Meet the woman whose encounter with Christ
transformed her life forever.
Who is St. Mary Magdalene? She is the saint whose journey from brokenness to bold faith continues to inspire hearts today. While there is very little known about the life of St. Mary Magdalene as a whole, what we do know is profoundly beautiful. Her story is one of conversion, unwavering devotion, and courageous love. She reminds us that no one is beyond the reach of God's mercy and that one encounter with Christ can change everything.
The First Encounter
St. Luke recounts in his Gospel that as Our Lord traveled preaching and healing, He entered the home of Simon the Pharisee for a meal. It is here that we witness the first recorded encounter between Mary Magdalene and Christ:
“And behold a woman that was in the city, a sinner, when she knew that he sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment; And standing behind at his feet, she began to wash his feet, with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.” Luke 7:37-38
In this deeply personal moment, Mary's humility and repentance are met with Christ's infinite mercy. The woman who approached Jesus burdened by her past leaves transformed by His forgiveness.
“Wherefore I say to thee: Many sins are forgiven her, because she hath loved much. But to whom less is forgiven, he loveth less. And he said to her: Thy sins are forgiven thee. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves: Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman: Thy faith hath made thee safe, go in peace.” Luke 7:47-50
After this encounter, Scripture tells us that Mary Magdalene became one of the women who faithfully followed Jesus throughout His public ministry, helping to care for Him and His Apostles. Though the Gospels reveal few details about these years, they consistently portray a woman whose life had been completely transformed by the love of Christ.
At the Foot of the Cross
The next time we hear mention of Mary Magdalene is during our Lord’s Passion. When many of Jesus' followers fled in fear during His Passion, Mary Magdalene remained. She stood faithfully near the Cross, refusing to abandon the One who had first shown her mercy.
“And there were many women far off, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: Among whom was Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.” Matthew 27:55-56
Her devotion did not end at Calvary. She remained even after Jesus breathed His last, witnessing His burial and keeping watch at His tomb.
“And Joseph taking the body, wrapped it up in a clean linen cloth. And laid it in his own new monument, which he had hewed out in a rock. And he rolled a great stone to the door of the monument, and went his way. And there was there Mary Magdalen, and the other Mary sitting over against the sepulchre.” Matthew 27:59-61
Where others saw defeat, Mary remained present. Her love for Christ carried her through His suffering, death, and burial.
Meeting with Our Risen Lord
Mary Magdalene's faithfulness led her back to the tomb before sunrise on the first Easter morning. Her only desire was to honor the body of her beloved Lord.
“And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought sweet spices, that coming, they might anoint Jesus. And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they come to the sepulchre, the sun being now risen. And they said one to another: Who shall roll us back the stone from the door of the sepulchre?” Mark 16:1-3
Instead of finding a sealed tomb, Mary encountered something she could never have imagined. Still grieving, she lingered outside the empty tomb weeping. It was there that the risen Christ revealed Himself to her, not with a grand display, but with a single word.
“But Mary stood at the sepulchre without, weeping. Now as she was weeping, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, And 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 say to her: Woman, why weepest thou? She saith to them: Because they have taken away my Lord; and I know not where they have laid him.
When she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing; and she knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith to her: Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, thinking it was the gardener, saith to him: Sir, if thou hast taken him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
Jesus saith to her: Mary. She turning, saith to him: Rabboni (which is to say, Master). Jesus saith to her: Do not touch me, for I am not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brethren, and say to them: I ascend to my Father and to your Father, to my God and your God. Mary Magdalen cometh, and telleth the disciples: I have seen the Lord, and these things he said to me.” John 20:11-18
In that instant, everything changed. The Good Shepherd called His sheep by name, and she recognized His voice. Jesus entrusted Mary Magdalene with the extraordinary mission of proclaiming the Resurrection to His Apostles, making her the first witness of the risen Christ. It is from this moment that St. Thomas Aquinas famously calls her the “Apostle to the Apostles.’
What Can We Learn from St. Mary Magdalene?
St. Mary Magdalene's story is not simply about who she once was—it is about who Christ made her to be.
She teaches us that no sin is greater than God's mercy, no past is beyond redemption, and no heart is too broken for His healing. Her life reminds us that holiness begins with surrender. The woman once known for her sin became one of Christ's most faithful disciples because she allowed His love to transform her.
Mary Magdalene stayed when others left. She sought Jesus when hope seemed lost. She recognized His voice when He called her by name. And once she encountered the risen Lord, she could not keep the Good News to herself.
Her witness continues to invite us to do the same.
May we have the courage to bring our brokenness to Christ, the faith to remain close to Him through every cross, and the joy to proclaim with St. Mary Magdalene:
"I have seen the Lord."