SAINT MARY MAGDALEN

SAINT MARY MAGDALEN
Penitent

DOUBLE / WHITE
Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, wasted the great beauty that God had given her in a life of sin, but one day she saw Christ and was touched by grace. On the day of Our Lord's crucifixion, she stood with the Mother of Jesus at the foot of the cross. At early dawn on the first Easter morning, Mary Magdalen and other women who had ministered to Jesus went to the Lord's sepulcher. Two angels said to them, "He is not here, but is risen. . . . Go, tell his disciples." Mary Magdalen ran to tell the Apostles what she had seen and heard. Then Peter and John, hastening to the sepulcher, saw and believed.

INTROIT Ps. 118:95-96
The wicked have waited for me to destroy me, but I have understood Thy testimonies, O Lord. I have seen an end of all perfection; Thy commandment is exceeding broad.
Ps. 118:1. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT 
O Lord, help us through the prayers of blessed Mary Magdalen, whose pleas moved You to recall her brother Lazarus to life after he had been dead for four days; who lives and rules with God the Father . . .

LESSON Cant. 3:2-5; 8:6-7
I will rise, and will go about the city: in the streets and the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, and I found him not. The watchmen who keep the city, found me: "Have you seen him, whom my soul loveth?" When I had a little passed by them, I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him: and I will not let him go, till I bring him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that bore me. I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes and the harts of the fields, that you stir not up, nor awake my beloved, till she please. Put me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thy arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy as hard as hell, the lamps thereof are fire and flames. Many waters cannot quench charity, neither can the floods drown it: if a man should give all the substance of his house for love, he shall despise it as nothing.

GRADUAL Ps. 44:8, 3
Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity. Therefore God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness.

Alleluia, alleluia Ps. 44:3
Grace is poured abroad in thy lips; therefore hath God blessed thee for ever.

GOSPEL Luke 7:36-50
At that time, one of the Pharisees desired him to eat with him. And he went into the house of the Pharisee and sat down to meat. And behold a woman that was in the city, a sinner, when she knew that he sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment. And standing behind at his feet. she began to wash his feet with tears and wiped them with the hairs of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.
And the Pharisee, who had invited him, seeing it, spoke within himself, saying: "This man, if he were if a prophet, would know surely who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him, that she is a sinner." And Jesus answering, said to him: "Simon, I have somewhat to say to thee." But he said: "Master, say it." "A certain creditor had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence and the other fifty. And whereas they had not wherewith to pay, he forgave them both. Which therefore of the two loveth him most?" Simon answering, said: "I suppose that he to whom he forgave most." And he said to him: "Thou hast judged rightly."
And turning to the woman, he said unto Simon: "Dost thou see this woman? I entered into thy house: thou gavest me no water for my feet. But she with tears hath washed my feet; and with her hairs hath wiped them. Thou gavest me no kiss. But she, since she cane in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint. But she with ointment hath anointed my feet. Wherefore, I say to thee: Many sins are forgiven her, because she hath loved much. But to whom less is forgiven, he loveth less." And he said to her: "Thy sins are forgiven thee." And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves: "Who is this that forgiveth sins also?" And he said to the woman: "Thy faith hath made thee safe. Go in peace."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 44:10
The daughters of the King are in thine honor, the queen stood on thy right hand in gilded clothing, surrounded with variety.

SECRET 
Accept our gifts, O Lord, through the merits of blessed Mary Magdalen, as her humble homage and service were accepted by Your only-begotten Son; who lives and rules with You . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 118:121, 122, 127
I have done judgment and justice, O Lord, give me not up to them that slander me. I was directed to all Thy commandments. I have hated all wicked ways.

POSTCOMMUNION
We who have received Your precious Body and Blood, our solitary hope for salvation, O Lord, ask that the prayers of blessed Mary Magdalen may save us from all harm; who lives and rules with God the Father . . .

God the Father with Sts Catherine of Siena and Mary Magdalen (Photo credit: Wikipedia)