She was the first to see the risen Christ. Not Peter. Not John. Not any of the Twelve. It was Mary Magdalene — who remained near the Cross when so many others had scattered, who came to the tomb before dawn with spices in her hands, who wept in the garden while everyone else had gone home. And it was to her that Jesus said her name. Just her name. “Mary.” And she recognized Him.
Who Is Saint Mary Magdalene?
Mary Magdalene was a devoted follower of Jesus from Magdala, a town on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. She accompanied the Lord during His public ministry and remained faithful through His Passion, Death, and Resurrection. She was the first person to whom the risen Christ appeared and the first whom He sent to announce the Good News of the Resurrection.
Because it was Mary who was first sent to announce the Resurrection of Christ to the other disciples, Saint Thomas Aquinas referred to her as the “Apostle to the Apostles.”
Her feast day is July 22.
When Should You Pray to Saint Mary Magdalene?
- When you feel unworthy of God’s love or forgiveness
- When you have been hurt, rejected, or misunderstood
- When you need the courage to stay when others leave
- When you are searching for Christ in a difficult season
- For converts and those returning to the faith
- For anyone who has been defined by their past
- On her feast day, July 22
Prayer to Saint Mary Magdalene
Saint Mary Magdalene,
you who remained near the Cross
when it cost everything to stay —
intercede for me today.
You did not run.
You did not hide.
You came to the tomb before dawn
with nothing but your grief and your love.
And He said your name.
Just your name.
And that was enough.
Pray for me when I feel forgotten.
Pray for me when my past defines me
more than His mercy does.
Pray for me when I am searching
and cannot find Him.
Help me to stay — as you stayed.
Help me to seek — as you sought.
Help me to recognize Him
when He calls my name.
I bring before you this intention:
[mention your intention here]
Saint Mary Magdalene,
Apostle to the Apostles,
pray for us.
Amen.
How to Use This Prayer
Pray this prayer on July 22, the Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene, or any time you need the intercession of the first witness of the Resurrection. Ask her to help you remain faithful to Christ, trust in His mercy, and recognize His presence even in moments of sorrow and uncertainty.
Related Prayers
- Prayer to Saint Paul for Conversion
- Novena to Saint Monica
- Catholic Prayer for Impossible Situations
- Prayer for Courage to Begin Again
- Catholic Prayer for Depression
Frequently Asked Questions
The Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene is celebrated on July 22 every year. In 2016, Pope Francis elevated her memorial to a feast, placing her in the same liturgical rank as the apostles.
Saint Mary Magdalene is called the Apostle to the Apostles because she was the first to see the risen Christ and the first to announce the Resurrection to the other disciples. Saint Thomas Aquinas gave her this title, and Pope Francis confirmed it in 2016.
The Gospels describe Mary Magdalene as a woman from whom Jesus cast out seven demons. However, the Church teaches that Mary Magdalene should not be identified with the sinful woman in Luke 7 or with Mary of Bethany. She is honored as a devoted disciple, a witness to the Crucifixion, and the first to proclaim the Resurrection.
