Our patroness, Mary Magdalene, is known as the Apostle to the Apostles. It was she who first shared the Good News with the followers of Christ - “I have seen the Lord.”The life of Mary Magdalene should be a model for our ministry: once overcome with sin and possession, she resigned herself entirely to Christ, becoming one of, if not his most faithful follower. Our pasts do not define us because Christ invites us to follow him and to present ourselves as him to our neighbors.

CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY

An ancient Church tradition holds that Mary Magdalene was the woman who washed the feet of Jesus with her tears. The corporal works of mercy are our opportunity to see Christ in those who are in most need; just as Mary washed the feet of her Lord with the fruits of her sorrow and remorse, we can emulate her when we humble ourselves by serving our fellow brothers and sisters by walking with them in solidarity through the difficult moments in life. In the corporal works of mercy, we simultaneously serve Christ and act as Christ to others.

SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY

Our motto as Christians who wish to share the Gospel with our neighbors in Utah comes directly from Mary Magdalene: “I have seen the Lord.” How could we not passionately share the same message as our patroness? The spiritual works of mercy allow us to go to our neighbor inspired by the Good News, and share the Gospel with them. This is a lifelong process of continuous formation; we should never be satisfied with what we have already learned, how we have already grown, or who we have already known. Living as Catholics is a commitment for life.

PRAYER

Mary Magdalene is referenced more times in the Gospel than most of the Apostles. She was always present throughout the public ministry of Christ, present at his crucifixion, present at his burial, and the first witness of the Resurrection. In her life, Mary embodied being in communication and in the presence of the Lord. At its core, this is prayer. Prayer is communicating with God, either by speaking directly to him or just being in his presence. In reading Scripture, God speaks back to us. In adoration, we spend time in the physical presence of Christ. In Mass, we emulate Mary as we stand at the foot of the sacrifice on the cross. When we gather together to pray, we become witnesses and evangelists of the Resurrection.