Saint Mary Magdalene

Saint Mary Magdalene: Feast Day July 22nd

The life of Saint Mary Magdalene, patroness of the contemplative life, hairstylists, pennant sinners, and perfumers, amongst other things, provides a beautiful example for everyone. Sinners and saints alike can learn from her example of seeing her own faults, accepting spiritual healing, living in the world and realizing she was called to live outside/above the world, and seeing Jesus' for who He really is and kneeling before Him, offering Him all she had, flaws and all, is inspiring and something to strive for! As we celebrate Saint Mary Magdalene today, let us think how we can give and live our entire lives to and for Christ. Humbling herself, knowing she was in the presence of the Lord, the Son of God, Saint Mary Magdalene washed Jesus’ feet with oil and dried them with her hair. What would you do if you were in the presence of the Lord? How would you act? Guess what, every time you go to Mass, you are in the presence of the Lord! Every week, you have the opportunity, to humble yourself before the Lord, present in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist! How will you give and live for the Lord?

Celebrating with Food:

No saint's feast day is compete without food! Today, make Spanish Magdalenas, which are breakfast muffins traditionally eaten on Mary Magdalene's feast day in Spain, using this recipe from the website, "Catholic Culture." Spanish Magdalenas are super yummy, and easy to make! I love the hint of lemon in these muffins, because it provides just the right combination of a citrus, yet sweet blend, giving them a delicious flavor. I use 1/4 teaspoon of lemon extract instead of lemon zest when I don’t have a lemon on hand, and 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla.

Celebrating with Crafts:

To celebrate the feast day of Saint Mary Magdalene, my family makes perfume bottle ornaments that we hang on our Christmas tree to remember this saint. We got this great idea from the website "Catholic Inspired." We also color a picture of Mary Magdalene washing Jesus’ feet (from the website "Coloring Home"), and discuss the symbolicalness of her actions. Another craft/activity that you and your family can do today is an activity I call "Walk in Her Footsteps." For this activity, you will need to print the template I made, and have your children color and cut out the footprints. Once your footprints are colored and cut out, move around the house with your children to locations that would be similar to where Mary Magdalene went with Jesus:

• Bookshelf- Have your children stand on their footprints and then sit down and listen to a Bible story about Jesus' ministry (read about one of the miracles He performed, the Sermon on the Mount, etc.)
• Kitchen- Have your children stand on their footprints by the table and then sit down. Eat a snack of bread and goldfish or tunafish sandwiches and discuss Jesus' feeding of the 5,000 with the fish and barley loaves.
• Crucifix- Have your children stand on their footprints in front your family's crucifix like Mary Magdalene stood at the foot of Jesus' cross, and pray the "Our Father" together.

(Here is what the template looks like)

I hope you and your family have a wonderful time celebrating Saint Mary Magdalene today!

Mary Magdalene, humble of heart, in your actions and your acceptance of the Lord's saving grace, pray for us, that like you, we too may be witnesses of God's love and mercy to everyone we encounter, pointing them to him through our humbleness. Amen.