Solemnity of Mary Magdalene is part of Centennial

Intermountain Catholic

+ Enlarge

Msgr. Joseph Mayo (left) concelebrates Mass for the Solemnity of Saint Mary Magdalene, patroness of the Cathedral, with Father Patrick Elliott (center). Fr. Elliott was a priest at the Cathedral from 1999 to 2005. Chancellor Deacon Silvio Mayo (second from left), Deacon Scott Dodge, and Deacon Lynn Johnson assisted at the altar.IC photo by Christine Young

SALT LAKE CITY — "Today is a joyful day in the life of the Cathedral of the Madeleine and the entire Diocese of Salt Lake City as the church throughout the world celebrates the Solemnity of Saint Mary Magdalene," said Msgr. Joseph M. Mayo, Rector of the Cathedral of the Madeleine at a Mass celebrated July 22 in the Cathedral of the Madeleine.

"Saint Mary Magdalene was a faithful follower of the Lord, who attentively listened to and practiced the challenging teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, persevered with him as he suffered and died through the humiliating agony of the cross, and received from her Lord the great "Paschal Privilege," as the first human being to meet him after his triumphant resurrection. Mary Magdalene was the first great witness to Christ’s resurrection.

"This truth is captured strikingly in the mural in the east transept of this cathedral, and also in the central upper circle in the east transept window," said Msgr. Mayo. "Saint Mary Magdalene has been called the "apostle of the apostles," because of her role as the primary witness to the resurrection.

"To be a people of Mary Magdalene" would mean that we are people who proclaim, celebrate, and live from the power of Christ’s resurrection. The Gospel for this day is the Gospel which recounts the appearance of Jesus to Mary in the garden on the first Easter day, so graphically portrayed in our cathedral."

Msgr. Mayo said an alternate Gospel reading conveys a very different aspect of the story of Mary Magdalene, an understanding shrouded in some confusion about our patroness, and yet part of the tradition which is recalled in the art work in this cathedral. Msgr. Mayo said on the mural to the right over the Lady Chapel, you see the dramatic presentation of Mary at the home of Simon the Pharisee anointing the feet of Jesus with the costly perfume.

"There is no direct evidence in the scriptures themselves that the woman in this Gospel scene is Mary Magdalene," said Msgr. Mayo. "However, Christian tradition has from ancient times understood that the woman portrayed here is Mary Magdalene.

"If we are a people of Mary Magdalene, then we appropriately find ourselves in these two scenes," said Msgr. Mayo. "But let us now reflect upon the scene of this woman kneeling before our Lord."

Msgr. Mayo said this story begins with Simon who has invited Jesus to dinner. Simon was a Pharisee. Pharisee, the very word means self-righteous and proud. Pharisees were known for their legalism and their detailed observance of the law.

"The Pharisees were wonderful at self-acceptance, self-affirmation, and self-congratulations, and so are we modern Americans," said Msgr. Mayo. "The Pharisees could not live with the sense that there was any sin in them, and neither can we."

Msgr. Mayo compared Laxist Christianity with Rigorist Christianity. Rigorist Christianity believes divine forgiveness is very difficult to receive. Laxist Christianity believes we can be less than perfect in whatever we do, and does not believe in confession. Both Rigorist and Laxist Christianity are simplistic, perfectionistic, and pharisaical.

"Authentic Christianity is able to hold ideals and principles in tension with human weakness and sinfulness," said Msgr. Mayo. "For that reason, we see in Mary Magdalene a wonderful image of the Christian struggle from which none of us is excluded. We see her in a person whose life is sinful, yet who acts with great love; a woman who symbolizes the ambiguities and messiness and contradictions of life.

"Mary Magdalene is the great seeker on her way to being the great witness to the resurrection," said Msgr. Mayo. "That is the story into which we are invited by today’s liturgy. This solemnity of Mary Magdalene, the patroness of this cathedral invites us to find courage, confidence, and self-knowledge by recognizing ourselves as ‘people of Saint Mary Magdalene – as we begin our second century of faith and service."

The Cathedral of the Madeleine Parish hosted a Fiesta on the Plaza of the Cathedral following the Mass. They served a feast of chicken, salads, and all the condaments. There were also prize baskets.