Posted by The WORD in other words (2022) by Fr Simon Boiser SVD – Germany
Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene – July 22
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
There are a lot of women in my life who helped me know Jesus better. One of them was my grandmother, Lola Tonyang, who strongly influenced my decision for the priesthood. She was the one who taught me how to pray the rosary. She told me biblical stories and about the lives of saints at home after school. She was the prayer leader and musician for the Masses in my village. My grandmother introduced me to the mysterious world of the divine.
I would agree with French novelist Victor Hugo, who once wrote, “If you would civilize a man, begin with his grandmother.” Aside from one’s parents, grandmothers also help raise their grandchildren in civic and religious aspects of life. Pope Francis wrote in his apostolic exhortation Gaudete et exsultate on the call to holiness in today’s world that there are “saints who encourage and accompany us… these witnesses may include our own mothers, grandmothers, or other loved ones.” These people are often overlooked and forgotten, but they influence our relationship with God.
Mary Magdalene was probably not a grandmother when she met Christ and later announced to the hiding apostles about the Resurrection. But she was called the apostle to the apostles. To be an apostle of the Resurrection can only mean being a witness, someone who has already met the Risen Christ. In a world wary of women and their role in society, Jesus gave her first place in the task of sharing the Good News.
It is good to acknowledge the many unseen and unacknowledged women who lead us to God. In the parish, they comprise the majority of churchgoers, who help in many church projects and support their priests. I pray that the Church finds ways of giving women their proper place in her ministry and leadership structures. Youngsters usually identify themselves with some adults who lead inspiring and exemplary lives. We, Christians, could identify ourselves with Mary of Magdala.
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