St Mary Magdalen: ora pro nobis

Today is the feast day of a beautiful saint whose outstanding example and inspiration features in the opening scene of the third act of our Rosarium Aureum: Mary Magdalen:

Peccatrix irrigavit. JJ Tissot. Brooklyn Museum.

CUIUS pedes lacrimis:
peccatrix irrigavit:
dolensque ex intimis:
veniam impetravit. Ave Maria.


Whose feet the sinning woman laved
     With tears in deep contrition;
Whom He in gracious pity saved
     From her forlorn condition. Ave Maria.

Mary Magdalen embraces the Cross. JJ Tissot.

She is one of the few whose love gave her the courage to stay close to Jesus until the end. She is depicted once again at the feet of her Lord, her heart broken with sorrow.























After His death, she went to His tomb which she found empty. She searched for Him with tears; she yearned with strong desire for Him Who, she believed, had been taken away:

Sermo sancti Gregórii Papæ

Noli me tangere. JJ Tissot. Brooklyn Museum.

María Magdaléne, quæ fúerat in civitáte peccátrix, amándo veritátem, lavit lácrimis máculas críminis: et vox Veritátis implétur, qua dícitur: Dimíssa sunt ei peccáta multa, quia diléxit multum. Quæ enim prius frígida peccándo remánserat, póstmodum amándo fórtiter ardébat. Quæ a monuménto Dómini, étiam discípulis recedéntibus, non recedébat. Exquirébat quem non invénerat; flebat inquiréndo, et amóris sui igne succénsa, eius, quem ablátum crédidit, ardébat desidério. Unde cóntigit, ut eum sola tunc vidéret, quæ remánserat ut quǽreret: quia nimírum virtus boni óperis perseverántia est.
 
V. Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R. Deo grátias.

From the Sermons of Pope St. Gregory the Great.

Mary Magdalen, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, through love of the truth, washed away in her tears the defilement of her sins, and the words of the Truth are fulfilled which He spake Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much. She who had remained chilly in sin, became fiery through love. When even His disciples went away again unto their own home, Mary still stood without at the sepulchre of Christ, weeping. She sought Him Whom her soul loved, but she found Him not. She searched for Him with tears; she yearned with strong desire for Him Who, she believed, had been taken away. And thus it befell her, that being the only one who had remained to seek Him, she was the only one that saw Him. It is the truth that the backbone of a good work is perseverance.

V. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R. Thanks be to God.