Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene

 Lectionary: 603

Consequently, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh;
even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh,
yet now we know him so no longer.
So whoever is in Christ is a new creation:
the old things have passed away;
behold, new things have come.

There are many websites singing the praises of God in many languages with the symbols of many religions, but there are an awful lot of pornographic sites appealing to the same audience. Amid that widespread horror, Pope Francis named Mary Magdalene as "the Apostle to the Apostles" and gave her a feast day apart from Saints Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. 

According to one survey, 40% to 50% of American men report viewing pornography weekly or daily; and many women also. Pornography provides most Americans with their first experience of sex, and earliest sexual memories; and profoundly effects their expectations, suppositions, and presumptions about sex. According to pornographers and popular belief, the purposes of sex are pleasure, gratification, relaxation, diversion, entertainment and spiritual fulfillment. Procreation, however, is a consummation devoutly to be avoided -- at all costs.

While pornography was certainly widespread long before the Internet, it has grown to proportions beyond anyone's imagination, and it threatens families, society, and nations with universal disintegration. There is evidence that pornography viewed by children is the root cause of sexual dysphasia; and may arouse homosexual desires even among persons from the most stable, healthy, religious families. 

Politics, of course, plays a part in the story, especially as researchers who might search for the causes of sexual disorders like homosexuality have been denied sponsorship and grants. We have the same thing happen when tobacco producers suppress cancer research, and gun manufacturers squelch the notion that gun ownership is a health risk. No money means no research means no proof of certain obvious, common sense facts.  

However, politics and ideologies cannot suppress truth, and the Church can still celebrate Saint Mary Magdalene despite the rage of foes. Although her past is only suggested by the scriptures and even her historical identity is unclear, the Church has always known her as one who repented for her past sins, loved the Lord intensely, and was the most prominent among his female disciples. She was the only single individual whose conversation with the Risen Lord was recorded in detail. (Saint Luke said that Peter also had a vision (Luke 24:34 and 1 Cor 15:4); and the Church has long supposed that the Lord must have appeared to his Blessed Mother on that first Easter Sunday.) 

Saint Mary Magdalene, the "apostle to the apostles," reminds every Christian that to know the Lord we must do penance. And just as she turned when she saw the Lord and turned again when she heard him call her name, so we must turn and turn again in the practice of our faith. Baptism is not sufficient for salvation without the sacraments of Eucharist, Confirmation, and Reconciliation. We also need the sacraments of healing, priesthood, and marriage. 

The last, in particular, heals our imagination, orientation, and relationships to family, neighbors, friends, and foes. Through the Sacrament of Marriage we establish proper relationships with spouses, children, parents, cousins, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews. Through the Sacrament of Marriage parents discover the creativity of God who made us in his own image and likeness. Children demand that their parents Grow Up! and put aside the thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and impulses of children. "It's my turn now!" they say. Penance enables that maturity. 

Today, as we pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, let us pray to Saint Mary Magdalene for vocations to Christian marriage; that is, for monogamous, stable families where men and women invite God to be the Spirit and Head of their household; and where children are born, saved, formed and raised into adulthood.