Meneleus

The Lives Of The Saints: Volume 08, July Pt. 2 · S. Meneleus, Ab. of Messate in Auvergne, circ. a.d. 730.

S. Joseph, C. at Scythopolis in Palestine , circ. a.d. 356. S. Wandregisl, Ab. of Fontenelle in Normandy, a-d. 667 S. Meneleus, Ab. of Messate in Auvergne, circ. a.d. 730. S. Theophilus the Younger, M. in Cyprus, a.d. 790.

S. MARY MAGDALEN, PENIT.

( 1 ST CENT.)

[Roman Martyrology. In some Martyrologies the Conversion of S. Mary Magdalen on April 7th. In the Hildesheim Breviary, her Conver- sion on March rst. The Invention of her relics on May 5th. On various days in different churches are commemorated the Translations of her relics. By the Greeks S. Mary, the sister of Lazarus, on March r8th ; but Mary Magdalen on July 22nd ; as also the Syriac, Coptic, Chaldaic, and Russian Kalendars. In the Sacramentary of S. Gregory is no men- tion of S- Mary Magdalen or of S. Mary, sister of Lazarus; nor in the Martyrology attributed to S. Jerome. In the Martyrologium Parvum, drawn up in the 8th cent., S. Mary Magdalen appears, and from that time forward the festival was observed in the West.]

||HE history of S. Mary Magdalen is one which has been disputed over without any certainty having been attained on some points.

S. Luke (viii. I, 2, 3) says that Onr Blessed Lord travelled from place to place, “and the twelve were with him, and certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, and Joanna, the wife of Chusa, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.” This was in the first year of his ministry.

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504 Lives of the Saints . rj«iy **.

S. Mark (xvi. 9) confirms the statement of S. Luke, that Christ had cast seven devils out of the Magdalen. When He was on the cross, “ There stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene.” S. Mary Mag- dalen was also one of the women u which came with him from Galilee, who followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid, and returned and prepared spices and ointments ; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment.” “ Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.” And when they had seen a vision “ they returned from , the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.” 1 It is not easy at first sight to har- monize this account with the order of events as related by S. John ; but it is probable S. Luke is running two visits into one. S. John tells us that Mary Magdalen went early to the sepulchre while it was dark, and found the stone rolled away. She was not alone, the other women were with her. They returned to the apostles and told them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.” Then S. Peter and S. John ran to the tomb, and found it even as the women had told them. Then Mary Magdalen, who had gone back to the sepulchre, with SS. Peter and John, and who was also perhaps accompanied by the other women, saw the

1 S. Luke xxiii. 54* 56; xxiv. i t 10.

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July «.] S. Mary Magdalen. 505

Martyrologium Romanum · Latin witness

Menati, in territorio Arvernensi, sancti Menelei Abbatis.