There is much written of St. Mary Magdalene in the Gospels. To understand something of her significance, consider the following :
- Mary was from Magdala, a small community on the banks of the Sea of Galilee. Ruins of Magdala still remain on the shores of what is now called Lake Genesareth near the small village of Migdal. (Matthew 15:39)
- Mary was a constant companion of Jesus and followed him and the apostles throughout his ministry in the cities around Judea. She, and other devoted women in his following supported his ministry, giving of their own possessions. (Luke 8:1)
- According to tradition, Mary witnessed the procession of Christ as he was carrying the cross and collapsed under its weight.
- Mary Magalene was present at the foot of the cross with Jesus’ mother Mary and the apostle John. Mary was mentioned first among among women at the crucifixion in the gospels. (Matthew 27:56, Mark 15:40, John 19:25)
- Mary was present at Jesus burial at the tomb, and witnessed the stone being rolled to seal its entrance. (Matthew 27:61)
- Mary was first to appear at the tomb the next morning, to witness the stone had rolled away. At the tomb, Mary Magdalene is first one mentioned in all four synoptic gospels, and the only one mentioned in the gospel of John. (Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:1, Luke 24:10, John 20:1)
- Mary Magdalene was the first to witness the risen Christ, in fact, the first to preach the resurrection, to the apostles themselves. (Mark 16:9, Luke 24:10, John 20:18)
Mary Magdalene is considered in the Eastern Church to be equal to the Apostles. In western church tradition, she has been misportrayed for centuries as a penitent prostitute. In 591 AD, Pope Gregory pronounced that Mary Magdalene, Mary the sinner, and Mary of Bethany from the gospels were one in the same even though there has never been evidence of that. In 1969, the Roman Catholic Church declared these three Gospel characters to be three separate individuals ending 14 centuries of mischaracterization.