Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Mary Magdalene’s Image Gets New Look from Church for Modern Age
Crux ^ | 3/30/18 | Alon Bernstein and Isaac Scharf

Posted on 03/31/2018 6:03:14 PM PDT by marshmallow

MAGDALA, Israel - If there’s a feminist figure from the Bible for the #MeToo era, it could very well be Mary Magdalene.

The major character in the life of Jesus was long maligned in the West and portrayed as a reformed former prostitute. But scholars have adopted a different approach more recently, viewing her as a strong, independent woman who supported Jesus financially and spiritually.

The New Testament tells how Jesus cast demons out of her. She then accompanied Jesus in his ministry around the Galilee, before witnessing his crucifixion, burial and resurrection in Jerusalem, which is being commemorated by Christians this week and next. The Roman Catholic Church and Western Christian churches observe Easter on Sunday, Eastern Orthodox Christians a week later.

Pope Francis took the biggest step yet to rehabilitate Mary Magdalene’s image by declaring a major feast day in her honor, June 22. His 2016 decree put the woman who first proclaimed Jesus’ resurrection on par with the liturgical celebrations of the male apostles.

“By doing this, he established the absolute equality of Mary Magdalene to the apostles, something that has never been done before and is also a point of no return” for women in the Church, said Lucetta Scarrafia, editor of the Vatican-published Women Church World monthly magazine.

For centuries, Western Christianity depicted Mary Magdalene as a former prostitute, a narrative that began in the sixth century. Pope Gregory the Great conflated Magdalene with an anonymous sinful woman mentioned in the chapter before she’s introduced in the Gospel of Luke.

Only in 1969 did the Catholic Church roll back centuries of labeling Mary Magdalene as such, stating she was distinct from the sinful woman mentioned in Luke. Eastern Orthodox Christians never depicted her as a prostitute.

Mary Magdalene was from a thriving fishing village on.......

(Excerpt) Read more at cruxnow.com ...


TOPICS: Current Events; Ministry/Outreach; Theology
KEYWORDS: christianity; marymagdalene

1 posted on 03/31/2018 6:03:14 PM PDT by marshmallow
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: marshmallow

The “major character from the life of Jesus” is probably Peter.


2 posted on 03/31/2018 6:09:24 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marshmallow
I'm leery of any new and improved Biblical characters, especially ones meeting modern feminist standards. Could this be her?


3 posted on 03/31/2018 6:18:00 PM PDT by Telepathic Intruder
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Telepathic Intruder

If the image in question is what’s on the site,
they’re aren’t doing her any favors.


4 posted on 03/31/2018 6:22:51 PM PDT by sparklite2 (See more at Sparklite Times)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin
No, it was John.

Not nearly as flashy but steady. When Peter ran away John was not only there but took Jesus's mother into his home and treated her with the same care he showed his own.

It was what you do for a friend.

Regarding Mary Magdalene this seems to be mostly stripping away the non-Biblical stuff they hung on her hundreds of years later.

Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna were major financial sponsors of the ministry and did travel with Jesus at least some of the time. Mary Magdalene is the only one that we know for sure what she was healed in that He threw seven devils out of her but it is stated that the other women had been "cured of evil spirits and infirmities". Probably something less dramatic then seven devils.

5 posted on 03/31/2018 6:47:08 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear ( Bunnies, bunnies, it must be bunnies!! Or maybe midgets....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: marshmallow

NO where does the Bible say she was a former prostitute. That is a myth.


6 posted on 03/31/2018 7:48:31 PM PDT by madison10 (Pray for President Trump.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: madison10

Right! Seven demons was enough!


7 posted on 03/31/2018 7:50:48 PM PDT by SubMareener (Save us from Quarterly Freepathons! Become a MONTHLY DONOR)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: marshmallow

“...viewing her as a strong, independent woman, and Hillary Clinton supporter.”


8 posted on 03/31/2018 8:34:46 PM PDT by yefragetuwrabrumuy (Liberals have become moralistic, dogmatic, sententious, self-righteous, pinch-faced prudes.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marshmallow

bump for later reading

Happy Easter, marshmallow!


9 posted on 03/31/2018 9:36:25 PM PDT by Albion Wilde (We're even doing the right thing for them. They just don't know it yet. --Donald Trump, CPAC '18)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Harmless Teddy Bear

“Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna were major financial sponsors of the ministry”

Biblical references please. Were they “sponsoring” the ministry from thier womyn-owned businesses? We’re talking 30 A.D. here, not the 21st century.

Jesus and the disciples didn’t need financial sponsorship. They all had trades and skills prior to becoming disciples, like everyone else. There are accounts of the fishermen going fishing, for example. Supporters served them meals. They probably bartered for the few things they needed. They traveled light and were basically homeless. There are no accounts of women supporting them financially.


10 posted on 03/31/2018 10:21:18 PM PDT by bluejean (The lunatics are running the asylum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: bluejean
Biblical references please.

Luke 8:3

Were they “sponsoring” the ministry from thier womyn-owned businesses? We’re talking 30 A.D. here, not the 21st century.

Joanna probably gave from what her husband earned as Herod's steward. As to Susanna and Mary Magdalene the Bible does not say. They might have been wealthy widows or they might have owned businesses. While it was not common for a woman to have her own resources it was not unknown either.

Jesus and the disciples didn’t need financial sponsorship.

Luke says they did. Argue with him.

11 posted on 03/31/2018 10:38:49 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear ( Bunnies, bunnies, it must be bunnies!! Or maybe midgets....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: bluejean
Hebrew women of the First Century were no ‘’feminists’’, that's for sure. They were obedient daughters, dutiful wives and mothers as Hebrew custom dictated.
12 posted on 03/31/2018 10:41:39 PM PDT by jmacusa ("Made it Ma, top of the world!'')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Albion Wilde

Happy Easter to you too, AW.


13 posted on 04/01/2018 7:57:56 AM PDT by marshmallow
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: SubMareener

Seven demons? That makes me wonder what the over/under bet is for hillary.


14 posted on 04/01/2018 8:03:19 AM PDT by Bob (Damn, the democrats haven't been this upset since Republicans freed their slaves.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Bob

With Hillary, I would suggest just the spirit of the anti-christ. Her actions seem quite voluntary.


15 posted on 04/01/2018 8:14:29 AM PDT by SubMareener (Save us from Quarterly Freepathons! Become a MONTHLY DONOR)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: marshmallow

All one has to do is read the entire Gospels for comprehension.

I figured this out as a pre-teen on my own.

I have ignored all extra-Biblical pronouncements about her ever since.


16 posted on 04/02/2018 2:52:53 PM PDT by YogicCowboy ("I am not entirely on anyone's side, because no one is entirely on mine." - J. R. R. Tolkien)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bluejean

(NIV)
Luke 8:1-3 1After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
Luke 24:10 10It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.

Jesus crucified AD 31; Facts that support that In link, FYI, and research.

http://petragrail.tripod.com/tree.html


17 posted on 04/07/2018 10:53:22 AM PDT by Ambrosia (Southern Born/Bred..NC. Lived in: NC, PA, NY, WV, NM, SC, FL)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Ambrosia

Jesus and the disciples certainly had followers who supported them, including the women you referenced. I take issue with the modern interpretation of these people being “major financial sponsors” as if Jesus’ ministry required that. He didn’t live or operate that way. He was an itinerant preacher with “no place to lay his head”. The women may have been mending thier clothes, providing meals, etc. That is the most likely meaning of supporting him “out of thier own means”.

Jesus wasn’t impressed with wealth and didn’t require it. His basic needs were met and that was enough.


18 posted on 04/07/2018 1:50:01 PM PDT by bluejean (The lunatics are running the asylum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: bluejean

Oh I agree with you. However, you asked for Scriptures that said these 3 women helped him. Glad to oblige... :)


19 posted on 04/07/2018 1:55:05 PM PDT by Ambrosia (Southern Born/Bred..NC. Lived in: NC, PA, NY, WV, NM, SC, FL)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Ambrosia

Thanks, I appreciate it!


20 posted on 04/07/2018 2:56:52 PM PDT by bluejean (The lunatics are running the asylum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson