Michael Brooks
Mary Magdalene, a woman from Magdala, a Galilean fishing town, was a disciple of Jesus Christ and a witness to his crucifixion and resurrection. She is a central figure in Gnostic Christian writings, including the Gospel of Mary, which, although not officially recognized by the Church, portrays her as Jesus's closest disciple and the only one who truly understood his spiritual message. The Catholic Church historically conflated her with the repentant sinner in Luke 7 but later emphasized her role as the first witness to the resurrection, honoring her as the Apostle to the Apostles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Position in the Catholic Church | Mary Magdalene was not one of the 12 apostles, but she is honoured as an "Apostle to the Apostles" by the Catholic Church. |
| Reputation | Mary Magdalene has been labelled a "sinful woman", a prostitute, a saint, a sinner, a witness, and a wife. |
| Evidence in the Bible | Mary Magdalene is mentioned in Chapter 8 of St Luke's Gospel, where she is referred to as "Mary, called the Magdalene, from whom seven demons came out". |
| Evidence in Art | Statues of Mary Magdalene are rare, but Italian sculptor Donatello created one in the 15th century, portraying her in her mistaken role as a penitent figure. |
| Evidence in Literature | Mary Magdalene is depicted as Jesus' closest disciple in Gnostic writings, and as the only disciple who truly understands Jesus' spiritual message. |
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What You'll Learn
Mary Magdalene's role as the 'Apostle to the Apostles'
Mary Magdalene, a woman from Magdala, a small Galilean town known for fishing, was a disciple of Jesus Christ and a witness to his crucifixion and resurrection. She is often referred to as the "Apostle to the Apostles". This title was bestowed upon her by St. Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century.
The significance of Mary Magdalene's role as the "Apostle to the Apostles" lies in her being the first witness of the empty tomb after Jesus's resurrection and, thus, the first messenger of the good news of the resurrection to the other apostles. She is the first to announce the joyful message of Easter, proclaiming Jesus's victory over death. In Gnostic writings, she is depicted as Jesus's closest disciple, who uniquely understands his teachings, causing tension with the apostle Peter.
Mary Magdalene's role as the "Apostle to the Apostles" is recognised by the Catholic Church, which honours her as the first witness to the resurrection. The Eastern Orthodox Church has always viewed her as a virtuous Myrrhbearer and "Equal to the Apostles", distinct from other biblical women.
Despite her important role, Mary Magdalene has been a controversial figure in Christian tradition. She has often been confused with other women mentioned in the Gospels, such as the unnamed prostitute who anointed Jesus's feet with perfume and wiped them with her hair, and Mary of Bethany. For centuries, she was labelled a "'sinful woman' and a prostitute by Pope Gregory I in 591, despite evidence to the contrary in the canonical Gospels.
In recent times, there has been a reevaluation of Mary Magdalene's role, with modern artists attempting to portray her as a powerful and insightful disciple of Jesus. Statues and portraits often depict her doing penance for her sins, wearing a coarse hair garment and with a skull to remind viewers of the brevity of life.
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The Catholic Church's view of Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene's role as a disciple of Jesus is recognised by the Catholic Church. She is described as a follower who travelled with Jesus, financially supported his ministry, and witnessed his crucifixion and resurrection. She is specifically referred to as the "Apostle to the Apostles" or the "apostle of the Apostles", reflecting her role as the first witness of the empty tomb and the messenger who proclaimed the resurrection to the other apostles. This title was given to her by St. Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century.
The Catholic Church honours Mary Magdalene as a saint and a faithful disciple of Christ. Pope Francis elevated her memory to the status of a festivity on July 22, 2016, emphasising her importance. She is also recognised as the first evangelist of the resurrection, spreading the "good news" of Jesus's resurrection.
While Mary Magdalene is not considered to be one of the twelve apostles, who were all men, the Catholic Church acknowledges that there were disciples outside of this inner circle. Mary Magdalene is regarded as a central figure among Jesus's female disciples and is described as occupying a similar position to Simon Peter among the male apostles.
Despite the Church's recognition of Mary Magdalene's role as a disciple and apostle, statues and artistic depictions of her are relatively rare in Catholic spaces. Some traditional artistic portrayals have emphasised her penance and sins, often dressing her in a coarse hair garment and placing a skull nearby to symbolise the brevity of life. However, modern artists are attempting to reclaim and portray a more empowered image of Mary Magdalene.
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Mary Magdalene's status as a disciple
Mary Magdalene was a disciple of Jesus Christ, and a central figure in Gnostic Christian writings. She is believed to have been a prominent follower of Jesus, who financially supported his ministry, and was present at his crucifixion and burial.
In the Bible, Mary Magdalene is described as being from Magdala, a small Galilean town known for fishing. She is also believed to have been healed by Jesus, and is referred to as "Mary, called the Magdalene, from whom seven demons came out".
Mary Magdalene is often referred to as the "Apostle to the Apostles". This title was given to her by St Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century because she was the first witness of the empty tomb and the resurrected Jesus, and therefore the first messenger of the good news of the resurrection to the apostles. She is also the first among the women following Jesus to proclaim him as having overcome death, and the first to announce the joyful message of Easter.
The Eastern Orthodox Church has always viewed Mary Magdalene as a virtuous Myrrhbearer and "Equal to the Apostles", distinct from other biblical women. The Roman Catholic Church, on the other hand, historically conflated her with the repentant sinner in Luke 7, but later emphasised her role as the first witness to the resurrection, honouring her as an apostle.
Despite her important role as a disciple, Mary Magdalene has often been confused with other women in the Bible, such as the unnamed prostitute who wiped Jesus's feet with her hair, and Mary of Bethany. She has also been labelled a "sinful woman" and a prostitute by figures such as Pope Gregory I, and was long portrayed as a penitent figure dressed only in her hair. However, in recent years, there have been attempts to reclaim Mary Magdalene as the powerful and insightful disciple she is believed to have been.
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Mary Magdalene's portrayal in art
Mary Magdalene, one of the most famous women in Christian tradition, has been interpreted by artists across Europe through the ages. She is a central figure in Gnostic Christian writings, and her prominence in Jesus' life has been debated since the beginning.
Renaissance Art
During the Renaissance, Italian cities were facing a real problem with prostitution and used Magdalene to promote a life away from that practice. Artists such as Titian painted her as the symbol of redemption. In his c.1531 oil-on-canvas work 'Penitent Magdalene', now in Florence's Palazzo Pitti, he shows us Magdalene as a penitent.
Baroque Art
The Baroque painter Guido Cagnacci was known for the sensuality with which he represented women. In his 1660 oil-on-canvas work 'The Repentant Magdalene', now at the Norton Simon Art Foundation, he depicts Magdalene lying on the ground, almost completely naked.
19th-Century Art
In the 19th century, Mary was depicted as the "femme fatale". In 'Mary Magdalene at the House of the Pharisee' (1891), the French painter Jean Beraud depicts Mary attired in an ornate gown and melodramatically kneeling at the foot of Jesus, surrounded by European captains of industry.
20th-Century Art
The 20th century brought a variety of portrayals, including American Wendy Brusick Steiner’s 'I’ve Seen Love Conquer the Great Divide' (1989), in which Mary Magdalene assumes the traditional pose of cradling the dead Jesus' feet.
Modern Art
Some modern images are sentimental: she clutches a cross to her breast with tears in her eyes. Gnostic-identified artists carve her in a squat Venus-of-Willendorf-like posture, modestly clothed and veiled but with an open pot in her lap, suggesting healing authority or even fertility.
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Mary Magdalene's identity and labels
Mary Magdalene, sometimes called Mary of Magdala, or simply the Magdalene or the Madeleine, was a prominent follower of Jesus. She is believed to have been healed by him, supported his ministry financially, and was present at his crucifixion and burial. She is a central figure in Gnostic Christian writings, including the Dialogue of the Savior, the Pistis Sophia, the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Philip, and the Gospel of Mary.
Mary Magdalene has been labelled a "penitent prostitute", "devoted spouse", "saint", "sinner", "witness", and "wife". The label "prostitute" has been attributed to her for centuries, since Pope Gregory I first pronounced her a "sinful woman" in 591, despite evidence to the contrary in the canonical Gospels. This label may have arisen from a misunderstanding: in Chapter 7 of Luke's Gospel, an anonymous "known sinner" in the city bathes Jesus's feet with perfume and her tears and dries them with her hair. Without any textual connection, Mary of Magdala was identified with this unnamed woman. However, this anointing with perfumed oil was also performed by Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, as reported by the Evangelist, St. John, leading to further confusion.
Mary Magdalene is also referred to as the "Apostle to the Apostles". This title was given to her by St. Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century. She is called this because she was the first witness of the empty tomb and the first to announce the resurrection of Jesus to the apostles, making her the first evangelist of the resurrection. She is also referred to as an apostle by Hrabanus Maurus in the 12th-century work, 'Ubi Magdalenam Christus ad apostolos mittit apostolam' (Wherein Christ sends Magdalene as an apostle to the apostles).
Mary Magdalene is a disciple of Jesus, although she is not one of the Twelve Apostles, who were all men. She is a disciple in the sense that she was a follower and student of Jesus. She is also referred to as a "Myrrhbearer" by the Eastern Orthodox Church, who view her as "Equal to the Apostles".
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Mary Magdalene was a disciple of Jesus. She is believed to have been healed by him and supported his ministry financially.
Mary Magdalene is often referred to as the "Apostle to the Apostles". She was the first to witness Jesus's resurrection and proclaim him as having overcome death. However, she was not one of the 12 apostles as they were all men.
Mary Magdalene has been labelled a "sinful woman", a prostitute, and a wife. These labels have been disputed, and she remains a controversial figure who challenges the Church.
A 15th-century statue by Italian sculptor Donatello portrays Mary Magdalene in her mistaken role as a penitent figure, dressed only in her hair. Many artists have also painted portraits of Mary Magdalene in a cave or wilderness setting doing penance for her sins.
The Catholic Church honours Mary Magdalene as a saint and the "Apostle to the Apostles". She is the only female saint, apart from Mary, the mother of Jesus, to be honoured with the recitation of the Gloria on her feast day.
