Feast of St Mary Magdalene – Jul 22 – Homily – Fr Terrance

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Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Jul 22, 2025, feast of St. Mary Magdalene, where he reflects on St. Mary Magdalene’s transformation, emphasizing her repentant love for Jesus and the universal search for divine love, as illustrated by the Song of Songs and her fidelity at the cross.

Father explores St. Mary Magdalene’s journey, celebrated on her feast day, elevated by Pope Francis in 2016 during the Jubilee Year of Mercy, coinciding with the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart. He reflects on her deliverance from seven demons, symbolizing the seven vices, as noted in Luke 8:2, and her search for love, mirrored in the Song of Songs. The bride’s longing, “On my bed at night I sought Him whom my heart or my soul loves” (Song 3:1), reflects Magdalene’s futile pursuit of fulfillment in worldly pleasures until Jesus found her. Her encounter with Christ, especially at the cross, shows a love “to the point of folly,” as she stood firm when others fled. Father ties this to the gospel where Jesus tells her, “Stop holding on to me” (John 20:17), and the Psalm’s cry, “My soul is thirsting for the living God” (Psalm 63:8). He connects humility to St. John the Baptist’s words, “He, Jesus, must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). Father urges us to emulate Magdalene’s repentance and love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, emphasizing God’s mercy (CCC 270) and the call to deeper communion (CCC 2014). Her role as the first evangelizer of the resurrection underscores her transformative faith.

For Further Reading

Luke 8:2 - NAB - Jesus delivers Mary Magdalene from demons - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/8?2
Song of Songs 3:1 - NAB - The bride seeks her beloved - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/songofsongs/3?1
Song of Songs 3:2 - NAB - Searching the city for love - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/songofsongs/3?2
Song of Songs 3:4 - NAB - Finding the beloved, holding fast - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/songofsongs/3?4
John 20:17 - NAB - Jesus speaks to Mary Magdalene - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/20?17
Psalm 63:8 - NAB - Soul clings to God - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/63?8
John 3:30 - NAB - Jesus must increase, I decrease - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/3?30
Catechism of the Catholic Church #270 - God’s infinite mercy - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p1s2c1p3.htm#270
Catechism of the Catholic Church #2014 - Spiritual progress through love - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c3a2.htm#2013
Catholic Answers - Mary Magdalene’s Conversion - https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/who-is-mary-magdalene

00:00 - Introduction
00:08 - Mary Magdalene’s feast elevated
00:47 - Readings for Mary Magdalene
01:00 - Seven demons, seven vices
01:29 - Seeking love in Song
02:08 - Mary’s search for love
03:22 - Emptiness of city life
04:18 - Dream sequence in liturgy
05:04 - Finding Jesus, holding fast
06:11 - Magdalene’s love at the Cross
07:13 - Call to tenacious love

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Mary Magdalene - Feast - http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=83
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/072225.cfm
1st: son 3:1-4
Resp: psa 78:18-19, 23-28
Gsp: joh 20:1-2, 11-18

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1112

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