July 22nd. St. Mary Magdalene.

The Scriptures tell us that Jesus freed her of seven devils; she stood by the Cross at Calvary, went to the tomb on Easter morning and was addressed by the risen Christ, who commissioned her to proclaim the Resurrection to the Apostles. She has often been confused with the Mary who was the sister of Martha, and more frequently with the sinful woman who anointed Jesus' feet. This has resulted in her usually being portrayed in art with a pot of ointment. Tradition has it that she came as an evangelist to France with Martha and the restored-to-life Lazarus, and her relics are claimed by the famous Burgundian basilica of Vezelay. Although this seems to rest on a misidentification, it remains true that her cult has been extremely popular by virtue of her chose association with the person of Christ.