The celebration of Mary Magdalene on July 22 has been elevated recently to a full-blown Feast putting her on par with the Apostles thus confirming her role as apostle to the Apostles.  St. Ignatius offers  the view that, of course, Jesus appeared first to his mother Mary and the  gospel of Mark recounts that he appeared first to Mary Magdalene out of whom he had driven seven demons.  So, indeed, he appeared to the Marys first.  The name Mary harkens back to Miriam, the sister of Moses.  Mary of Nazareth, mother of Jesus, lives in our souls as a gentle, tender, caring person who needed no geneology save that of mother of the  Lord.  She stood (Stabat Mater) at the cross of Jesus silent as mothers can be for their lives speak for them.   Mary Magdalene has been made a resident of Magdala on the shore of the sea of Galilee neighboring Capernaum perhaps to attract the Byzantine tourist trade in years gone by.  There is more to her than that.  Magdalene, some say, comes from the Aramaic meaning tower.  The name distinguishes her from the many Marys: she was tall and straight as a tower, firm and true and strong in her belief.  She was a light.  She also stood at the cross of Jesus. She stood tall.  John says she stood (that word again) weeping outside the tomb of Jesus.  Her name seeps into our language as maudlin as in one who weeps and cares.  Not for a second should we forget Joseph, not commenting, not the star, but always caring and obedient.  The image of Joseph leading the Holy Family into Egypt is a lasting one and exemplifies St. Ignatius’ warning that love should be expressed in doing rather than in protesting.  I celebrate two things out of this.  What a privilege it is to belong to the Mary and Joseph parish.  The name of the parish speaks to us of caring and doing rather than talking.  The names gather us all together as parish, loving and working together.  Then, also, the names lead us to honor so many women and men that care for this parish of Mary and Joseph standing tall like beacons to all around us, magdalenes. Remember, then, the privilege of carrying the name of Mary and Joseph and honor them by your unity in the Lord and with each other.

– Fr. Al Hicks