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The tradition of the Western Church, led by Pope St. Gregory the Great, has long held that Mary Magdalene, out of whom Our Lord cast seven devils, was the penitent woman who anointed the holy Feet of the Savior, and was also Mary of Bethany, sister to Ss. Martha and Lazarus. On the traditional calendar Martha’s feast occurs on July 29th, the octave-day of her sister Mary. The surname “Magdalene” may refer to the town of Magdala, which lay by the Sea of Galilee and had a licentious reputation. Mary Magdalene is listed after the Blessed Mother and St. John the Baptist as one of the three saints most pleasing to Our Lord, as He told St. Bridget of Sweden. She is often hailed as the “Apostle to the Apostles” for bringing the news of the Resurrection, and the Creed is accordingly said at her Mass, as on feasts of the Apostles. A lesser-known tradition in the West describes how Ss. Mary, Martha & Lazarus, with a few companions, were set adrift in the Mediterranean by the Jews after the Ascension. Their boat was miraculously guided to France, where the bishop Lazarus established his see at Marseilles; Martha defeated a great dragon and founded an early convent; and Mary Magdalene lived the rest of her days in penitential solitude in the wilderness.
AT Marseilles, the birthday of St. Mary Magdalen, out of whom our Lord expelled seven demons, and who deserved to be the first to see the Saviour after He had risen from the dead.
At Philippi, St. Syntyches, mentioned by the blessed apostle Paul.
At Ancyra, in Galatia, the birthday of the martyr St. Plato. Under the lieutenant-governor Agrippinus, he was scourged, lacerated with iron hooks, and subjected to other most atrocious torments, and finally being beheaded, he rendered his invincible soul to God. The miracles he wrought in assisting the captives are attested in the Acts of the second Council of Nicaea.
In Cyprus, St. Theophilus, a praetor, who was apprehended by the Arabs, and as he could not be induced either by presents or threats to deny Christ, was put to the sword.
At Antioch, the holy bishop Cyril, who was distinguished for learning and holiness.
In the territory of Auvergne, St. Meneleus, abbot.
In the monastery of Blandine, the abbot St. Vandrille, celebrated for miracles.
At Scythopolis, in Palestine, St. Joseph, a count.
At Lisbon, St. Lawrence of Brindisi, confessor, superior general of the Capuchin Minorites of St. Francis. Illustrious by his preaching and his arduous labor for the glory of God, he was canonized by Leo XIII, who appointed the 7th of July for his feast day.
℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
℟. Thanks be to God.