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 Fourth Centenary of the Death of Caravaggio "The Deposition" Scott 1438 (2010) July 22 is the feast day for Saint Mary Magdalene. Although not specifically cited on a stamp from Vatican City, she is represented on the stamp above illustrating Christ's removal from the cross following His crucifixion, Caravaggio's "The Deposition". Mary Magdalene is one of the three women in the painting. From left to right are Mary, the mother of Jesus (wearing a black and white veil, looking down on Christ), Mary Magdalene (with a white kerchief to her face, drying tears) and Mary of Cleophas (the woman with outstretched arms). Besides the Blessed Virgin Mary, no other women is mentioned more often in the Gospels than Mary Magdalene. She was a devoted follower of Jesus Christ and has been described as the "Apostle of the Apostles". The Gospels place her at the scene of Christ's crucifixion. And, she was one of the first to discover the empty tomb of Jesus on Easter, following His resurrection: "[At] daybreak on the first day of the week they [Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James] took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb; but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were puzzling over this, behold, two men in dazzling garments appeared to them. They were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground. They said to them, 'Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised. Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified, and rise on the third day.” And they remembered his words. Then they returned from the tomb and announced all these things to the eleven and to all the others.' (Luke 24: 1-9)  "The Conversion of Mary Magdalene" Paolo Veronese (c. 1545-1548) National Gallery, London From Wikimedia Commons, in the Public Domain However, Mary Magdalene endured a controversial telling of her history. In the late 6th century, her identity was comingled with those of Mary of Bethany and the unnamed "sinful woman" who anointed Christ's feet in Luke's Gospel. As such, she has been erroneously described as a reformed prostitute or "promiscuous woman". She was also described as having great wealth. These interpretations were rejected during the Counter-Reformation of the 16th century, and in 1969 Pope Paul VI removed the identification of Mary Magdalene from those of Mary of Bethany and the "sinful woman". Today Saint Mary Magdalene is honored for her place in the founding history of the Church and is the patron saint of penitents. REFERENCES: |
