whoever shall give God thanks for all the tears I shed upon the feet of Jesus, our most merciful God wil grant him through my intercession, remission of all his/her sins before death, and a great increase of love to God."

    Prayer to St. Mary Magdalene

    O most merciful Jesus, I give Thee thanks for the work of piety which the blessed Mary Magdalene wrought on Thee, when she washed Thy feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head , and kissed them and anointed them with fragrant ointment; whereby she obtained from Thee such signal* grace that thou dist pour into her heart and soul so great a love of Thee; beseeching Thee that, by her merits and intercession Thou wouldst vouchsafe to me tears of true repentence and pour into my heart Thy divine love. Amen.

    The Story from St. Luke

    Luke 7:36ff One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table. And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment.

    She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment.

    Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him - that she is a sinner."

    Jesus spoke up and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Teacher," he replied, "speak."

    "A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?"

    Simon answered, "I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt."

    And Jesus said to him, "You have judged rightly." Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." Then he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

    To Learn mor about Mary Magdalen such as where she lived and died after Jesus, Click HERE