Flourished 1st century AD, Palestine; feast day July 22
Saint Mary Magdalene in the New Testament was a saintly woman so named from Magdala, a town near Tiberias (now in Israel). Jesus healed her of evil spirits and, following her vigil at the foot of the cross, he appeared to her after his resurrection. Mary Magdalene was identified by Pope Gregory I with a sinful woman described as having anointed the Lord’s feet and with Mary the sister of Martha, who also anointed Jesus, although the Gospels support neither tradition. The Eastern church maintains the distinction between the three. The feast day of Mary Magdalene is July 22.
