Saint Mary Magdalen

Patron of against sexual temptation, Anguiano, Spain, apothecaries, Atrani, Salerno, Italy, Casamicciola, Italy, contemplative life, contemplatives, converts, druggists, Elantxobe, Spain, Foglizzo, Italy, glove makers, hairdressers, hairstylists, La Magdeleine, Italy, penitent sinners, penitent women, people ridiculed for their piety, perfumeries, perfumers, pharmacists, reformed prostitutes, tanners, women.

Feastday: July 22

We have very little solid information about Saint Mary, and both scholars and traditions differ on the interpretation of what we do know.

She was a friend and follower of Jesus. Filled with sorrow over her sin, she anointed Christ, washed his feet with her hair. He exorcised seven demons from her. She was visited by the Risen Christ.

There are also arguments about her life after the Crucifixion.

• The Greek Church maintains that she retired to Ephesus with the Blessed Virgin Mary and lived there the rest of her life.
• A tradition says that Mary, Lazarus, and some companions came to Marseilles, France, evangelized and converted the whole Provence region, and then retired to live 30 years as a penitent hermitess at La Sainte-Baume.

Oh, some things we do know for certain - Mary wasn’t Jesus’ wife or mistress, she wasn’t the mother of His child, she didn’t found a royal dynasty or separate branch of Christianity, et cetera, et cetera, ad nauseam.