Saint Mary Magdalene icon - Theophilia Catholic artwork art print Apostle to the Apostles patron saint of converts, penitents, contemplation

Product Description: Premium Archival Matte Print

This is a medium weight, matte paper with a completely smooth surface that produces excellent detail and color reproduction. Premium Archival Matte Paper is a smooth, neutral-white, matte paper for high-quality fine art, photo reproduction, and open-edition decor. The paper supports accurate color reproduction and high-contrast, high-resolution output, and is acid-free for a longer print life with pigment inks. It features a heavy weight (230 gsm), thick base (9.5 mil), and an instant-dry coating that resists fingerprints and smudging.

~ Available in 4x6, 5x7, 8x10, 11x14, 16x20, 20x30, 24x36, 40x60

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Also available as a wood-mounted icon. The listing for Mounted Icons is here: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1576598583/wood-mounted-religious-saint-icons?click_key=c1d72713de56e0f13fdbb381022723a989db885f%3A1576598583&click_sum=d531cd0a&ref=shop_home_feat_4&frs=1

Saint Mary Magdalene (early first century A.D. – c. 75? A.D.), was a Jewish woman born in the first-century A.D. in the Roman Province of Iudaea. The town of Magdala—from whence she gets her surname—was located right on the Sea of Galilee, situated half-way between Capernaum and Tiberias (about 3 miles from each town). In Mary Magdalene’s time, the whole region of Galilee was then part of the Herodian tetrarchy ruled by Herod Antipas, and Magdala itself was a wealthy, metropolitan resort town frequented by Greek and Roman visitors which had a reputation for vice and licentiousness.

Mary may have been born either in Magdala (or alternatively got her reputation there after moving to the region) or possibly in Bethany near Jerusalem—where her brother and sister Lazarus and Martha lived. Evidently she was wealthy (which would be unsurprising since she lived in Magdala) and was able to support Christ and his disciples out of her financial resources. In any case, she is first mentioned by name in the Gospel during Christ’s early Galilean ministry: “Afterward he journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.” (Luke 8:1-3)

Pope St. Gregory the Great, in one of his Homilies wrote this: “She whom Luke calls the sinful woman, whom John calls Mary, we believe to be the Mary from whom seven devils were ejected according to Mark. What did these seven devils signify, if not all the vices? It is clear, that the woman previously used the unguent to perfume her flesh in forbidden acts. What she therefore displayed more scandalously, she was now offering to God in a more praiseworthy manner. She had coveted with earthly eyes, but now through penitence these are consumed with tears. She displayed her hair to set off her face, but now her hair dries her tears. She had spoken proud things with her mouth, but in kissing the Lord's feet, she now planted her mouth on the Redeemer's feet. For every delight, therefore, she had had in herself, she now immolated herself. She turned the mass of her crimes to virtues, in order to serve God entirely in penance.”

Mary Magdalene is next mentioned by name at the foot of the Cross, along with the Virgin Mary, Mary of Alphaeus/Cleophas, Mary Salome the wife of Zebedee, and her son John, and other “women who had come up with Him from Galilee” (Luke 23:55). Commenting on this in his Life of Christ Archbishop Fulton Sheen says: “Close to the Cross was the only Apostle present, John, whose face was like a cast molded out of love; Magdalen was there too, like a broken flower, a wounded thing. But foremost among all—God pity her!—was His own Mother. Mary, Magdalen, John; innocence, penitence, and priesthood; the three types of souls forever to be found beneath the Cross of Christ.”

On Sunday morning at early sunrise, the three Maries (Mary Magdalene, Mary Salome, and Mary of Alphaeus) went to the tomb with he spices they had prepared to anoint Jesus’ body. When they arrived, they found the stone rolled away and two angels clothed in white seated there who told them not to be afraid, that Jesus was there no more because he had been raised from the dead. They then commanded the thunderstruck women to go and tell the disciples, still hiding in fear. The women fled in fear and Mary Magdalene rushed back and informed Peter and John, who then ran to the tomb and found the burial cloths. After they had left, Mary Magdalene stayed behind at the tomb and wept. The two angels asked her why she was weeping, but she was so overwhelmed with grief she only cried, “They have taken my Lord and I don’t know where they laid Him.” She then turned around and saw a man she believed to be the gardener. When He repeated the question “Woman, why are you weeping?” she cried out desperately, “Sir, if you carried Him away, tell me where you laid Him, and I will take Him.” Jesus then spoke her name “Mary!” and she suddenly realized that it was Jesus Himself. She, with a cry of joy, called out: “Rabboni!”

Jesus gently told her to stop clinging to Him, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene then ran off with joy to the apostles, loudly crying, “I have seen the Lord!” Earning her the title “apostle to the apostles.”

The Feast of St. Mary Magdalene is celebrated on July 22nd.

St. Mary Magdalene is the patron saint of converts, penitent sinners, hairdressers, pharmacists, the contemplative life, those struggling against sexual temptation, and reformed prostitutes.

Art print may not be copied, reproduced, or resold.

©2023 Cecilia Lawrence

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