The almost humorous phrase "holy audacity" might describe a certain characteristic of St. Mary Magdalene. This characteristic, which I first heard from a famous, pious nun, growing in holiness, was used to describe the saint in connection to how she let love override her fear. Three main examples are given to us regarding St. Mary Magdalene by the Holy Spirit that might help one to acquire this tenacious spirit to love our Lord more greatly and to make him loved by others.
The First Conversion of St. Mary Magdalene was when she was in a fearful moment of being brought to our Lord Jesus by the scribes and Pharisees. Remember, that a penalty for adultery back then would have been stoning to death. We do not know what caused the spiral of bad choices that led this poor sinner down such a path, but God wishes us to learn first of the depth of Christ's compassion.
[1] And Jesus went unto mount Olivet. [2] And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him, and sitting down he taught them. [3] And the scribes and the Pharisees bring unto him a woman taken in adultery: and they set her in the midst, [4] And said to him: Master, this woman was even now taken in adultery. [5] Now Moses in the law commanded us to stone such a one. But what sayest thou?
[6] And this they said tempting him, that they might accuse him. But Jesus bowing himself down, wrote with his finger on the ground. [7] When therefore they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said to them: He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. [8] And again stooping down, he wrote on the ground. [9] But they hearing this, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest. And Jesus alone remained, and the woman standing in the midst. [10] Then Jesus lifting up himself, said to her: Woman, where are they that accused thee? Hath no man condemned thee?
[11] Who said: No man, Lord. And Jesus said: Neither will I condemn thee. Go, and now sin no more. [12] Again therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying: I am the light of the world: he that followeth me, walketh not in darkness, but shall have the light of life. -- John 8:1-12
Jesus could read hearts, and knew that this was a teaching moment for this notorious sinner, who would later, in her tremendous contrition, bathe the Lord's feet with her copious tears and anoint his feet in oil, even in front of others, for she knew the terrific number and gravity of sins which he had wiped from her once unclean heart.
What we might learn: St. Mary Magdalene, was forgiven much and, therefore, she learned by Christ, to love much. For this, by the operation of Christ, Our Lord used the saint as an example, even providentially while he had been teaching in the temple. By this example, countless souls from that point on have been converted to Christ.
And there were there many women afar off, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:
[56] Among whom was Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. [57] And when it was evening, there came a certain rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who also himself was a disciple of Jesus. [58] He went to Pilate, and asked the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded that the body should be delivered. [59] And Joseph taking the body, wrapped it up in a clean linen cloth. [60] And laid it in his own new monument, which he had hewed out in a rock. And he rolled a great stone to the door of the monument, and went his way. -- Matthew 27:56-59
The Second Conversion of St. Mary Magdalene was when the saint remained with the Blessed Virgin Mother, along with other holy women, after having followed Christ through his Passion and to the Cross on Calvary. Her strength of spirit came from tending to the Blessed Mother and to the other women.
And there followed him a great multitude of people, and of women, who bewailed and lamented him. [28] But Jesus turning to them, said: Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not over me; but weep for yourselves, and for your children. [29] For behold, the days shall come, wherein they will say: Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have not borne, and the paps that have not given suck. [30] Then shall they begin to say to the mountains: Fall upon us; and to the hills: Cover us. -- Luke 23:17-30
Here our Lord seeks to give encouragement to the women --- both the mothers and those who had not had the blessing of children, to emphasize that there also exists a spiritual motherhood, also sacrificial in nature. How are either ministry fulfilled when following the Passion of Our Lord? Their strength is found in staying close the Blessed Virgin Mother and in support of one another in this mystical walk of Calvary.
Men, incidentally, can learn from St. Mary Magdalene here, for she whose life was saved by Christ, now risks her life to be associated with through the greatest spiritual suffering. Both the St. Mary Magdalene and St. John the Apostle were given graces of strength of heart and fortitude even protection of their bodies to fulfil their lives' ministries by remaining close to Christ through maintaining close proximity to his Blessed Virgin Mother.
The Third Conversion.
[11] But Mary stood at the sepulchre without, weeping. Now as she was weeping, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, [12] And she saw two angels in white, sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been laid. [13] They say to her: Woman, why weepest thou? She saith to them: Because they have taken away my Lord; and I know not where they have laid him. [14] When she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing; and she knew not that it was Jesus. [15] Jesus saith to her: Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, thinking it was the gardener, saith to him: Sir, if thou hast taken him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. -- John 20:11-15
Ahhhh!!! Holy Audacity! This dear saint, with reason clouded by grief, thinks she can carry the dead body of her Lord, Jesus. After a long week of witnessing the Greatest Suffering known to mankind, she finds that the body of Christ is now missing from the sepulchre. Yet, she sees two angels, and rather than be comforted in the slightest even by the spiritual blessing of seeing them, she responds to their inquiry of the reason for her weeping at the site of the empty tomb, "Because they havve taken nawayy my Lord; and I know not where they have laid him." St. Mary Magdalene then looks at Jesus standing near by, watching her weeping, who then asks, 'Woman, why are you crying? For whom do you seek?" And really, what an ironic question, since St. Mary Magdalene was seen peering into the empty tomb! To which the confused saint responds, "Sir, if thou hast taken him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away."
John 20 continues:
[16] Jesus saith to her: Mary. She turning, saith to him: Rabboni (which is to say, Master). [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 Magdalen cometh, and telleth the disciples: I have seen the Lord, and these things he said to me.
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At the moment Jesus says the name of St. Mary Magdalene, a first name which, in itself, when said with devotion, is a sacramental, St. Mary Magdalene recognizes Christ, whom she thought initially was the gardener. He calls her by her name and then tells her to not touch him, then commissions her to witness to the others to see that he has, in fact, resurrected form the dead. Christ tells Mary Magdalene not to touch him because this is the spiritual commission, to witness to Christ's death and resurrection. Jesus tells Mary Magdalene not to act by her emotions to desire to touch him to find consolation. It was not for her faith that she desired to touch our Lord, as it was with St. Thomas, but for her own consolation in the fact that our Lord has resurrected. However, had she touched our Lord, she would have been led by her emotions and not her reason, and missed the point of Jesus's resurrection from the dead, which was to have others witness to his Ascension, which, in turn, would open the gates to Heaven, and bring forth the ability for the supernatural graces to come from the Sacraments of His Bride.
Therefore, St Mary Magdalene's third conversion was the culmination of the first two: firstly, receiving God's mercy through God the Son. Secondly, following the Passion and Death of Christ by remaining close to his Mother. Lastly, she is reminded by Jesus to not allow her devotion to be moved by emotions, but rather, by her spiritual duties, first alluded to in the first two conversions. These conversions might have been revisited in the daily mental prayer of the saint, reminded of the forgiveness of our Lord, the suffering and death of our Lord, and now the commission to rely on hearing his 'voice'* (*if even only in prayer and meditation on scripture), and trusting in Christ's promise of Heaven.
In Conclusion:
We , too, may find "holy audacity" from the example of St. Mary Magdalene. This is useful in our day to day journey with Christ, and also in leading others to Christ, both in prayer and action. Let us not depend on seeing the outcome, or find ourselves attached to temporal joys and passing emotions, but remain trusting in our Lord and his continuing ministry.
And never forget the protection and strength given to we who strive to be the spiritual children of the Blessed Virgin Mother of Jesus Christ. "Behold, thy mother!"
