De sancta Maria Magdalena
The Chosen Part
An exploration of the name and spiritual significance of Mary Magdalene's threefold choice of penance, contemplation, and glory.
The name Maria is interpreted as 'bitter sea,' 'illuminatrix,' or 'illuminated.' Through these three things, we understand the three parts she chose so well: the part of penance, the part of interior contemplation, and the part of heavenly glory. It is regarding this threefold part that the Lord says: 'Mary has chosen the best part, which will not be taken away from her.' The first part will not be taken away because of its end, which is the attainment of beatitude; the second, because of its continuity, since the contemplation of the way continues into the contemplation of the homeland; the third, because of its eternity. Insofar as she chose the best part of penance, she is called a 'bitter sea,' because she experienced much bitterness there; this is clear, for she shed so many tears that she washed the Lord's feet with them. Insofar as she chose the best part of interior contemplation, she is called an 'illuminatrix,' because she drank deeply there of what she later poured out abundantly: there she received the light with which she later enlightened others. Insofar as she chose the best part of heavenly glory, she is called 'illuminated,' because she is now illuminated by the light of perfect knowledge in her mind, and she will be illuminated by the light of clarity in her body. She is called Magdalena, as if 'remaining guilty,' or Magdalena is interpreted as 'fortified,' 'invincible,' or 'magnificent,' through which it is suggested what she was like before her conversion, what she was like during her conversion, and what she was like after her conversion. Before her conversion, she was 'remaining guilty' through her obligation to eternal punishment; during her conversion, she was 'fortified' or 'invincible' through the armor of penance, for she armed herself excellently with all the weapons of penance, finding an equal number of burnt offerings for every pleasure she had once held within herself; after her conversion, she was 'magnificent' through the superabundance of grace, for where sin abounded, grace also superabounded.
The Apostle to the Apostles
A biographical account of Mary's noble origins, her conversion, and her intimate relationship with Christ.
Mary Magdalene, named for the castle of Magdala, was born of most distinguished lineage, as she was descended from royal stock; her father was named Syrus, and her mother, Eucharia. Along with her brother Lazarus and her sister Martha, she owned the castle of Magdala—located two miles from Gennesaret—as well as Bethany, near Jerusalem, and a large portion of Jerusalem itself. Yet they divided all these things among themselves in such a way that Mary possessed Magdala (from which she is also called Magdalene), Lazarus possessed a part of the city of Jerusalem, and Martha possessed Bethany. While Magdalene gave herself over entirely to the pleasures of the body and Lazarus was more occupied with military service, Martha, being prudent, actively managed the affairs of her sister and brother, providing what was necessary for her soldiers, her servants, and the poor. After the Lord’s Ascension, however, they sold all these possessions and laid the proceeds at the feet of the apostles. Since Magdalene abounded in riches—for pleasure follows in the wake of affluence—the more she shone in wealth and beauty, the more she subjected her body to pleasure; thus, having lost her own name, she became accustomed to being called 'the sinner.' But while Christ was preaching there and elsewhere, she, inspired by a divine impulse, hurried to the house of Simon the leper, where she heard he was dining. Not daring, as a sinner, to appear among the righteous, she remained behind at the Lord’s feet, where she washed his feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair, and anointed them with precious ointment—for the inhabitants of that region used ointments and baths because of the intense heat of the sun. And when Simon the Pharisee thought to himself that if this man were a prophet, he would never allow himself to be touched by a sinner, the Lord rebuked him for his proud righteousness and forgave the woman all her sins. This, therefore, is that Mary Magdalene upon whom the Lord bestowed such great benefits and showed such signs of love. For he cast seven demons out of her, set her entirely on fire with his love, made her his most intimate companion, made her his hostess, wished to have her as his provider on his journeys, and always gently defended her. For he defended her before the Pharisee, who called her unclean; before her sister, who called her idle; and before Judas, who called her wasteful; and seeing her weeping, he could not hold back his own tears. It was for her love that he raised her brother from the dead after four days; for her love that he freed her sister Martha from the flow of blood she had suffered for seven years; and for her merits that he made Martilla, her sister’s servant, worthy to cry out that blessed and sweet word: 'Blessed is the womb that bore you.' For according to Ambrose, the former was Martha, and the latter was her servant. This is, I say, the woman who washed the Lord’s feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair, and anointed them with ointment; who first performed a solemn penance in the time of grace; who chose the better part; who sat at the Lord’s feet to hear his word and anointed his head; who stood by the cross during the Lord’s passion; who prepared ointments, wanting to anoint his body; and who did not leave the tomb when the disciples withdrew, and to whom the risen Christ first appeared. He appeared to her and made her the apostle to the apostles.
Mission to Marseille
The miraculous journey of the saints to Gaul and their evangelization of the prince and his wife.
After the Lord’s ascension, specifically in the fourteenth year. After the passion, when the Jews had long since killed Stephen and driven the other disciples from the borders of Judea, the disciples went into the regions of various nations, sowing the word of the Lord there. At that time, the blessed Maximinus, one of the Lord’s seventy-two disciples, was with the apostles, and the blessed Peter had entrusted Mary Magdalene to him. In this dispersion, the blessed Maximinus, Mary Magdalene, her brother Lazarus, her sister Martha, and Martilla, Martha’s servant—as well as the blessed Cedonius, who had been blind from birth but had been healed by the Lord—were all together, along with many other Christians, put on a ship by the infidels and set adrift on the sea without any navigator, so that they might all be drowned; yet, by the divine will, they finally arrived at Marseille. When they couldn't find anyone willing to take them in, they stayed under a portico belonging to a local temple. But when Mary Magdalene saw the people flocking to the temple to offer sacrifices to their idols, she would stand up with a calm face and serene expression. With measured words, she would call them away from idol worship and preach Christ with the greatest constancy; everyone was amazed at her beauty, her eloquence, and the sweetness of her speech. It’s no wonder, then, that the mouth that had pressed such pious and beautiful kisses upon the feet of the Savior should breathe out the fragrance of the Word of God more than any other. After this, the prince of that province arrived with his wife to offer sacrifices to the idols so they might have children. Magdalene preached Christ to him and dissuaded him from the sacrifices. Meanwhile, after a few days had passed, Magdalene appeared to that noblewoman in a vision, saying: 'Why do you abound in such wealth while you allow the saints of God to die of hunger and cold?' She also added threats, saying that if she didn't persuade her husband to reveal the needs of the saints, she would incur the wrath of Almighty God. However, she was afraid to tell her husband about the vision. The following night, she appeared to her again and said the same things, but she still neglected to tell her husband. But on the third night, in the dead of night, she appeared to both of them, raging and angry, with a face like fire as if the whole house were burning, and said: 'Are you sleeping, you tyrant, you member of your father Satan, along with your viper of a wife who refused to tell you my words?' 'Are you resting, you enemy of Christ's cross, stuffed with all kinds of food to satisfy your belly's gluttony, while you let God's saints perish from hunger and thirst?' Are you lying in your palace, wrapped in silk, while you see them abandoned without shelter and just walk on by? It won't end like this, you wicked man; you won't get away with it, and you won't go unpunished for refusing to do them such good. Having said this, she left. When the lady woke up, sighing and trembling, she said to her husband, who was sighing for the same reason: 'My lord, did you see the dream that I saw?' 'I did,' he said, 'and I cannot stop being amazed and terrified; what are we going to do about it?' The woman replied, 'It is better to obey her than to incur the wrath of the God she preaches.' For this reason, they welcomed them into their home and provided them with what they needed. One day, while Mary Magdalene was preaching, the prince asked her, "Do you think you can defend the faith you're preaching?" She replied, "I am certainly ready to defend it, as it is strengthened by daily miracles and the preaching of my master Peter, who presides in Rome." The prince and his wife then said to her, "Look, we are ready to obey your words in everything, if you will obtain a son for us from the God you preach." "Because of this," Magdalene said, "it will not be withheld." Then blessed Mary prayed to the Lord on their behalf, that He might deign to grant them a son. The Lord heard her prayers, and the lady conceived. Then her husband began to want to set out for Peter, to test whether the truth was as Magdalene had preached about Christ. His wife said to him, "What is this, my lord? Are you thinking of leaving without me?"
The Pilgrimage of Faith
The trials of the prince and his wife, including the death and miraculous restoration of the mother and child through Mary's intercession.
God forbid; for if you leave, I will leave; if you come, I will come; if you rest, I will rest. Her husband said to her, 'That won't happen, my lady. Since you're pregnant and there are endless dangers at sea, you could easily be in peril. So, you will stay at home and look after our property.' But she persisted, not changing her womanly ways, and clinging to his feet with tears, she finally got what she asked for. So, Mary marked their shoulders with the sign of the cross so that the ancient enemy would not hinder them on their journey. They loaded the ship abundantly with all they needed, leaving the rest of their belongings in the care of Mary Magdalene, and began their voyage. Once a day and a night had passed, the sea began to swell violently and the wind to blow, so that everyone—especially the lady, who was pregnant and weak—was shaken by such a savage surge and pressed by such great distress that labor pains suddenly came upon her, and amidst the agony of the birth and the pressures of the moment, she died while giving birth to her son. The newborn baby was shivering and, seeking the comfort of his mother's breast, let out pitiful cries. Alas! The child was born alive, but having caused his mother's death, he was destined to die, since there was no one to provide him with nourishment. What was the pilgrim to do, seeing his wife dead and his son crying with pitiful wails, seeking his mother's breast? He lamented deeply and said, "Woe is me, what will you do?" You wanted a son, and now you've lost both mother and child. The sailors shouted, saying, "Throw this body into the sea before we all perish together, for as long as it is with us, this storm will not stop." And when they had taken hold of the body to throw it into the sea, the pilgrim said, "Spare her, I beg you, spare her. And if you will not spare me or the mother, have mercy at least on the crying infant. Wait a little while and hold off, in case the woman, who is in a trance from the pain, might still be able to breathe." Then, look, a hill appeared not far from the sea. Seeing it, he thought it better to take the body and the little boy there than to let them be given to the sea beasts to be devoured. He barely persuaded the sailors with prayers and money to land there. When he arrived, because the ground was too hard to dig a grave, he placed the body in a more secluded part of the hill, covering it with his cloak, and laying the little boy at her breast, he said with tears, "O Mary Magdalene, you brought me to the shores of Marseille to complete my ruin. Why, in my misery, did I follow your advice and set out on this journey?" Did you ask God that my wife should conceive and die for this reason? See, she conceived and... she died in childbirth, and the child who was conceived is born only to perish, since there is no one to feed him. Look, I have obtained what I asked for through your prayer, for I entrusted all that was mine to you, and I entrust it to your God. If you have any power, be mindful of the mother's soul, and through your prayer may she find mercy, so that the child does not perish. Then he covered the body and the child completely with his cloak and boarded the ship. When he reached Peter, Peter met him, and seeing the sign of the cross on his shoulder, asked who he was and where he had come from. He told him everything in order, and Peter said, "Peace be with you; you've come at a good time and acted with wise counsel. Don't be troubled if your wife is asleep or if your little one is resting with her, for the Lord is powerful; He can give gifts to whom He wills, take away what He has given, restore what has been taken, and turn your sorrow into joy." Peter then led him to Jerusalem and showed him all the places where Christ had preached and worked miracles, including the place where He suffered and where He ascended into heaven. After he had been diligently instructed in the faith by Peter for two years, he boarded a ship, eager to return home. As they were sailing, by the Lord's arrangement, they arrived near the hill where the body of his wife and the child had been placed, and he persuaded them with prayers and payment to dock there. The little boy, kept safe there by Mary Magdalene, would often go down to the seashore and play with pebbles and gravel, as children usually do. When the ship docked, he saw the little boy playing on the shore with pebbles in his usual way. Wondering what this could mean, he jumped from the boat. Seeing him, the little boy, who had never seen such a thing before, was terrified and ran back to his mother's familiar breasts, hiding secretly under her cloak. The pilgrim, wanting to see more clearly, went over and found the beautiful little boy nursing at his mother's breast. He took the child and said, "O blessed Mary Magdalene, how happy I would be, and how prosperous everything would have turned out for me, if my wife were breathing and could return home with me." "I know, indeed I know, and I believe without a doubt that you, who gave me the boy and fed him on this cliff for two years, can restore his mother to her former health through your prayers." At these words, the woman breathed and, waking as if from sleep, said, "You are of great merit, blessed Mary Magdalene, and glorious, for you fulfilled the office of a midwife in the pressures of my labor and served as a handmaid in all my needs." Hearing this, the pilgrim asked in amazement, "Are you alive, my beloved wife?" She replied, "I am indeed alive, and I have just now returned from the pilgrimage you also went on. Just as blessed Peter led you to Jerusalem and showed you all the places where Christ suffered, died, and was buried, along with many other sites, so I too was with you, guided and accompanied by blessed Mary Magdalene, and I have committed everything I saw to memory." Starting with all the places in which Christ suffered, he explained the miracles he had seen so fully that he didn't deviate in any detail. Then the pilgrim, having received his wife and child, joyfully boarded the ship and shortly after arrived at the ports of Marseille. They landed and, upon entering, found the blessed Mary Magdalene preaching with her disciples; falling at her feet with tears, they told her everything that had happened to them and received holy Baptism from blessed Maximinus. Then, in the city of Marseille, they destroyed the temples of all the idols, built churches for Christ, and unanimously elected blessed Lazarus as bishop of that same city. Finally, led by divine guidance, they came to the city of Aix and brought the people to the faith of Christ through many miracles, where blessed Maximinus was also ordained as bishop.
Thirty Years in the Wilderness
Mary Magdalene's life of solitary contemplation in the desert and her holy death in the presence of Bishop Maximinus.
Meanwhile, blessed Mary Magdalene, longing for heavenly contemplation, sought out a very harsh wilderness and remained unknown for thirty years in a place prepared by the hands of angels. In that place, there were no comforts of flowing water, trees, or herbs, so that it might be made manifest that our Redeemer had intended to satisfy her not with earthly food, but only with heavenly feasts. Every day, however, she was lifted by angels into the air for the seven canonical hours and heard the glorious songs of the heavenly hosts with her own physical ears; thus, satisfied each day by these most sweet feasts and then brought back to her own place by the same angels, she had no need at all for physical food. A certain priest, however, desiring to live a solitary life, located a cell for himself twelve stadia away, near that same place. One day, the Lord opened the priest's eyes, and he saw clearly with his own physical sight how angels were departing toward the place mentioned earlier where the blessed Mary was staying, lifting her into the air, and an hour later, bringing her back to that same spot while singing divine praises. The priest, however, wanting to know the truth of such a wondrous vision, commended himself to his Creator in prayer and hurried toward that place with bold devotion; but when he approached within a stone's throw, his legs began to give way, and his heart pounded with a deep and overwhelming fear; yet when he turned back, his legs and feet regained their strength, but if he tried to turn back and approach that place again, a weakness of body and a dullness of mind would block him in every way. The man of God understood, therefore, that this was undoubtedly a heavenly mystery that no human experience could access. So, invoking the name of the Savior, he called out, "I adjure you by the Lord: if you are a human being or any rational creature living in this cave, answer me and reveal the truth about yourself." After he had repeated this three times, the blessed Mary Magdalene answered him, "Come closer, and you will be able to know the truth of all that your soul desires." And when he had approached halfway, trembling, she said to him, "Do you remember from the Gospel that famous sinner, Mary, who washed the Savior's feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair, and earned the forgiveness of her sins?"✦ The priest replied, "I remember, and more than thirty years have passed since then—a fact the Church also believes and confesses." [Fragmentary/Corrupt text] "I am she," she said, "who for thirty years remained unknown to everyone. Just as you were permitted to see yesterday, I was lifted into the air by the hands of angels every single day, and I earned the grace to hear with my physical ears the sweetest jubilation of the heavenly hosts seven times each day." "Because the Lord has revealed to me that I am about to depart from this world, go to blessed Maximinus and make sure to tell him that on the coming day of the Lord’s Resurrection, at the time he usually rises for Matins, he should enter the oratory alone, and there he will find me present through the ministry of angels." The priest heard her voice as if it were the voice of an angel, but he saw no one. Moved, he went to blessed Maximinus and told him everything in order. Holy Maximinus, filled with immense joy, gave great thanks to the Savior, and at the day and hour he had been instructed, he entered the oratory alone and saw blessed Mary Magdalene still standing in the choir of the angels who had brought her. She was raised two cubits from the ground, standing in the midst of the angels and praying to God with outstretched hands. When blessed Maximinus hesitated to approach her, she turned and said to him, “Come closer, Father; do not flee from your daughter.” As he approached, just as it is written in the books of blessed Maximinus himself, the lady’s face shone so brightly from the constant and long-lasting vision of the angels that it was easier to look at the rays of the sun than at her face. Having called together the entire clergy and the aforementioned priest, blessed Mary Magdalene received the Body and Blood of the Lord from the bishop with a great flood of tears; then, with her whole body prostrate before the altar, that most holy soul departed to the Lord. After her passing, such a sweet fragrance remained in that place that it could be sensed by those entering the oratory for nearly seven days. Blessed Maximinus buried her most holy body with honor, having embalmed it with various spices, and he gave instructions that after his own death he should be buried beside her. Hegesippus—or according to some books, Josephus—agrees well enough with this history. He says in one of his treatises that after the Lord's Ascension, Mary Magdalene, driven by the fire of her love for Christ and her own weariness, never wanted to see another human being. After arriving in the territory of Aix, she went into the desert and lived there unknown for thirty years, where, he says, she was lifted into the air by an angel during the seven canonical hours each day. He added, however, that when the priest came to her, he found her shut in a cell. At her request, he brought her a garment, and after putting it on, she went with him to the church, where she received Communion and, with her hands raised in prayer, rested in peace beside the altar. — 3.
Relics and Miracles
The translation of her relics to Vézelay and various miracles performed for those who sought her intercession.
In the times of Charlemagne, specifically in the year of our Lord 769, Girard, Duke of Burgundy, since he could not have a son by his wife, was distributing his wealth with a generous hand to the poor and building many churches and monasteries. Therefore, when he had built the monastery of Vézelay, he and the abbot sent a monk with a proper retinue to the city of Aix, so that if he could, he might bring back the relics of blessed Mary Magdalene. When the monk arrived at the city, he found it completely destroyed by the pagans, and by chance, He found a tomb with marble carvings showing that the body of blessed Mary Magdalene was laid to rest inside; furthermore, her story was carved in wonderful detail on the tomb itself. That night, he broke it open, took the relics, and carried them to his lodging. During that same night, blessed Mary Magdalene appeared to the monk. She hurried to him, telling him not to be afraid, but to finish the work he had started. On his way back, when he reached a point half a league from the monastery, he found he couldn't move the relics any further until the abbot arrived with the monks in procession and they were received with honor. — 4. A certain knight, who had been in the habit of visiting the body of blessed Mary Magdalene every year, was killed in battle; while his parents were weeping over him on his bier, they complained to Magdalene with heartfelt pleas, asking why she had allowed her devotee to die without confession and penance. Then suddenly, the man who had been dead rose up, to the amazement of everyone, and asked for a priest to come to him; once he had made a devout confession and received Viaticum, he immediately passed away in peace. — 4. A ship carrying men and women was wrecked. One pregnant woman, seeing herself in danger at sea, cried out to the Magdalene as best she could, vowing that if she escaped the shipwreck through her merits and gave birth to a son, she would dedicate him to her monastery. Immediately, a woman of venerable appearance and dress appeared to her, took her by the chin, and led her and the others in danger safely to the shore. She later gave birth to a son and faithfully fulfilled her vow. — 6. Some say that Mary Magdalene was the bride of John the Evangelist, whom he had taken as his wife at the time Christ called him from the wedding. Indignant that her bridegroom had been taken from her, she went away and gave herself over to every pleasure. But because it was not fitting that John’s calling should become an occasion for her damnation, the Lord mercifully converted her to repentance, and because He removed her from the highest carnal pleasure, He filled her with the highest spiritual pleasure, which is in the love of God, more than all others. Some also claim this regarding John: that He honored him above all others with the sweetness of His intimacy because He removed him from that aforementioned pleasure. However, these things are considered false and frivolous, because Brother Albert states in his prologue on the Gospel of John that this bride, from whose wedding the same John was called, remained in virginity and was later seen in the company of the Blessed Mary, the Virgin Mother of Christ, and finally rested with a good end. — 9. A man who had lost his sight came to the monastery of Vézelay to visit the body of the Blessed Mary Magdalene. When his guide told him that he was already seeing the church, he cried out with a loud voice, "O holy Mary Magdalene, if only I might deserve to see your church!" and immediately his eyes were opened. A certain man, having written his sins on a slip of paper, placed it under the altar cloth of Saint Mary Magdalene, asking her to obtain forgiveness for him. Later, when he took the paper back, he found his sins completely erased from it. — 9. A man who was being held in shackles because of a debt he couldn't pay called upon Mary Magdalene for help; and behold, one night a beautiful woman appeared to him, who broke his chains, unlocked the door, and ordered him to flee. Seeing that he was free, he immediately fled the place. A cleric from Flanders named Stephen had fallen into such deep wickedness that, while practicing every kind of vice, he not only refused to do anything that would lead to his salvation, but wouldn't even listen to it. Yet, he had a great devotion to the blessed Mary Magdalene, fasting on her vigils and observing her feast day. When he visited her tomb, Mary Magdalene appeared to him—neither fully asleep nor fully awake—as a beautiful woman with mournful eyes, and... Supported by an angel on her right and another on her left, she appeared to him and said, "Stephen, why do you repay me with deeds unworthy of my merits? Why aren't you moved by any compunction at the urgency of my words?" Ever since you began to have devotion toward me, I have always prayed urgently to the Lord for you. Rise up, then, and repent, for I won't abandon you until you've been reconciled to God. He immediately felt such grace poured into him that he renounced the world, entered the religious life, and lived a most perfect life. At his death, Mary Magdalene was seen standing by his bier with angels, and she carried his soul, like a white dove, into heaven with songs of praise.
Read the original Latin
Maria interpretatur amarum mare, vel illuminatrix aut illuminata. Per hacc tria intelliguntur tres partes, optime quas elegit, scilicet pars poenitentiae, pars contemplationis internae et pars coelestis gloriae. De qua triplici parte intelligitur, quod dicit dominus: Maria optimam partem elegit, quae non auferetur ab ea, Prima autem pars non auferetur ratione finis, quae est consecutio beatitudinis, secunda ratione continuitatis, quia contemplatio viae continuatur cum contemplatione patriae, tertia ratione suae aeternitatis. In quantum igitur elegit optimam partem poenitentiae, dicitur amarum mare, quia ibi multam amaritudinem habuit, quod patet, quia tot lacrymas fudit, quod inde pedes domini lavit. lu quantum elegit optimam partem contemplationis internae, dicitur illuminatrix, quia ibi hausit avide, quod postmodum elfudit abunde: ibi lumen accepit, quo postmodum caeteros illustravit. In quantum elegit optimam partem coelestis gloriae, dicitur illuminata, quia nunc illuminata est lumine perfectae cognitionis in mente et illuminabitur lumine claritatis in corpore. Magdalena dicitur, quasi manens rea, vel Magdalena interpretatur munita vel invicta vel magnifica, per quae insinuatur ; qualis fuit ante conversionem , qualis iu conversione et qualis post conversionem. Nam ante conversionem fuit manens rea per obligationem ad poenam aeternam ; in conver slone vel munita vel invicta per poenitentiae armaturam , optime enim omnibus armis poenitentiae se munivit, quia quot in se habuit oblectamenta, tot de se reperit holocausta; post conversionem maguifica per gratiae superabundantiam, quia ubi abundavit delictum, superabundavit et gratia.
Maria Magdalena a Magdalo castro cognominata clarissimis est orta natalibus, utpote ex regia stirpe descendentibus: cujus pater Syrus, mater vero Eucharia nuncupata est. Haec cum fratre suo Lazaro et sorore sua Martha Magdalum castrum, quod est secundo milliario a Genezareth, Bethaniam, quae est juxta Jerusalem, et magnam Hierosolymorum partem possidebat. Qui tamen omnia inter se taliter diviserunt, quod Maria Magdalum, a quo et Magdalena nuncupata est, Lazarus partem urbis Jerusalem et Martha Bethaniam possideret. Cum autem Magdalena deliciis corporis se totam exponeret et Lazarus plus militiae vacaret, Martha prudens partes sororis et fratris sui strenue gubernabat et militibus et famulis suis ac pauperibus necessaria ministrabat. Omnia tamen haec post adscensionem domini vendiderunt et ad pedes apostolorum pretium posuerunt. Cum igitar Magdalena divitiis abundaret, quia rerum affluentiam voluptas comes sequitur, quanto divitiis et pulchritudine splenduit, tanto corpus suum voluptati substravit, unde jam proprio nomine perdito peccatrix consueverat appellari. Sed cum Christus illic et alibi praedicaret, illa nutu inspirata divino ad domum Simonis leprosi, ubi audivit eum discumbere, properavit et non audens, ut peccatrix, inter justos comparere retro secus pedes domini mansit, ubi pedes ejus lacrymis lavit, capillis tersit et unguento pretioso perunxit, nam incolae regionis iliius propter vehementissimum solis calorem unguentis et balneis utebantur, Cumque Symon pharisaens intra se cogitaret, quoniam, si hic esset propheta, a peccatrice tangi se nequaquam permitteret, dominus illum de superba justitia redarguit et mulieri omnia peccata dimisit. Haec est igitur illa Maria Magdalena, cui dominus tam magna beneficia contulit et tanta signa dilectiomis ostendit, Nam ab ea septem daemonia expulit, in suo amore eam totaliter accendit, familiarissimam eam sibi constituit , hospitam suam fecit et procüratricem suam eam in itinere habere voluit et eam semper dulciter excusavit.
Nam excusavit eam apud Pharisaeum, qui dicebat ipsam immundam, et apud sororem suam, quae dicebat ipsam otiosam ct apud Judam, qui dicebat eam prodigam, lacrymantem videns lacrymas continere non potuit. Cujus dilectioneguatriduanum fratrem suum resuscitavit, cujus amore Martham sororem suam a fluxu sanguinis, quem septem annis perpessa fnerat, liberavit, cujus meritis Martillam sororis suae famulam, ut illud tam beatum et tam dulce verbum exclamans diceret: beatus venter, qui te portavit, dignam fecit, Nam secundum Ambrosium illa fuit Martha et haec ejus famula. Haec est, inquam, illa, quae domini pedes lacrymis lavit, capillis tersit et unguento perunxit, quae in tempore gratiae sollemnem poenitentiam primo fecit, quae optimam partem elegit, quae ad pedes sedens domini verbum audivit et domini caput perunxit, quae juxta crucem in domini passione fuit, quae unguenta parans corpus ejus ungere voluit, quae a monumento discipulis recedentibus non recessit, cui Christus resurgens primo. apparuit et apostolorum apostolam fecit. Post adscensionem igitur domini, scilicet anno XIV. a passione cum Judaei Stephanum jamdiu occidissent et cáeteros discipulos a Judaeae finibus ejecissent, diversarum gentium discipuli subeunt regiones, verbum domini ibidem seminantes. Erat autem tunc temporis cum apostolis beatus Maximinus unus de LXXII domini discipulis, cui a beato Petro Maria Magdalena fuerat cgmmendata. In hac igitur dispersione beatus Maximinus, Maria Magdalena, Lazarus frater ejus, Martha soror ipsius et Martilla pedissequa Marthae nec non et beatus Cedonius, qui caecus a nativitate exstiterat, sed a domino fuerat liberatus, omnes hi insimul et plures alii christiani navi ab infidelibus impositi et pelago sine aliquo gubernatore expositi, ut omnes scilicet simul submergerentur, divino tandem nutu Massiliam advenerunt.
Ubi cum nullos, qui eos hospitio recipere vellent, invenissent, sub quadam porticu, quae fano gentis illius terrae praeerat, morabantur. Cum autem beata Maria Magdalena videret populum ad fanum confluere, ut ydolis immolaret, assurgens vultu placido, facie serena, lingua discreta eos ab ydolorum cultura revocabat et Christum constantissime praedicabat, et admirati sunt universi prae specie, prae facundia, prae dulcedine eloquentiae ejus. Nec mirum, si os, quod tam pia et tam pulchra pedibus salvatoris infixerat oscula, caeteris amplius verbi Dei spiraret odorem. — 2, Post hoc autem advenit princeps provinciae illius cum uxore sna, ut pro habenda prole ydolis immolaret. Cui Magdalena Christum praedicans sacrificia dissuasit. Interea evolutis aliquot dierum eurriculis apparuit in visu Magdalena illi matronae dicens: quare scum tot divitiis abundetis, sanctos Dei fame, et frigore mori permittitis ? Addidit et minas, "isi marito suo persuaderet, ut sanctorum inopiam revelaret, iram Dei omnipotentis incurreret. Ipsa autem viro suo visionem indicare timuit.
Sequenti igitur nocte eidem similia dicens apparuit, sed adhuc viro suo hoc indicare neglexit. Tertio vero sub intempestae noctis silentio apparuit utrique fremens et irata vultu igneo, ac si tota domus arderet, et ait: dormisne tyranne, membrum patris tuae Satanae, cum vipera conjuge tua, quae tibi indicare noluit verba mea? quiescisne crucis Christi inimice, diversis ciborum generibus ventris tui refecta ingluvie, et sanctos Dei fame et siti permittis perire? Jacesne in palatio pannis involutus sericis et illos desolatos sine hospitio vides et praeteris? Non sic, inique, non sio evades; nec impune feres, quod tantum iis benefaceredistulisti. Sic locuta est et abscessit, Cumque matrona evigilans suspiraret et trpmeret, viro suo eadem de'causa suspiranti ait: domine mi, vidistine somnium, quod vidi? Vidi, inquit, et admirari et pavere non desino; quid inde faciemus? Cui mulier: utilius est, ei obtemperare, quam iram Dei sui, quem praedicat, incurrere.
Quapropter ipsos hospitio receperunt et iis necessaria ministraverunt. Cum,autem quadam die Maria Magdalena praedicaret, praedictus princeps dixit ei: putas posse defendere fidem, quam praedicas? Cui illa: 'equidem illam defendere praesto sum, utpote quotidianis miraculis et praedicatione magistri mei Petri, qui Romae praesidet, roboratam, Cui princeps cum conjuge dixit: ecce dictis tuis per omnia obtemperare parati sumus, si a Deo, quem praedicas, nobis filinm impetrabis. Propter hoe, inquit Magdalena, non remanebit. Tunc beata Maria pro ipsos dominum exoravit, ut sibi filium concedere dignaretur. Cujus preces dominus exaudivit et matrona illa concepit. Tunc vir ejus coepit velle proficisci ad Petrum, ut probaret, si, ut Magdalena de Christo praedicaverat, sic veritas se haberet. Cui uxor dixit: quid est, domine, putasne sine me proficisci?
Absit; te enim recedente recedam, te veniente veniam, te quiescente quiescam. Cui vir ait: non sic fiet, domina, etenim cum sis gravida et in mari sint infinita pericula, de facili periclitari posses , domi igitur quiesces et possessionibus nostris curam impendes. Econtra illa instabat, femineum nec mutans femina morem, et cum lacrymis pedibus ejus obvoluta, quod petebat, tandem obtinuit, Maria ergo humeris eorum signum crucis imposuit, ne eos antiquus hostis in aliquo itinere impediret; navem igitur omnibus necessariis copiose onerantes caetera, quae habebant, in Mariae Magdalenae custodia relinquentes proficisci coeperunt jamque unius diei et noctis cursu consummato coepit nimium mare intumescere, ventus flare, ita ut omnes et maxime matrona gravida et debilis tam saeva inundatione flactnum quassati gravissimis angustiis urgerentur, in tantum, quod in eam subito dolor partus irruit et inter angustias ventris et pressuras temporis filium parturiens exspiravit. Natus igitur puerulus palpitabat et mammillarum maternarum quaerens solatia lamentabiles dabat vagitus. Proh dolor! et natus est infans vivus et matricida effectus, mori eum convenit , cum non sit, qui vitae tribuat alimentum. Quid faciet Peregrinus, et cum uxorem mortuam videat et puerum vagientem querulis vocibus matris mammam appetentem? Lamentabatur plurimum et dicebat: heu miser, quid facies?
filium habere desiderasti, et matrem cum filio perdidisti. Nautae acclamabant dicentes: projiciatur in mare hoc corpus, antequam insimul pereamus, quamdiu enim nobiscum fuerit, haec quassatio non cessabit, Et cum corpus apprehendissent, ut illud in mare jaetarent: parcite, inquit Peregrinus, parcite, et si nec mihi nec matri parcere volueritis, misereamini saltem parvuli vagientis, sinite modicum et sustinete, si forte mulier prae dolore in exstasi posita adhuc valeat respirare. Et ecce non procul a mari quidam collis apparuit, quo viso utilius esse credidit corpus et puerulum illuc deferri, quam marinis belluis ad devorandum dári etvix a nautis prece et pretio extorsit, ut illic applicarent, cumque illic prae duritia foveam non potuisset effodere, in secretiori parte collis chlamyde supposita corpus collocavit et puerulum mammis ejus apponens cum lacrymis ait: o Maria Magdalena, ad perditionis meae cumulum Massiliae partibus applicuisti: cur infelix admonitione tua hoc iter arripui? petistine Deum, ut mulier mea hac de causa conciperet et periret? Ecce enim concepit et . pariendo mortem subiit, conceptusque est natus, nt pereat, cum non sit, qui enutriat. Ecce, quod prece tna obtinui, tibi enim omnia mea commendavi Deoque tuo commendo; si potens es, memor sis animae matris, et prece tua misereatur, ne pereat natus. Tune chlamyde sua corpus cum puero circumquaque operuit et postmodum navem conscendit.
Cumque ad Petrum venisset, Petrus el obvius fuit, qui viso signo crucis in humero suo, qui esset et unde veniret, sciscitatus est. Qui omnia sibi per ordinem narravit, cui Petrus: pax tibi fiat, bene venisti et utili consilio credidisti nec moleste feras, si mulier tua dormit, si parvulus cum ea quiescit, potens enim est dominus, cui vult, dona dare, data auferre, ablata restituere, et moerorem tuum in gaudium commu- tare. Petrus autem ipsum in Hierosolymam duxit et omnia loca, in quibus Christus praedicavit et miracnla fecit, locum etiam, in quo passus est et in quo coelos adscendit, eidem ostendit, cumque de fide fuisset instructus diligenter a Petro, bieunii spatio jam elapso navem adscendit repatriare gurans, Cum igitar navigarent, domino disponente juxta collem, in quo corpus uxoris cum puero positum fuerat, pervenerunt, qui prece et pretio eos ibi ad applicandum induxit. Puerulus autem ibidem a Maria Magdalena incolumis conservatus frequenter ad littus maris procedebat et ibidem, ut puerorum moris est, cum lapillis et glareis ludere solitus erat et, cum applicuisset, vidit puerulum more solito in littore maris cum lapillis ludentem, et quid esset, admirari non desinens, de scapha exsiliit, Quem videns parvulus, cum nunquam tale quid vidisset, expavit et ad solita matris recurrens ubera occulte sub chlamyde latitahat, Peregrinus vero, nt manifestius videret, illuc accessit et puerulum pulcherrimum matris ubera sugentem invenit et accipiens puerum ait: o beata Maria Magdalena, quam felix essem, quam mihi cuncta prospera advenissent, si mulier respiraret et mecum repatriafe valeret. Scio equidem, scio et procul dubio credo; quod tu, qui puerum dedisti et in hac rupe per biennium pavisti, poteris matrem suam prece tua pristinae restituere sanitati. Ad haec verba mulier respiravit et quasi a somno evigilans ait: magni meriti es, beata Maria Magdalena, et gloriosa, quae in partus mei pressuris obstetricis implevisti officium et in omnibus necessitatibus ancillae servitium explesti. Quo audito Peregrinus admirans ait: vivisne uxor mea dilecta? Cui illa: vivo equidem et nunc primo de peregrinatione, de qua et tu venisti, venio, et sicut beatus Petrus te Hierosolymam duxit et omnia loca, in quibus Christus passus est, mortuus et sepultus, et alia plura loca ostendit, sic et ego una cum beata Maria Magdalena duce et comite vobiscum fui et conspecta memoriae commendavi.
Et incipiens loca omnia ,. in quibus Christus passus est, et miracula, quae viderafgsadeo plene explicuit, ut nec in aliquo deviaret. Tunc Peregrinus recepta conjuge et puero navim laetus conscendit et paulo post Massiliae portibus. applicuerunt et ingressi invenerunt beatam Mariam Magdalenam cum suis discipulis praedicantem, et ejus pedibus cum lacrymis provoluti omnia, quae iis acciderant, narraverunt et a beato Maximino sacrum baptisma susceperunt, Tunc in civitate Massiliae omnium '"ydolorum templa destruentes Christi ecclesias construxerunt et beatum Lazarum in ejusdenf civitatis episcopum unanimiter elegerunt. Tandem divino nutu ad Aquensem civitatem venerunt et populum illum ad fidem Christi per multa miracula adduxerunt, ubi eliam beatus Maximinus in episcopum est ordinatus. Interea beata Maria Magdalena supernae contemplationis avida asperrimum eremum petiit et in loco angelicis manibus praeparato per XXX annos incognita mansit. In quo quidem loco nec aquarum fluenta nec arborum nec herbarum erant solatia, ut ex hoc manifestaretur, quod redemtor noster ipsam non terrenis refectionibus, sed tantum coelestibus epulis disposuerat satiare. Qualibet autem die septem horis canonicis ab angelis in aethera elevabatur et coelestium agminum gloriosos concentus eliam corporalibus auribus audiebat, unde diebus singulis -his suavissimis dapibus satiata et inde per eosdem angelos ad locum proprium revocata corporalibus alimentis nullatenus indigebat, Sacerdos autem quidam solitariam vitam agere desiderans ad duodecim stadia loco eidem vicinam sibi cellam locavit.
Die igitur quadam dominus praedicti sacerdotis oculos aperuit et corporeis oculis evidenter adspexit, qualiter angeli ad praedictum locum, in quo beata Maria morabatur, discedebant et eam in aethera sublevabant et post horae spatium ad eundem lofcum cum divinis laudibus revocabant. Volens autem sacerdos tam admirabilis visionis veritatem agnoscere creatori suo precibus se commendans ad praedictum locum audaci devotione properabat, cumque ad unius jactum lapidis appropinquaret, coeperunt ejus crura resolvi et timore valido ipsius praecordia medullitus anhelare, cumque retro rediret, ambulandi usum crura cum pedibus simul praebebant, sed si verso tramite ad praedictum locum accedere conaretur, totiens eum languor corporis et hebetudo mentis modis omnibus prohibebant. Intellexit igitur vir Dei illud procul dubio coeleste esse sacramentum, ad quod accedere humanum non poterat experimentum. Invocato igitur salvatoris nomine exclamavit: adjuro te per dominum, ut, si homo es vel aliqua rationalis creatura, quae in illa spelunca habitas, mihi respondeas et tui edjsseras veritatem. Cumque hoc tertio repetiisset, beata Maria Magdalena ei respondit: accede propius et omnium, quae desiderat anima tua, scire poteris veritatem. Cumque ille tremens nsque ad medii spatii terminum appropinquasset, ait ad eum: meministi ex evangelio de Maria illa famosa peccatrice, qüae pedes salvatoris laerymis lavit, capillis tersit et suorum delictorum veniam promeruit? Cui sacerdos: memini et plus quanf'triginta annorum evolata sunt curricula, quod hoc factum etiam sancta credit et confitetur eccle. sia.
Ego, inqnit, sum illa, quae per triginta annorum spatium omnibus hominibus ignota permansi et sicut -tibi heri cernere permissum est, sic singulis diebus angelicis manibus in aethera sublevata coelestium agminum dulcissimam jubilationem septenis vicibus per singulos dies corporeis auribus audire promerui. Quia igitur mihi a domino revelatum est, quod ex hoc migratura sum saeculo, beatum Maximinum adeas et ei hoc studeas intimare, proximo die resurrectionis dominicae tempore, quo ad matutinum surgere consuevit, oratorium solus ingrediatur et me illic per angelorum ministerium inveniet consistentem. Sacerdos autem vocem ejus velut vocem angeli audiebat, neminem autem videbat. Concitus igitur beatum Maximinum adiit et ei omnia per ordinem enarravit, sanctus autem Maximinus nimio repletus gaudio salvatori gratias immensas retulit et illa die ac hora, ut sibi jussum fuerat, oratorium solus ingressus videt beatam Mariam Magdalenam, in choro adhnc stantem eorum, qui eam adduxerant, angelorum. Erat autem spatio duorum cubitorum elevata a terra, stans in medio angelorum et extensis manibus Deum exorans, Cum aufem beatus Maximinus ad eam accedere trepidaret, conversa dixit ad eum: accede huc propius neo fugias filiam tuam, pater. Appropinquante autem co, sicut in ipsius beati Maximini legitur libris, ita vnltus dominae ex continua et diuturna visione angelorum radiabat, ut facilius solis radios quam faciem suam intueri quis posset. Convocato igitur universo clero et sacerdote praedicto corpus et sanguinem domini ab episcopo beata Maria Magdalena cum multa lacrymarum inundatione suscepit, deinde toto corpore ante altaris ) prostrato crepidinem sanctissima illa anima migravit ad dominum. Post cujus exitum tantus odor suavitatis ibidem remansit, ut per septem dies fere ab ingredientibus oratorium sentiretur.
Cujus sanctissimum corpus beatus Maximinus djversis çonditum aromatibus honorifice sepelivit et post mortem suam juxta se sepeliri praecepit. Hegesippus autem vel secundum quosdam libros Josephus satis cum praedicta historia concordat, ait enim in quodam suó tractatu, quod Maria Magdalena post domini adscensionem pro ardore caritatis Christi et taedio, quod habebat, nunquam hominem videre volebat, sed postquam ad Aquense territorium venit, in desertum abiit et triginta ibi annis incognita mansit, ubi, ut ait, qualibet die septem horis canonicis ab angelo in coela elevabatur. Addidit tamen, quod sacerdos, dum ad eam venisset, reperit eam in cella clausam: qui ad ejus petitionem vestem sibi porrexit, quam induens in ecclesiam secum ivit et ibi communione percepta elevatis in oratione manibus juxta altare in pace quievit. — 3. Temporibus autem Caroli Magni, scilicet anno domini DGCLXIX Gyrardus, dux Burgundiae, cum de uxore sua filium habere non posset, larga manu res suas pauperibus erogabat et multas ecclesias et monasteria construebat. Cum ergo Vizeliacense monasterium construxisset, misit ipse et abbas ipsius monasterii monachum- quendam cum decenti comitatu ad Aquensem civitatem, ut inde, si posset,. beatae Mariae Magdalenae reliquias transportaret. Veniens igitur praedictus monachus ad praedictam civitatem, cum ipsam funditus a paganis destructam reperisset, casu.
quodam invenit sepulchrum , cujus sculptura marmorea demonstrabat, quod corpus beatae Mariae Magdalenae repositum intas erat: in ipso autem sepulchro hystoria ejus miro opere sculpta erat. Nocte igitur illud effringens assumtas reliquias ad hospitium depoftavit. In ipsa autem nocte beata Maria Magdalena eidem monacho appa. ruit dicens, ne timeret, sed coeptum opus perficeret. Rediens igitur cum ad mediam leucam a monasterio venisset, nullo modo inde reliquias movere potuerunt, donec veniente abbate cum monachis processione honorifice sunt receptae. — 4. Miles quidam, qui singulis annis ad corpus beatae Mariae Magdalenae venire consueverat, in proelio occisus est: qui dum in feretro a parentibus ploraretur, Magdalenae piis querelis opponebant, cur devotum suum mori sine confessione et poenitentia permisisset. Tunc subito, qui defunctus erat, stupentibus cunctis surrexit et sacerdotem ad se venire praecepit, cumque devote confessus fuisset et viatienm recepisset, protinus in pace quievit, — 4 .
Navis quaedam viris et fentinis onerata naufragium pertulit, una autem femina, cum esset praegnans et se In mari periclitari adspiceret, Magdalena, in quantum poterat, acclamabat vovens, quod, si suis meritis a naufragio evaderet et filium pareret, ipsum ejus monasterio condonaret, statimque femina quaedam specie et habitu veneranda ei apparuit, quae eam per mentum accipiens periclitantibus aliis incolumem ad ripam per duxit: illa autem postmodum filium peperit et votum suum fideliter adimplevit. — 6. Ajunt quidam Mariam Magdalenam sponsam fuisse Johannis evangelistae, quam duxerat tunc, quando de nuptiis Christus eum vocavit: ex hoc ipsa: indignata, quod scilicet sponsum sibi abstulerat, abiit et omni voluptati se dedit. Sed quia congruum non erat, ut Johannis vocatio damnationis sibi occasio fieret, dominus ad poenitentiam ipsam misericorditer convertit, et quia a summa delectatione carnali eam removit, ideo ipsam summa delectatione spirituali, quae est in Dei amore, prae caeteris implevit. Quod et de Johanne quidam fatentur, quod ideo dulcitudine suae familiaritatis eum prae caeteris decoravit, quia a praedicta delectatione eum removit. Haec autem falsa et frivola reputantar, quia frater Albertus in prooemio super evangelium Johannis ponit, quod haec sponsa, de cujus nuptiis vocatus fuit idem Johannes, in virginitate permansit et in societate beatae Mariae virginis matris Christi postmodum visa fuit et tandem fine bono quievit. — 9. Vir quidam oculorum lumine privatus cum ad monasterium Vizeliacense causa visitandi corps beatae Mariae Magdalenae veniret et suus ei ductor diceret, se ecclesiam jam videre, ille magna voce exclamavit: o sancta Maria Magdalena, utinam aliquando videre merear ecclesiam tuam, statimque oculi ejus sunt aperti.
— , Quidam dum peccata sua in quadam schedula scripsisset, eam sub palla altaris beatae Mariae Magdalenae posuit, rogans eam, ut sibi indulgentiam impetraret. Qui postmodum schedulam accipiens peccata sua de ipsa schedula omnino deleta invenit. — 9. Quidam dum ob pecuniae exactionem compedibus teneretur, Mariam Magdalenam in sui adjutorium invocabat, et ecce quadam nocte mulier quaedam speciosa sibi apparuit, quae vincula frangens et ostium reserans sibi, ut fugeret, imperavit. Qui se absolutum videns protinus inde aufugit, — 30. Clericus quidam de Flandria, Stephanus nomine, in tantam scelerum immanitatem ceciderat, quod omnia exercens flagitia ea, quae salutis erant, non solum non facere, sed nec audire volebat. In beatam tamen Mariam Magdalcnam devotionem magnam habens ejus vigilias jejunabat et festum colebat. Dum igitur ejus tumulum visitasset, Maria Magdalena nec ex‘ toto dormienti nec ex toto vigilanti tamqnam mulier formosa lugubres gerens oculos et.
duorum angelorum dextra laevaque sustentata praesidio apparuit eique dixit: cur quaeso, Stephane, indigna meis meritis facta rependis, cur labiorum meorum instantia nnlla compunctione moveris? Ex quo enim devotionem in me habere coepisti, pro te dominum semper instanter exoravi: surge igitur et poeniteas, neque enim ego te deseram, donec Deo fueris reconciliatus. llle igitur mox in se infundi tantam gratiam sensit, quod saeculo abrenuntians religionem introivit et perfectissimae vitae fuit. In cujus morte visa est Maria Magdalena juxta feretrum cum angelis adstitisse et ejus animam quasi columbam candidam cum laudibus in coelum sustulisse.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Luke.7.37-Luke.7.50 — And behold, a woman who was in the city, a sinner, having learned that he was reclining in the house of the Pharisee, brought an alabaster flask of ointment Luke.7.38 — and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Luke.7.39 — Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, 'If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is: that she is a sinner.' Luke.7.40 — And Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he said, "Teacher, speak." Luke.7.41 — There were two debtors to a certain lender; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Luke.7.42 — Since neither of them had the means to repay him, he graciously canceled the debt for both. Which of them, therefore, will love him more? Luke.7.43 — Simon answered and said, 'I suppose the one to whom the more was forgiven.' And he said to him, 'You have judged correctly.' Luke.7.44 — Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house. You gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. Luke.7.45 — You gave me no kiss, but she has not stopped kissing my feet since I arrived. Luke.7.46 — You did not anoint my head with oil, but this woman has anointed my feet with ointment. Luke.7.47 — Therefore I tell you, her many sins are forgiven, as her great love shows. But the one who is forgiven little loves little. Luke.7.48 — And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." Luke.7.49 — And those who were reclining with him began to say among themselves, 'Who is this who even forgives sins?' Luke.7.50 — But he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
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