St. Mary Magdalene – Patron Saint of Pharmacists

St. Mary Magdalene Biogrpahy

St. Mary Magdalene is a prominent figure in Christianity, particularly in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Church, as well as in Anglicanism. She is known as the “”Apostle to the Apostles”” because of her role as a witness to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. There is no historical consensus about her origin and identity, but she is generally considered to be a disciple of Jesus who accompanied him during his ministry and witnessed his crucifixion and resurrection.

Mary Magdalene is first mentioned in the Gospels of Luke and Mark, as one of the women who witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion, and was present at the tomb of Jesus where she was the first to encounter the Risen Lord. She was also present at the Crucifixion and was the first person whom Jesus appeared to after his resurrection, according to the Gospel of John.

In the Gospel of Luke, it is stated that seven demons had been cast out of Mary Magdalene, though it is not clear if this is the same person as Mary of Bethany or the “”sinful woman”” who anoints Jesus’ feet in Luke 7:36-50, as later tradition conflated her with them. In the Western Christianity, Mary Magdalene is traditionally identified as a repentant prostitute or sinner. This view is not supported by the biblical texts, and in recent years, some scholars have argued that this identification was a later addition to the biblical texts.

The Eastern Orthodox Church has a more positive view of Mary Magdalene and reveres her as a model of repentance and humility. She is often depicted in Eastern Orthodox iconography as a “”penitent woman”” rather than a “”fallen woman.””

Mary Magdalene is mentioned in the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Philip, among other texts from the New Testament Apocrypha, which describes her as a disciple of Jesus and a leader in the early Christian community. Some early Christian texts also suggest that she was among the group of women who financially supported Jesus’ ministry.

In the later tradition, Mary Magdalene is celebrated as a powerful intercessor and her feast day is celebrated on July 22nd in the Catholic Church. Mary Magdalene is also venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church and is remembered as a saint in the Anglican Communion and the Coptic Church.

The Mary Magdalene’s legacy is a central part of the pilgrimage to the St. Baume in Provence, France, where according to tradition, she retired after the death of Jesus to live as a hermit, until her death and burial there. Her relics are venerated in a great basilica and her cultus continued to be strong in the region.

Mary Magdalene’s story and legacy continue to be the subject of much scholarly study, discussion and debate. Her figure is seen as a powerful symbol of repentance and redemption, and her story has been the subject of numerous artistic and cultural works throughout history.

The Life of St. Mary Magdalene

All four of the Evangelists mention Saint Mary Magdalen, who at one time was “possessed by seven devils”. St. Luke the Apostle tells us that she was at one time a sinner. However, the same Evangelist states that when she knew that Jesus sat for a meal in the house of St. Simon the Apostle, a rich Pharisee, she “brought an alabaster box of ointment; and standing behind at His feet, she began to wash His feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head, and kissed His feet, and anointed them with the ointment” (7:38). Jesus forgave her sins, saying: “Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace”.

Afterwards she followed Him and His twelve Apostles as He traveled through the city and towns preaching and evangelizing the kingdom of God. (Luke 7, 50.) St. Luke (chap. 10) also relates that when Jesus “”entered into a certain town… Martha received Him into her house””, that she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to His word, and that when Martha complained because Mary was not helping her serve, the Lord said, “”Martha, Martha, thou art careful and art troubled about many things. But one thing is necessary. Mary hath chosen the best part, which shall not be taken away from her””.

St. John the Apostle (chap. 11) records that Jesus visited the home of St. Martha and St. Mary Magdalene in Bethania to raise their brother Lazarus from the dead, and again visited their home six days before the paschal sacrifice. Mary Magdalene was one of the few faithful women who stood by the Cross of Jesus during His crucifixion and death (Mark 15, 16; John 19, 20). And it was to her that the Risen Savior first appeared after His Mother) on the day of His Resurrection.

According to the Liturgy of the Catholic Church, St. Mary Magdalen is the same person as Mary the sinner, Mary of Bethany, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, the Magdalen at the foot of the Cross and at the Tomb, and the first witness of the Resurrection of Jesus.

Popular St. Mary Magdalene Medal and St. Mary Magdalene Rosary

Today, the Catholic Church regards St. Mary Magdalene as the patron saint of pharmacists. May all those who work in the pharmacy field turn to St. Mary Magdalene for intercession.

Prayers to St. Mary Magdalene

Prayer of intercession to St. Mary Magdalene

Grant to us, most merciful Father, that as the blessed Mary Magdalen, by loving Our Lord Jesus Christ above all things, won the forgiveness of her sins, so may she obtain for us, through Your mercy, everlasting happiness. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer to St. Mary Magdalene

Dear St. Mary Magdalene,

You were known as a woman of deep faith and devotion to Jesus. You witnessed His crucifixion and were the first to see Him risen from the dead. Your unwavering love and commitment to our Lord is an inspiration to us all.

I ask for your intercession in my life today. Help me to have a deeper love and understanding of Jesus, and the grace to follow Him more closely. May I have the courage to share my faith with others and be a witness to His love.

Thank you for being a shining example of faith and courage. I pray that through your intercession, I may grow closer to Jesus and live a life that honors Him.

Amen.

Prayer for Healing through the Intercession of St. Mary Magdalene

Dear St. Mary Magdalene,

You were a witness to the miracles of Jesus and saw Him heal the sick and the suffering. I come to you today seeking your intercession for healing in my life. Whether it is physical, emotional, or spiritual healing that I need, I ask for your help in bringing me closer to Jesus and His healing grace.

I trust in the power of your prayers and in the love of our Lord. Help me to have the faith and strength to persevere in my journey towards healing. May I always have the courage to trust in Jesus and His plans for my life.

Thank you for your unwavering faith and devotion to our Lord. I pray that through your intercession, I may experience the healing power of Jesus in my life.

Amen.

Prayer for Strength through the Intercession of St. Mary Magdalene

Dear St. Mary Magdalene,

You were a strong and courageous woman, even in the face of great adversity. I come to you today seeking your intercession for strength in my life. Whether it is the strength to face challenges, the strength to follow Jesus more closely, or the strength to persevere in my faith, I ask for your help and guidance.

Help me to have the courage to follow Jesus no matter what obstacles I may face. May I always have the strength to put my trust in Him and His plans for my life. May I have the grace to be a witness to His love and to share my faith with others.

Thank you for your example of strength and courage. I pray that through your intercession, I may have the strength to follow Jesus and live a life that honors Him.

Amen.

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Prayer to St. Mary Magdalene written by St. Anselm 

St Mary Magdalene,
you came with springing tears
to the spring of mercy, Christ;
from him your burning thirst was abundantly refreshed;
through him your sins were forgiven;
by him your bitter sorrow was consoled.
My dearest lady,
well you know by your own life
how a sinful soul can be reconciled with its creator,
what counsel a soul in misery needs,
what medicine will restore the sick to health.
It is enough for us to understand, dear friend of God,
to whom were “many sins forgiven, because she loved much”.
Most blessed lady,
I who am the most evil and sinful of men
do not recall your sins as a reproach,
but call upon the boundless mercy
by which they were blotted out.
This is my reassurance, so that I do not despair;
this is my longing, so that I shall not perish.
I say this of myself,
miserably cast down into the depths of vice,
bowed down with the weight of crimes,
thrust down by my own hand into a dark prison of sins,
wrapped round with the shadows of darkness.

Therefore, since you are now with the chosen
because you are beloved
and are beloved because you are chosen of God,
I, in my misery, pray to you, in bliss;
in my darkness, I ask for light;
in my sins, redemption;
impure, I ask for purity.
Recall in loving kindness what you used to be,
how much you needed mercy,
and seek for me that same forgiving love
that you received when you were wanting it.
Ask urgently that I may have
the love that pierces the heart; tears that are humble;
desire for the homeland of heaven;
impatience with this earthly exile;
searing repentance; and a dread of torments in eternity.
Turn to my good that ready access
that you once had and still have to the spring of mercy.
Draw me to him where I may wash away my sins;
bring me to him who can slake my thirst;
pour over me those waters
that will make my dry places fresh.
You will not find it hard to gain all you desire
from so loving and so kind a Lord,
who is alive and reigns and is your friend.

For who can tell, beloved and blest of God,
with what kind familiarity and familiar kindness
he himself replied on your behalf
to the calumnies of those who were against you?
How he defended you, when the proud Pharisee was indignant, how he excused you,
when your sister complained,
how highly he praised your deed, when Judas begrudged it.
And, more than all this,
what can I say, how can I find words to tell,
about the burning love with which you sought him,
weeping at the sepulchre,
and wept for him in your seeking?
How he came, who can say how or with what kindness,
to comfort you, and made you burn with love still more;
how he hid from you when you wanted to see him,
and showed himself when you did not think to see him;
how he was there all the time you sought him,
and how he sought you when, seeking him, you wept.

But you, most holy Lord,
why do you ask her why she weeps?
Surely you can see;
her heart, the dear life of her soul, is cruelly
slain.
O love to be wondered at;
O evil to be shuddered at;
you hung on the wood, pierced by iron nails,
stretched out like a thief for the mockery of wicked men;
and yet, ‘Woman,’ you say, ‘why are you weeping?’
She had not been able to prevent them from killing you,
but at least she longed to keep your body for a while
with ointments lest it decay.
No longer able to speak with you living,
at least she could mourn for you dead.
So, near to death and hating her own life,
she repeats in broken tones the words of life
which she had heard from the living.
And now, besides all this,
even the body which she was glad, in a way, to have kept,
she believes to have gone.
And can you ask her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’
Had she not reason to weep?
For she had seen with her own eyes
if she could bear to look
what cruel men cruelly did to you;
and now all that was left of you from their hands
she thinks she has lost.
All hope of you has fled,
for now she has not even your lifeless body
to remind her of you.
And someone asks,
‘Who are you looking for? Why are you weeping?’
You, her sole joy,
should be the last thus to increase her sorrow.
But you know it all well, and thus you wish it to be,
for only in such broken words and sighs
can she convey a cause of grief as great as hers.
The love you have inspired you do not ignore,
And indeed you know her well,
the gardener, who planted her soul in his garden.
What you plant, I think you also water.
Do you water, I wonder, or do you test her?
In fact, you are both watering and putting to the test.

But now, good Lord, gentle Master,
look upon your faithful servant and disciple,
so lately redeemed by your blood,
and see how she burns with anxiety, desiring you,
searching all round, questioning,
and what she longs for is nowhere found.
Nothing she sees can satisfy her,
since you whom alone she would behold, she sees not.
What then?
How long will my Lord leave his beloved to suffer thus?
Have you put off compassion
now you have put on incorruption?
Did you let go of goodness
when you laid hold of immortality?
Let it not be so, Lord.
You will not despise us mortals
now you have made yourself immortal,
for you made yourself a mortal
in order to give us immortality.

And so it is; for love’s sake
he cannot bear her grief for long or go on hiding himself.
For the sweetness of love he shows himself
who would not for the bitterness of tears.
The Lord calls his servant by the name she has often heard
and the servant knows the voice of her own Lord.
I think, or rather I am sure,
that she responded to the gentle tone
with which he was accustomed to call, ‘Mary’.
What joy filled that voice, so gentle and full of love.
He could not have put it more simply and clearly:
‘I know who you are and what you want;
behold me;
do not weep, behold me;
I am he whom you seek.’
At once the tears are changed;
I do not believe that they stopped at once,
but where once they were wrung
from a heart broken and self-tormenting
they flow now from a heart exulting.
How different is, ‘Master!’
from ‘If you have taken him away, tell me’;
and, ‘They have taken away my Lord,
and I do not know where they have laid him,’
has a very different sound from,
‘I have seen the Lord, and he has spoken to me.’

But how should I, in misery and without love,
dare to describe the love of God
and the blessed friend of God?
Such a flavour of goodness will make my heart sick
if it has in itself nothing of that same virtue.
But in truth, you who are very truth, you know me well
and can testify that I write this for the love of your love,
my Lord, my most dear Jesus.
I want your love to burn in me as you command
so that I may desire to love you alone
and sacrifice to you a troubled spirit,
‘a broken and a contrite heart’.
Give me, 0 Lord, in this exile,
the bread of tears and sorrow
for which I hunger more than for any choice delights.
Hear me, for your love,
and for the dear merits of your beloved Mary,
and your blessed Mother, the greater Mary.
Redeemer, my good Jesus,
do not despise the prayers of one who has sinned against you
but strengthen the efforts of a weakling that loves you.
Shake my heart out of its indolence, Lord,
and in the ardour of your love
bring me to the everlasting sight of your glory
where with the Father and the Holy Spirit
you live and reign, God, for ever. Amen.

 

St. Mary Magdalene: Patron Saint of Repentant Sinners and Perfumers

St. Mary Magdalene is considered the patron saint of repentant sinners and perfumers. She was a biblical figure who was a close follower of Jesus and is mentioned in several of the New Testament Gospels.

Why is St. Mary Magdalene the Patron Saint of Repentant Sinners and Perfumers?

St. Mary Magdalene is known for her close relationship with Jesus and her devotion to him. She is also remembered for her past life as a repentant sinner, who was forgiven by Jesus and chose to live a life of holiness and devotion.

This association with repentant sinners and her close relationship with Jesus have made St. Mary Magdalene a popular patron saint for those who are seeking forgiveness and a new start in life.

St. Mary Magdalene is also the patron saint of perfumers because of a legend that she used expensive perfumes to anoint the feet of Jesus, a act of worship and devotion. This association with perfumes and fragrance has made St. Mary Magdalene a popular patron saint for those in the fragrance and beauty industries.

St. Mary Magdalene’s Legacy

St. Mary Magdalene’s legacy is one of devotion, forgiveness, and redemption. Her unwavering faith in Jesus and her transformation from a repentant sinner to a devoted follower serve as a powerful example for people of all ages and from all walks of life.

Her story continues to inspire countless people to seek forgiveness and to live a life of holiness and devotion. In an age where the values of faith and redemption are often challenged, St. Mary Magdalene remains a powerful witness to the importance of these virtues and a source of hope and inspiration for all who seek to live a life of faith and grace.” “

Reflection on the feast day of St. Mary Magdalene

The feast day of St. Mary Magdalene is July 22nd.

St. Mary Magdalene was a devoted follower of Jesus and is mentioned in the Gospels as a witness to his Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension. She is also known as the “”apostle to the apostles”” because she was the first person to whom Jesus appeared after his resurrection. She is considered to be a patroness of repentance, and her feast day is celebrated by many Christian denominations.

On her feast day, we can reflect on the importance of repentance. St. Mary Magdalene was once a sinner, but she repented and turned to Jesus. Her conversion is a reminder that no matter how far we may have strayed from God, it is never too late to turn back to him and ask for forgiveness. Repentance is an essential part of our spiritual journey and it is necessary for us to be reconciled with God.

St. Mary Magdalene’s devotion to Jesus also reminds us of the importance of faith and the centrality of Jesus in our lives. She was a devoted follower of Jesus and was present at many of the important events in his life. She is an example of how we should strive to be devoted followers of Jesus, putting our faith in him and making him the center of our lives.

St. Mary Magdalene’s role as the first person to whom Jesus appeared after his resurrection also reminds us of the importance of being a witness to the resurrection. Her faith and her witness to the resurrection are a reminder for us to be ready to share the Good News of the resurrection with others.

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Saints Similar to St. Mary Magdalene

You may also be interested in reading the Biography of St. Mary Magdalene of Canossa and the Biography of St. Martha. St. Mary Magdalene and St. Mary Magdalene of Canossa both dedicated their lives to serving Christ and others. St. Martha was known for her hospitality and service to Jesus, drawing a parallel to their devotion. Next up: Biography of St. Mary Magdalene of Canossa

 

Also check out our handmade St. Mary Magdalene Medal and St. Mary Magdalene Rosary and St. Mary Magdalene Rosary Bracelet.