Sunday— Saint Mary Magdalene—Feast Day Mass
After breakfast at the hostellerie we’ll drive to Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume to take part in the welcoming for the feast and the procession into the Basilique for the 10:30 am Feast Day Mass. After Mass we will celebrate with the people of the town in front of the Basilique, then check in to our same Provence apartment in the center of town and have lunch. We’ll return to the Basilique for a talk on the “Life of Saint Mary Magdalene” and then follow the procession of Saint Mary Magdalene and the Saints of Provence through the streets of the town. At the end of the long day we will have a nice Provençal dinner.
ALTAR IN THE BASILIQUE FOR FEAST DAY MASS
ASSOCIATION SANTO MADALENO
Novena to Saint Mary Magdalene—Day 9
Opening Prayer—Saint Mary Magdalene, you who were pardoned by Jesus, you who greatly loved; show us the way to true conversion and purity of heart. With love you followed Jesus to serve him; teach us to freely offer our lives for our brothers and sisters. You stood at the cross of Jesus with Mary and John. Obtain the grace of faith and hope in our sufferings. On Easter morning, you received from Jesus the mission of announcing the resurrection to His disciples. Help me to believe that life is stronger than death, that love triumphs over all. Dearest Saint Mary Magdalene, please intercede on behalf of my special intention (recite your special intention here). Through your intercession, I trust in the Lord, AMEN.
Gospel of Matthew 28:7-10—Jesus Has Risen
7 And going quickly, tell ye his disciples that he is risen: and behold he will go before you into Galilee; there you shall see him. Lo, I have foretold it to you. 8 And they went out quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy, running to tell his disciples. 9 And behold Jesus met them, saying: All hail. But they came up and took hold of his feet, and adored him. 10 Then Jesus said to them: Fear not. Go, tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, there they shall see me.
Gospel of Mark 16:7-11—Jesus Has Risen
7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee; there you shall see him, as he told you. 8 But they going out, fled from the sepulchre. For a trembling and fear had seized them: and they said nothing to any man; for they were afraid. 9 But he rising early the first day of the week, appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. 10 She went and told them that had been with him, who were mourning and weeping. 11 And they hearing that he was alive, and had been seen by her, did not believe.
JESUS APPEARS TO MARY MAGDALENE
Gospel of Luke 24:9-11—Jesus Has Risen
9 And going back from the sepulchre, they told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest. 10 And it was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary of James, and the other women that were with them, who told these things to the apostles. 11 And these words seemed to them as idle tales; and they did not believe them.
Gospel of John 20:17-18—17 Jesus saith to her: Do not touch me, for I am not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brethren, and say to them: I ascend to my Father and to your Father, to my God and your God. 18 Mary Magdalene cometh, and telleth the disciples: I have seen the Lord, and these things he said to me.
Novena Prayer Day 9—Mary is doubly privileged as a witness: the first to see the Risen One, alive from the tomb, freed and delivered from death; but also the first to hear that He returns to the Father and she should tell the brothers. First messenger of the Resurrection and the Ascension. The tradition gives her the title “Apostle to the Apostles.” Actually, it was not to his Apostles that the risen Christ manifested himself, rather to these women who followed him from Galilee, beginning with Mary Magdalene. At the same time, it is certainly to the eleven that they are sent, and not directly to the world. Here is the plan of the fundamental structure of the church: all Christians can have an experience of God, a true knowledge of the “sensus fidei,” all the faithful are sent on the mission to give witness to Christ, but in communion with the apostolic hierarchy which confirms its authenticity. Mary Magdalene, of the seven demons, is sent as a witness of the divine mercy, just as Christ founded his church on the faith of Peter, who denied him: founded not on those who are perfect, but on those who are forgiven sinners. What a great blessing to know that none of us has to be perfect to be counted among the disciples of the Risen One. Each day, when we recognize the call of Christ in the world around us; the needs of the poor, the hungry and homeless, those who are hungry for the Word, those who could care less about the Word, those who are struggling to make ends meet, those whose hearts are broken by children who abandon the faith, – the list is endless – we are all called to give witness to the grace which we experience in our lives. Christ who conquered sin and death, is beside us as we conquer the small crises, and major tragedies of our lives. This is what is meant to share in His Paschal Mystery. Mary Magdalene’s life is testimony to the Paschal mystery. She was lifted up out of her guilt, her suffering and shame, because she allowed Jesus to do this for her. Are we ready to allow Jesus to do the same thing?
Closing Prayer—Lord, Our God, it was to Mary Magdalene that your beloved son entrusted the first announcement of the Paschal joy; grant to us, through her prayer and her example the grace to announce the risen Christ and to contemplate the day of His glory. He who lives and reigns for ever and ever. AMEN!
