On June 3rd of this year, Pope Francis signed a decree that raised the celebration of the memorial of St. Mary Magdalene to the dignity of a liturgical feast.  Archbishop Artur Roche wrote in a letter following the decree that this change should make the people of God pause and “reflect more deeply on the dignity of women, the New Evangelization, and the greatness of the mystery of Divine Mercy.”    

    As we know from reading the sacred scriptures, St. Mary Magdalene was the first witness of the Resurrection and was the disciple who announced her encounter with the risen Jesus to the Apostles.  Because of this, St. Thomas Aquinas referred to St. Mary Magdalene as the “Apostle of the Apostles” since she announced to them the Resurrection, and they, in turn,  announced it to the whole world.  So how does this new feast help us to reflect on the dignity of women, the New Evangelization and the greatness of the mystery of Divine Mercy?

    When it comes to the dignity of women, we see throughout the scriptures Jesus’ great love and care for women.  At a time in our world history when women were seen as objects, property, and cheap labor, Jesus saw them as beloved daughters of the Father and loved them with the same love He had for everyone.  From the woman at the well to the woman caught in adultery to St. Mary Magdalene, Jesus continues to reach out to every person he meets regardless of their sex, class, and heritage.  Jesus sees all people as having equal dignity because we are all made in His own image and likeness.

    This feast causes us to reflect on the New Evangelization as well.  What makes the New Evangelization “new” is that the lay faithful are the main evangelizers! Priests, sisters, and brothers are meant to do the work of ministry through the Sacraments and their own charisms (teaching, works of mercy, etc.) and the lay faithful, since they live in the world, are to be the evangelizers by preaching the Gospel to their co-workers, families, friends, and neighbors.  St. Mary Magdalene preached the risen Jesus to everyone, including the Apostles.  That is exactly what lay people are to do!  Preach the risen Jesus!  St. Mary is a shinning example of this task.

    Finally, we see the mystery of God’s Divine Mercy because he didn’t choose any ordinary follower of Jesus.  Our risen Lord didn’t choose Peter, the beloved disciple, Nicodemus, not even His own Mother to appear to first on that Easter morning.  The risen Jesus chose a woman who had suffered greatly, been possessed by demons, and led a controversial life.  That’s mercy!  That’s our loving and merciful God at work.  No sin is greater than His love.

    And so, my brothers and sisters, as we celebrate for the first time the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, reflect on how we can live out mercy, take an active role in the New Evangelization, and how we can see all our brothers and sisters as equals and with the same dignity God sees us with.  St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us.