Posted on 07/29/2025 8:29:32 AM PDT by fidelis
Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother [Lazarus, who had died]. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” John 11:19–22
Today’s memorial is relatively new within our Church. In the year 2021, Pope Francis replaced the Memorial of Saint Martha with this memorial in honor of all three siblings: Martha, Mary and Lazarus. In commenting on the reason for this new memorial, the Congregation for Divine Worship stated: “Martha generously offered him hospitality, Mary listened attentively to his words, and Lazarus promptly emerged from the tomb at the command of the One who humiliated death.” Furthermore, these three siblings gave an evangelical witness to us all. They model for us how to be Christians within our imperfections. They did this by welcoming Jesus into their home, by listening to Him attentively, and by believing that He is the Resurrection and the Life.
These three siblings each had their own unique personality and loved Jesus in their own way. Though not much is said about Lazarus' personal interactions with Jesus, we do have some helpful insights into both Martha and Mary. In one Gospel story, Martha complained to Jesus that her sister left her to do all the cooking. Jesus gently corrected her. Mary, on the other hand, gave a witness of deep prayer and love of Jesus by sitting at His feet listening to Him. However, in the story of the raising of Lazarus from the dead, there is a reversal of roles. Martha is the one who runs out to meet Jesus and expresses her deep faith in Him. Mary, on the other hand, heard that Jesus was coming and appeared to stay at home because she was upset.
Perhaps the most helpful way to ponder these siblings is to acknowledge two things. First, they are now saints in Heaven enjoying eternal beatitude and glory. Second, on earth they were people of faith and love, but they were also very clearly imperfect. Therefore, the witness they give to us should be twofold. We hope to share in the glory in which they now share, and we trust this will happen if we also befriend our Lord and welcome Him into our homes, imperfect though we may be.
Reflect, today, upon this holy but imperfect family. The imperfections and manifest weaknesses of these three siblings should encourage us to press on in our practice of the faith when things are not perfect in our lives either. There are many reasons why we might get discouraged or feel like doubting or giving up at times. Perhaps things are not perfect within the Church—or at the particular church you attend. Perhaps you are struggling with loving someone in your family. Perhaps you are struggling with an emotional issue. Perhaps there is some sin you seem to be incapable of overcoming. Perhaps you struggle with a physical ailment and wonder why God permitted it to happen. If you are able to relate to any of these, or any other forms of imperfection, then take inspiration from this family of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Invite Jesus into the home of your heart, your family home and everywhere you go. He will come, gently correct you when needed, and give you the gift of new life, raising you up from your sins and weaknesses.
Lord, You befriended this ordinary family of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. You visited their home, received their hospitality, gently corrected them when needed and eventually raised them to the new life of eternal glory. May I also welcome You into the home of my soul, within my family and into every aspect of my life. Please come to me and raise me to the newness of the life of grace. Jesus, I trust in You.
Please keep in mind that this is a Catholic Caucus/Devotional thread for the purpose of prayerful reflection on the Sacred Scriptures and is closed to debate of any kind. Per FR policy on Religion Caucus threads, off-topic, argumentative, and abusive comments are not allowed and will be submitted to the Mods for deletion. Thanks, and God bless you.
The Month of July is Dedicated to the Devotion to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus
“You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”
(1 Peter 1:18-19)
O Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of the Lord of Heaven and of Earth, Our Lady of Guadalupe, guide and protect the Roman Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV. Through your intercession, may he receive in abundance the grace of the Successor of Saint Peter: the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity of our Bishops and of all our brothers and sisters in the Mystical Body of your Divine Son. Unite Pope Leo’s heart to your Immaculate Heart, leading him to rest his heart ever more securely in the glorious-pierced Heart of Jesus, so that he may confirm us in the Catholic faith, in the worship of God in spirit and truth, and in a good and holy Christian life. In the tumult of the present time, keep Pope Leo securely within the hollow of your mantle, in the crossing of your arms, protecting him from Satan, the Father of Lies, and from every evil spirit. Implore Our Lord to grant him, in particular, the wisdom and courage to be a true Shepherd of the Church throughout the world. With you, I place all my trust in Christ, the Good Shepherd, Who alone is our help and salvation. Amen.
Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mother, have mercy upon us!
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Queen of the Apostles, pray for us!
Saints Peter and Paul, pray for us!
Pope Saint Leo the Great, pray for us!
Raymond Leo Cardinal BURKE
May 18, 2025.
Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intentions for the month of July, 2025:
For formation in discernment
Let us pray that we might again learn how to discern, to know how to choose paths of life, and reject everything that leads us away from Christ and the Gospel.
This is Mary of Magdalene. From whom seven demons were driven out by Christ himself. The lost sheep, embodied, and found, retrieved from the thorns.
Pope St. Gregory concluded: “She whom Luke calls the sinful woman, whom John calls Mary [of Bethany], we believe to be the Mary from whom seven devils were ejected according to Mark” (Homilies on the Gospels)
Eastern traditions differ (views these as three separate women).
As do some modern Scripture scholars. Personally, I am OK with either position as it is not a matter or faith or morals. Also, I don't believe it substantially affects our understanding of the Gospels.
Maria Valtorta (Poem of the Man-God/The Gospels as Revealed to Me), the 20th century Italian Catholic mystic, has as thorough a treatment of Mary of Magdala/Mary Magdalene as This Guy has been able to find.
By far.
FWIW, what Maria Valtorta reports about Mary of Magdala coincides with the the aforementioned Pope’s teaching: that the three noted mentions are of the same actual woman.
_____
Chapters of “Poem of the Man God” discussing Mary of Magdala:
84. Jesus meets Lazarus at Bethany
94. Cure of the Beauty of Korazim. Sermon at the Synagogue at Capharnaum.
96. Jesus Preaches to the Crowd at Bethsaida.
98. Jesus on the Lake at Tiberias. [While There, He Encounters Mary of Magdala for the First Time.] Lesson to His Disciples Near the Same Town.
112. Jesus in the House of Lazarus. Martha Speaks of the Magdalene
113. In Lazarus’ House After the Tabernacles. Invitation of Joseph of Arimathea.
127. Jesus at Lazarus’ House Before Going to the “Clearwater”
174. The Sermon of the Mount. The Beatitudes (Part 5)
(In particular:
174.2 The Sermon of the Mount. The Beatitudes (Part 5) Encounter With the Magdalene)
183. Jesus at Magdala. He Meets With Mary Magdalene the Second Time
226. Mary Has Sent For Martha at Magdala
230. Jesus and Martha at Capernaum.
232. Parable of the Lost Sheep
233. Comment on Three Episodes Connected With the Conversion of Mary of Magdala
234. Martha Has Victory Within Her Grasp
235. Mary Magdalene in the House of Simon the Pharisee
236. The Harvest is Rich, but the Labourers are Few. The Parable of the Treasure Hidden in the Field.
237. The Magdalene is Accompanied by Mary Among the Disciples.
238. The Parable of the Fishermen.
239. Marjiam Teaches Mary Magdalene the “Our Father”
One further vision (chapter), as reported by Maria Valtorta, bearing on Mary Magdalene (post conversion), in which Christ, remonstrating with Judas, differentiates Mary of Magdala, who with Matthew repented and was forgiven, from the woman caught in the act of adultery, who did not repent or display remorse but instead was only frightened, and who, accordingly, was not forgiven.
For this, see the following additional chapter of Maria Valtorta’s “Poem of the Man God”:
495. Christ speaks to Judas about the Woman caught in Adultery.
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I’m sure you know this, but the “Poem of the Man-God” is not approved by the Church as an authentic mystical revelation. In fact, it has been explicitly and officially condemned, so it holds no theological or factual weight. With this understanding, Catholics are not forbidden to read it as private pious fiction.
Correction—not Chapter 495.
Chapter 493.
Also, I got the chapter name wrong.
It wasn’t easy to correct this!
For Christ Jesus remonstrating with Judas, and, in so doing, distinguishing both Mary of Magdala, and Matthew (who was previously a tax collector), both of whom repented, and were subsequently able to be, by Jesus, forgiven and saved in the spiritual (and more important) sense, from the woman caught in adultery, who, sadly, stopped short of actual repentance, and thus was saved merely in the immediate bodily sense, that is, saved from looming death by lapidation, please see instead:
The Poem of the Man-God/ ch.493 Instructions on the Road to Bethany
AudioBook]The Poem of the Man-God/ ch.493 Instructions on the Road to Bethany
Zacchie Sea
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2024
The Poem of Man-God by Maria Valtorta “The Gospel as Revealed to Me”
The Third Year of the Public Life -
493. Instructions on the Road to Bethany
Zacchie Sea
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Have you as a result chosen to avoid exposing yourself to this work?
You really need not label it as fiction. Catholics know what to do,cans not do, without being condescended to.
It was initially in search of more materials relating to Mary of Magdala that This Guy came across the work, and, subsequently, listened to all five volumes of the work, as narrated by Massimo Bozzi, and posted by him on YouTube.
Some, perhaps many, wrongly conflate Mary of Magdala with the woman caught in the act of adultery.
Some also, and also seemingly certainly wrongly, conceive of Mary as a repentant prostitute, as opposed to a woman who, although not a prostitute, was nevertheless suffused in a lifestyle of sexual sins. That is, before being found, retrieved, by Christ himself.
As a saint she is, of course, the model penitent.
That is not my opinion of the work, it is the official judgment of the Church.
The label.
Fiction.
The Church has not so judged.
That being the case, it appears that that is your opinion.
That Poem of the Man God/the Gospel as Revealed to Me, penned by Maria Valtorta, from her visions, is a work of fiction.
If that is your opinion, why not just say, in my opinion, it is a work of fiction.
Nobody, by the way, has resolved the seeming contradictions (emphasis on the word “seeming”) between and among the various Gospel accounts of the discovery of the empty tomb of Jesus (which, as it happens, and as you surely know, prominently features Mary of Magdala), even close to as well, or so strikingly or persuasively, as does Valtorta in the noted work.
The resurrected and glorified Jesus visits his mother first in this work by Valtorta. Not Mary of Magdala (initially mistaken for the gardener), but the Blessed Virgin Mary herself, as many believe, or have been led to believe, guided by the text of the New Testament. Pious Catholic belief is as Valtorta describes, as you surely know—the risen Jesus with his mother at the very crack of dawn on Sunday. This can hardly be described as fiction.
That is, many believe or are led to believe that Jesus, initially mistaken by Mary of Magdala to be a gardener, appeared first to Mary of Magdala, rather than appearing first to his mother.
Catholics believe that Jesus first visited his mother.
That is, many believe or are led to believe that Jesus, initially mistaken by Mary of Magdala to be a gardener, appeared first to Mary of Magdala, rather than appearing first to his mother.
Catholics believe that Jesus first visited his mother.
OK. in my opinion it is a work of pious fiction. But not mine only:
When volume four appeared, the Holy Office examined the "Poem" and condemned it, recommending that it be placed on the Index of Forbidden Books Dec. 16, 1959. Pope John XXIII signed the decree and ordered it published. L'Osservatore Romano, on Jan. 6, 1960, printed the condemnation with an accompanying front-page article, "A Badly Fictionalized Life of Jesus," to explain it.
The article complained that the "Poem" broke Canon Law. "Though they treat exclusively of religious issues, these volumes do not have an "imprimatur," which is required by Canon 1385, sect. 1, n. 2."
(From "Is 'The Poem Of the Man-God' Simply a Bad Novel?", by Fr. Mitch Pacwa)
As this is a Catholic Caucus Devotional thread, I'm not going to argue this further. You are, of course, free to to believe what you wish according to your conscience in conformity with the teaching of the Church. Have a blessed day.
Fair enough.
If you were to recognize in the work its apparent exegetical power (as mentioned previously with respect to resolving “seeming” contradiction between the various Gospel accounts of the discovery of the empty tomb), that would at least be a start.
I could give you chapter numbers if you are interested.
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