Inside Catholic writer, Mary-Jo Anderson, produced a thoughtful piece about true penitent, my patron saint and namesake/patroness of this weblog--St. Mary Magdalene. Mary of Magdala, to be sure, was among the first to witness the risen Lord which earned her the title of The Apostle to the Apostles. She was present with Jesus on many occasions during his public ministry and is recognized as one of the women who Christ would have considered a good friend. That relationship was special, unique and pure and not what the modern femmes have considered when they have used that specialness for public plunder and scandalous mistruth. Says Anderson...
I accept the ancient legend of the saint and reject the Johnny-come-lately versions of Mary Magdalene that one finds in dissident accounts like the Woman with the Alabaster Jar -- a book some say was part of the inspiration for the equally silly The Da Vinci Code. Mary of Magdala is an example that the modern world urgently needs, an example of true sorrow for sins. That her story has been appropriated by modern sexual libertines under the guise of "feminism" is all the more witness to her actual life of penance: Why else would the dissident gaggles work feverishly to rehabilitate the penitent in their image? It is because a penitent woman cannot be tolerated by modern feminist ideology. (use link to access entire article)
http://insidecatholic.com/Joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5733&Itemid=48
Hmmm, true sorrow for sins. What a refreshing concept! The point of her life is so often missed. We emulate the Magdalene, whenever we've had that "lump in your throat" tearful contrition that can accompany our most agonizing confessions. You know what I'm talking about: when you can barely drag your butt to the medicine box and once there, through tears, can barely speak the Act of Contrition. The "matter" of the sacrament is our SIN. It is the ingredient that must be used to convert our sinful state to a reconciled state through grace. The penitents are us and the likes of us can change the world! What a concept. God uses, dirty, rotten, filthy sin to turn darkness to light, death to life, worms to butterflies. So as we take our first few bold steps into Holy week, let us walk in the shoes of Mary Magdalene and remember that he loves us because he CAN and he will. He who is forgiven much, loves much.
Blessed Holy Week to all.
Amor Vicente Omnia
Well said.
ReplyDeleteMary Magdalene deserves much better than the modern makeover she's gotten recently, that's for sure. I love her story because she is so gutsy, so transparent, and so devoted. She holds out hope for all of us.