Mary Magdalene, named for her likely hometown of Magdala on the Sea of Galilee, is described in the Gospels as a woman Jesus freed from affliction, who became one of his most devoted followers. She is present at the crucifixion and burial of Jesus, and in all four Gospels she is identified as either the first or among the first to discover the empty tomb.
In the Gospel of John, the risen Christ appears to her first and sends her to tell the other disciples — earning her the title "Apostle to the Apostles" in Christian tradition. A long-standing but now largely rejected medieval tradition conflated her with an unnamed "sinful woman" elsewhere in Luke's Gospel; this identification is not supported by the biblical text itself.
Saint Mary Magdalene
Apostle to the Apostles
A devoted follower of Jesus present at his crucifixion and the first witness of his Resurrection according to the Gospels.
- Century
- 1st century
Categories
Why People Pray to Saint Mary Magdalene
Saint Mary Magdalene is invoked by those seeking conversion, healing, and a deeper personal encounter with Christ, drawing on her role as the first witness to the Resurrection.
