The first French female hero that my class looked at was St. Mary Magdalene (Marie-Madeleine). Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus's most beloved disciples. Mary Magdalene is a very important woman in the gospels because she was with Christ at some of the most important moments of His life (His crucifixion, burial, and Resurrection), but according to some of the legends surrounding Mary, she also had a troubled past. If you have read any of the four gospels in the New testament, you have probably noticed the abundance of women named Mary or the few instances of unnamed women that Jesus encounters. Mary the mother of Jesus and Mary of Bethany are just two examples. So when we consider one of the first myths or legends about Mary Magdalene, we can to begin to see where some confusion began. An unnamed prostitute, a women who washes Christ's feet with her tears, anoints them and dries them with her hair, has been identified as Mary Magdalene. This idea was encouraged in the sixth century by Pope Gregory I and it seems to have stuck. Although I personally do not think that Mary was a prostitute, I can understand how Mary's repentance and devotion to give up her alleged sinful ways could be so inspiring and hopeful to people.
So why is Mary a French Hero? Another important legend about Mary Magdalene is that she traveled to France to spread Jesus's teachings. She landed in the south of France and is said to have lived out her days in a cave. This cave has become a sacred pilgrimage site for many Christians and the basilica at Saint-Maximin holds her relics in a sarcophagus and her skull in a bronze reliquary. Mary Magdalene may have been the first person, more importantly the first woman, to bring Christianity to this part of the world.
Learn more about Mary Magdalene by clicking on these links!
No comments:
Post a Comment