Prayer:Prayer to St. Mary Magdalene
Stored: Prayer to St. Mary Magdalene
| Prayer to St. Mary Magdalene | |
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| Author | Unknown |
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| Language | English |
| Approval | None |
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| Added on | 2026-08-13 |
St. Mary Magdalene holds a singular place among the followers of Christ. Named in the Gospels as one from whom seven demons had been cast out (Luke 8:2), she became one of the most devoted disciples of Our Lord, standing faithfully at the foot of the Cross and being the first to witness the empty tomb on Easter morning. The Church venerates her as the "Apostle to the Apostles," a title given to her by St. Thomas Aquinas and rooted in the commission she received from the Risen Christ Himself to announce His Resurrection to the other disciples (John 20:17–18).
Devotion to St. Mary Magdalene has flourished throughout the centuries in both the Eastern and Western Church. She is celebrated on July 22, a feast elevated to the rank of Feast in the Roman Calendar by Pope Francis in 2016, recognizing her unique and central role in the story of salvation. Her example of repentance, ardent love, and perseverance has made her a beloved patron of penitents, contemplatives, and all who seek God's merciful forgiveness.
This traditional intercessory prayer draws upon the two defining moments of her life — her tears of repentance and her witness to the Resurrection — asking through her intercession for the theological virtues of contrition, faith, and hope.
The Prayer
O glorious St. Mary Magdalene, who by thy tears of repentance didst obtain pardon for thy sins, and who wast counted worthy to be the first witness of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ;
obtain for us, we beseech thee, through thy powerful intercession, the grace of true contrition, a lively faith, and a firm hope in the mercy of God,
that we may one day share in that same blessed Resurrection which thou didst first proclaim.
Amen.
History and Background
The veneration of St. Mary Magdalene as a powerful intercessor developed early in Christian history. In the Western tradition, influenced by a homily of Pope St. Gregory the Great (590–604 A.D.), she was long identified with the unnamed sinful woman who anointed the feet of Jesus (Luke 7:36–50), with Mary of Bethany, and with Mary Magdalene of the Gospels. While the Eastern Church has traditionally distinguished these three figures, the composite image of the repentant sinner transformed by grace gave rise to an enormously rich tradition of prayer, art, and mystical theology in the Latin West.
Monasteries, shrines, and pilgrimage sites dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene multiplied throughout medieval Europe, most notably the great shrine at Vézelay in Burgundy, France, and the Basilica of St. Maximin in Provence, where her relics are venerated to this day. The Dominican Order became particularly associated with her cult, and countless churches bore her name.
This intercessory prayer belongs to the long tradition of petitionary prayers addressed to the saints, rooted in the Catholic doctrine that those who have died in Christ continue to intercede for the living before the throne of God (cf. Revelation 5:8; 8:3–4). The prayer specifically invokes the two great graces most associated with Mary Magdalene: the grace of repentance, symbolized by her tears, and the grace of Easter faith, symbolized by her role as the first herald of the Resurrection.
How to Pray / Devotional Use
This prayer is well suited for private devotion at any time, but is especially fitting on the following occasions:
- The Feast of St. Mary Magdalene (July 22) — Prayed as part of personal or communal celebration of her feast day.
- During the Easter Season — Reflecting on her witness to the Resurrection, this prayer deepens one's Easter faith and joy.
- In preparation for or after the Sacrament of Confession — Her example of repentance and God's merciful forgiveness makes this prayer an appropriate accompaniment to the Sacrament of Penance.
- During Lent — As a penitential prayer, it may be incorporated into one's Lenten spiritual practices.
- For those struggling with faith or despair — Her intercession is traditionally sought by those who struggle to believe in God's willingness to forgive, or who need renewed hope in His mercy.
When praying this prayer, it is recommended to spend a moment in quiet recollection, calling to mind the image of St. Mary Magdalene weeping at the feet of Christ or standing at the empty tomb on Easter morning. One may also accompany this prayer with a reading of John 20:1–18, the Gospel account of her encounter with the Risen Lord.