Prayer Makes You Better; Surrender Makes You Holy

When we hear the word saint, our minds almost immediately picture the stained-glass windows, marble statues, and historic icons of our tradition. We think of the towering figures whose names grace basilicas and the liturgical calendar—the great martyrs who faced down empires, the profound theologians whose writings shaped civilizations, and the mystics whose visions carried them beyond the veil of this world. Those men and women are genuine gifts to the Church but today is not simply an encore for the saints we already know by name. Today is Solemnity of All Saints. It is the feast of that vast, uncounted multitude Saint John beheld in the Book of Revelation: men and women from every nation, race, people, and tongue, clothed in white robes and holding palm branches before the throne of God.

Who is this multitude that no man could number? They are the quiet, faithful souls who never had a feast day established in their honor. They are the mothers and fathers who spent forty years getting up before dawn, sacrificing in silence so their families could know warmth, security, and the love of God. They are the honest men and women who gave a full day’s work for an honest wage and refused to cut ethical corners. They are the neighbors who sat in quiet hospital rooms holding the hands of the sick, the public servants and peace officers who stood in the gap when duty called, and the countless faithful who simply kept showing up, doing what was right when no one was watching. Today is their feast, and it is a reminder to each of us that holiness was never meant to be a rare museum piece—it is meant to be lived in the grit and reality of our everyday lives.

In our Dominican tradition, we return constantly to that sacred word: Veritas—Truth. Not truth as an intellectual theory or an abstract argument, but Truth made flesh in Jesus Christ. One of the greatest insights handed down to us by Saint Thomas Aquinas is that grace does not destroy our human nature; grace perfects it. God does not ask you to become someone else to make you holy. Holiness does not require you to erase your personality, deny your history, abandon your sense of humor, or pretend you don’t carry scars. Sanctity is what happens when the grace of God enters directly into who you are, meeting you right where your boots hit the ground, and redeeming your life from within. Saint John notes that the great multitude standing in white robes are those who came out of the “great distress.” They didn’t bypass the heartache, the grief, or the heavy trials of human existence; they simply allowed the mercy and grace of Christ to carry them through it.

Now, we must be honest about what holiness actually demands. We often fall into the trap of thinking that a dedicated spiritual life is merely about self-improvement. We come to church, we say our prayers, we read scripture, and we assume that because we feel a little more peaceful, we are on the express train to canonization. But let’s be very clear: prayer can make you a better person, but prayer alone does not make you a saint. Prayer can steady your temper, it can sharpen your moral compass, and it can bring peace to your mind. Those are good fruits. But becoming a saint isn’t about becoming a polished, polite, better version of yourself. Sanctity requires surrender. It requires dying to yourself, picking up your cross daily, and allowing Christ to take the wheel completely. The saints aren’t just people who had great prayer routines; they are the ones whose prayer drove them out into the world to be broken and poured out for others, even when it cost them everything.

That brings us directly to the Gospel we just heard proclaimed. When Christ ascends the mount and begins to teach, He does not hand down a set of self-help principles. He gives us the Beatitudes—a portrait of His own sacred heart, and the compass for ours. Look closely at what He blesses, because it turns everything our culture values completely upside down. The world preaches self-sufficiency, leverage, and climbing to the top at any cost; Christ says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” reminding us that our true freedom begins only when we admit how much we need God. The world constantly mistakes volume for strength and arrogance for leadership; Christ says, “Blessed are the meek,” because genuine meekness is not weakness—it is strength under control, power held entirely in service of others. The world thrives on division, outrage, and striking back; Christ calls the peacemakers blessed, knowing that true peacemaking requires real backbone. It means standing in the breach between divided hearts, speaking the truth with charity, and absorbing injury without passing the wound along to the next person.

Saint John writes to us with incredible tenderness in our second reading: “See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are.” We are not running this race alone, and we are not striving for holiness in isolation. There is no wall separating the Church on earth from the Church in heaven. When we gather at this altar, when bread and wine are consecrated and the veil between time and eternity grows thin, we do not stand here by ourselves. We worship alongside that entire great multitude. Every faithful soul who has run their race and gone before us with the sign of faith stands with us right now, cheering us on and lifting us up before the throne of God.

Tomorrow morning, you will walk back out into the world—back to your routines, your workplaces, your family duties, your daily aches, and your private worries. Do not leave the Gospel behind at the church door. Take heart from the countless saints known only to God who walked these same roads before you. Don’t just settle for being a good person with a disciplined prayer life; dare to let God transform you. Act with justice, walk with patience, stand firm in charity, and remember that holiness is found in doing the ordinary duties of your day with extraordinary love.

So I want to leave you with one direct question to take with you when you leave here today: What concrete action are you going to take this week that makes the road to heaven clearer—not just for yourself, but for someone God has placed in your life? None of us get to heaven alone. We are called to bring others along with us. Is there an apology you need to make to restore peace in your home? Is there a coworker who is sinking in despair whom you need to encourage with real kindness and truth? Is there someone in need whom you can quietly lift up without expecting anything in return? Real sanctity isn’t theoretical. It happens in the decisions we make in our living rooms, on the job, and across our kitchen tables. If you want to know what your path to heaven looks like this week, look at the person standing right in front of you and ask: “How can I reflect the mercy of Christ to them today?”

Today we gather to celebrate the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, two apostles who often linger in the background of the Gospel narratives. They are not as prominent in the texts as Peter, James, or John. They do not have lengthy discourses recorded in their names, nor are they featured in the dramatic turning points of the Gospels. In fact, Simon is simply designated “the Zealot,” whilst Jude—also known as Thaddeus—is often remembered primarily as “the one who asked the question at the Last Supper” or, in popular devotion, as the patron saint of hopeless causes.

​Yet, their inclusion in the Twelve reveals something profound about the Kingdom of God.

​Consider Simon. Before meeting Jesus, he belonged to the Zealots, a political faction fiercely devoted to Jewish independence and opposed to Roman rule. He was a man of radical passion, perhaps defined by strong political convictions and a drive for change. Then consider who else sat at the table with him: Matthew, a tax collector who had worked directly for the Roman oppressors. Humanly speaking, Simon and Matthew should have been bitter enemies. Yet in the presence of Christ, their old identities, rivalries, and political divisions were swallowed up by a far greater allegiance. Simon’s zealous passion was not discarded; it was transformed and redirected towards the proclamation of the Gospel.

​Then consider Jude, who at the Last Supper asked Jesus: “Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?” (John 14:22). It was a deeply human question, reflecting a desire to understand why the Kingdom of God does not operate with grand worldly dominance, but through quiet, personal transformation. Jesus answered by pointing to love and obedience: “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” Jude spent the rest of his life bearing witness to this quiet, radical truth, carrying the light of Christ into regions far beyond the comfort of Jerusalem, eventually giving his life as a martyr alongside Simon in Persia.

​Because Jude’s ministry reached into difficult, forgotten places, tradition turned to him as the apostle for desperate situations and lost causes. When all other avenues seem closed, believers have long asked for Jude’s intercession, remembering that no place is too remote and no situation is too dark for the grace of Christ to reach.

​The lives of Simon and Jude remind us that holiness does not require worldly fame. God does not measure the effectiveness of a life by how many pages of history it occupies, but by fidelity to the call of Christ. Whether our lives are marked by grand public witness or quiet, daily perseverance in difficult circumstances, we are called to the same apostolic foundation: to love Christ, to keep His word, and to bring His peace into a broken world.

​Let us Pray:

​Heavenly Father, God of power and mercy,

You built Your Church upon the foundation of the Apostles,

and through Saints Simon and Jude, You showed us that every heart and every passion can be transformed by Your love.

​Grant us, through the intercession of Saint Simon, the zeal to pursue Your truth above all earthly divisions,

that our lives may be consumed not by the conflicts of this world, but by love for Your Kingdom.

​Grant us, through the intercession of Saint Jude, the grace of hope when we face life’s darkest and most impossible moments.

When our strength fails and our path seems unclear, remind us that no cause is lost in Your hands,

and that Your presence is nearest when our despair is greatest.

​Unite us as One Body, just as You united men of different backgrounds at the table of Your Son.

May we, like Simon and Jude, remain faithful witnesses to the Gospel, steadfast in trial, and joyful in hope,

until we come to share with them the eternal glory of Your heavenly kingdom.

​We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,

who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, forever and ever.

​Amen.

Today, y’all, is a holiday.  Betcha didn’t know that.  Today is the Feast of the Archangels.   Now, I know every one of you knows who The Angel Gabriel is, since, you know, Christmas and all that.  But, like those special offers on TV, WAIT THERE’S MORE!  So, being me, and being who I am, I’m gonna teach for a second here, for those of you who are interested.  Here we go……….

The liturgy celebrates the feast of these three archangels who are venerated in the tradition of the Church. Of the seven archangels, only three are named in Scripture.  (Yes, according to the Book of Tobit, there are seven:  The idea of seven archangels is most explicitly stated in the deuterocanonical Book of Tobit when Raphael reveals himself, declaring: “I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand in the glorious presence of the Lord, ready to serve him.” (Tobit 12,15)     So, going on….. Michael (Who is like God?) was the archangel who fought against Satan and all his evil angels, defending all the friends of God. He is the protector of all humanity from the snares of the devil. Gabriel (Strength of God) announced to Zachariah the forthcoming birth of John the Baptist, and to Mary, the birth of Jesus. His greeting to the Virgin, “Hail, full of grace,” is one of the most familiar and frequent prayers of the Christian people. Raphael (Medicine of God) is the archangel who took care of Tobias on his journey.

Angels are pure, created spirits. The name angel means servant or messenger of God. Angels are celestial or heavenly beings, on a higher order than human beings. Angels have no bodies and do not depend on matter for their existence or activity. They are distinct from saints, which men can become. Angels have intellect and will, and are immortal. They are a vast multitude, but each is an individual person. Archangels are one of the nine choirs of angels listed in the Bible. In ascending order, the choirs or classes are 1) Angels, 2) Archangels, 3) Principalities, 4) Powers, 5) Virtues, 6) Dominations, 7) Thrones, 8) Cherubim, and 9) Seraphim.

St. Michael

The name of the archangel Michael means, in Hebrew, who is like unto God? and he is also known as “the prince of the heavenly host.” He is usually pictured as a strong warrior, dressed in armor and wearing sandals. St. Michael the Archangel is mentioned more than any other angel in the Bible.  His name appears in Scripture four times, twice in the Book of Daniel, and once each in the Epistle of St. Jude and the Book of Revelation. From Revelation we learn of the battle in heaven, with St. Michael and his angels combatting Lucifer and the other fallen angels (or devils). We invoke St. Michael to help us in our fight against Satan; to rescue souls from Satan, especially at the hour of death; to be the champion of the Jews in the Old Testament and now Christians; and to bring souls to judgment.

This day is referred to as “Michaelmas” in many countries and is also one of the harvest feast days. In England this is one of the “quarter days”, which was marked by hiring servants, electing magistrates, and beginning of legal and university terms. This day also marks the opening of the deer and other large game hunting season. In some parts of Europe, especially Germany, Denmark, and Austria, a special wine called “Saint Michael’s Love” (Michelsminne) is drunk on this day. The foods for this day vary depending on nationality. In the British Isles, for example, goose was the traditional meal for Michaelmas, eaten for prosperity, France has waffles or Gaufres and the traditional fare in Scotland used to be St. Michael’s Bannock (Struan Micheil) — a large, scone-like cake. In Italy, gnocchi is the traditional fare.

Patron: Against temptations; against powers of evil; artists; bakers; bankers; battle; boatmen; cemeteries; coopers; endangered children; dying; Emergency Medical Technicians; fencing; grocers; hatmakers; holy death; knights; mariners; mountaineers; paramedics; paratroopers; police officers; radiologists; sailors; the sick; security forces; soldiers; against storms at sea; swordsmiths; those in need of protection; Brussels, Belgium; Caltanissett, Sicily; Cornwall, England; Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee Florida; England; Germany; Archdiocese of Mobile, Alabama; Papua, New Guinea; Puebla, Mexico; San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; Sibenik, Croatia; Archdiocese of Seattle, Washington; Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts.

Symbols: Angel with wings; dressed in armour; lance and shield; scales; shown weighing souls; millstone; piercing dragon or devil; banner charged with a dove; symbolic colors orange or gold.

Prayer:  Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the Power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits, who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls.  Amen.

St. Gabriel

St. Gabriel’s name means “God is my strength”. Biblically he appears three times as a messenger. He had been sent to Daniel to explain a vision concerning the Messiah. He appeared to Zachary when he was offering incense in the Temple, to foretell the birth of his son, St. John the Baptist. St. Gabriel is most known as the angel chosen by God to be the messenger of the Annunciation, to announce to mankind the mystery of the Incarnation.

The angel’s salutation to our Lady, so simple and yet so full of meaning, Hail Mary, full of grace, has become the constant and familiar prayer of all Christian people.

Patron: Ambassadors; broadcasting; childbirth; clergy; communications; diplomats; messengers; philatelists; postal workers; public relations; radio workers; secular clergy; stamp collectors; telecommunications; Portugal; Archdiocese of Seattle, Washington.

Symbols: Archangel; sceptre and lily; MR or AM shield; lantern; mirror; olive branch; scroll with words Ave Maria Gratia Plena; Resurrection trumpet; shield; spear; lily; symbolic colors, silver or blue.

Prayer to St. Gabriel:

O Blessed Archangel Gabriel, we beseech thee, do thou intercede for us at the throne of divine Mercy in our present necessities, that as thou didst announce to Mary the mystery of the Incarnation, so through thy prayers and patronage in heaven we may obtain the benefits of the same, and sing the praise of God forever in the land of the living. Amen.

St. Raphael

Our knowledge of the Archangel Raphael comes to us from the book of Tobit. His mission as wonderful healer and fellow traveller with the youthful Tobias has caused him to be invoked for journeys and at critical moments in life. Tradition also holds that Raphael is the angel that stirred the waters at the healing sheep pool in Bethesda. His name means “God has healed”.

Patron: Blind; bodily ills; counselors; druggists; eye problems; guardian angels; happy meetings; healers; health inspectors; health technicians; love; lovers; mental illness; nurses; pharmacists; physicians; shepherds; against sickness; therapists; travellers; young people; young people leaving home for the first time; Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa; Archdiocese of Seattle, Washington.

Symbols: Staff; wallet and fish; staff and gourd; archangel; young man carrying a staff; young man carrying a fish; walking with Tobias; holding a bottle or flask; symbolic colors, gray or yellow.

Prayer to St. Gabriel:

O Raphael, lead us towards those we are waiting for, those who are waiting for us! Raphael, Angel of happy meetings, lead us by the hand towards those we are looking for! May all our movements, all their movements, be guided by your light and transfigured by your Joy.

Angel guide of Tobias, lay the request we now address to you at the feet of Him on whose unveiled face you are privileged to gaze. Lonely and tired, crushed by the separations and sorrows of earth, we feel the need of calling to you and of pleading for the protection of your wings, so that we may not be as strangers in the province of Joy, all ignorant of the concerns of our country.

Remember the weak, you who are strong–you whose home lies beyond the region of thunder, in a land that is always peaceful, always serene, and bright with the resplendent glory of God.

Amen.

Collect: O God, who dispose in marvelous order ministries both angelic and human, graciously grant that our life on earth may be defended by those who watch over us as they minister perpetually to you in heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

St Matthew’s transformation from a rejected tax collector into an apostle reminds us that no one is beyond the reach of divine mercy, and that God often chooses the most unlikely among us to accomplish extraordinary grace.

​In first-century Capernaum, few figures were as deeply despised as the publicans—the tax collector. Matthew was seen as a collaborator with Roman oppressors, a man who extortionately traded the trust of his own community for personal wealth. He was, for all practical purposes, considered spiritually bankrupt and socially irredeemable by the religious establishment of his day.

​Yet, when Jesus passed by the custom post, He did not look at Matthew with condemnation, cold judgement, or social disdain. He saw past the ledger books, the greed, and the isolation, beholding instead a soul ready for renewal. With two simple words—“Follow me”—Jesus offered an immediate path to redemption. Matthew’s response was radical and unhesitating: he left behind his wealth, his position, and his security to rise and follow Christ.

​This dramatic turning point reveals fundamental truths about the nature of faith and discipleship:

​Grace Precedes Merit: Jesus did not wait for Matthew to reform his life or abandon his tax booth before calling him. The invitation was extended while Matthew was still sitting in his sin, demonstrating that God’s mercy is an unmerited gift, not a reward for good behaviour.

​Mercy as a Feast:

 Immediately following his call, Matthew hosted a great banquet at his house for Jesus, opening his doors to “tax collectors and sinners.” When questioned by the Pharisees, Jesus declared His divine mission: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

​A Transformed Purpose:

 The meticulous record-keeping skills Matthew once used to tally debts and taxes were sanctified for a higher calling. He used his pen to write the Gospel that bears his name, recording the teachings, parables, and beatitudes of Jesus to enrich believers for millennia.

​Matthew’s story serves as a profound comfort for anyone who feels unworthy, burdened by past mistakes, or trapped by societal labels. God does not write off what the world considers broken. Instead, Christ enters into the messy custom posts of our lives, calling us towards a purpose far greater than our past.

Let us pray:

​O Almighty God, who by Your blessed Son didst call Matthew from the receipt of custom to be an Apostle and Evangelist:

​Grant us grace to forsake all covetous desires and inordinate love of riches, and to follow the same Jesus Christ Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Give us the courage to answer Your call without hesitation, the humility to welcome sinners as our brothers and sisters, and the faith to use whatever gifts we possess for the glory of Your kingdom.

​Amen.

The Shade of the Fig Tree: Hearing the Quiet Call

​My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, in the Gospel according to St John, we are given a brief yet striking window into the calling of Bartholomew—known to us also as Nathanael. When Philip first approached him with the startling announcement that they had found the One of whom Moses and the prophets wrote, Bartholomew’s initial response was marked by honest, unvarnished skepticism: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” He was not a man swayed by easy enthusiasm or public fanfare; he was a seeker who preferred the quiet solitude of the fig tree, pondering the Scriptures and longing for genuine truth.

​Yet, when he finally stood before Christ, our Lord did not rebuke him for his hesitation. Instead, Jesus greeted him with words of profound validation: “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” In an instant, Bartholomew recognized that this Teacher knew the deepest recesses of his heart. His lingering doubts melted into an immediate, unwavering confession: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” His journey reminds us that true discipleship does not demand flawless certainty from the very start, but rather an open and sincere spirit that is willing to step into the light of Christ and be fully known.

​Living the Truth: A Mission Beyond Borders

​That singular moment under the fig tree transformed Bartholomew from a quiet seeker into a steadfast apostle. Tradition tells us that following the Resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, he carried the Gospel message far beyond the familiar borders of Judea. He journeyed to distant lands—traversing India, Ethiopia, and Greater Armenia—bringing the light of Christ to places steeped in spiritual darkness. He did not rely on grand earthly power or eloquent rhetoric, but on the simple, unbending truth of the Resurrection.

​Living a life of unwavering devotion often demands the ultimate sacrifice. Bartholomew ultimately met his martyrdom in Armenia, enduring unimaginable suffering for the sake of the Master he loved. Yet, his legacy is not one of tragedy, but of triumph. He demonstrated that a faith rooted in truth can withstand every storm, every trial, and every hostility of the world. As we reflect upon his life today, we are invited to cultivate that same integrity, courage, and simple devotion in our own daily walk, standing firm in our calling wherever the Lord may place us.

​A Collect and Prayer for the Feast of St Bartholomew

​Almighty and everlasting God, who gave to your apostle Bartholomew grace truly to believe and to preach your holy Word: Grant, we beseech you, that your Church may ever love what he believed and faithfully preach what he taught. Give us the sincerity of heart to seek your truth without guile, the courage to bear witness to your redeeming love in times of trial, and the grace to remain steadfast in our sacred calling to the very end.

​Strengthen us through his blessed example, that in all our words and deeds we may bring honour and glory to your holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

​Amen.

The Dark and the Seeking

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Early in the morning, while it was still dark…”

My brothers and sisters, if you want to know what real, fierce, unbroken love looks like, you don’t have to look any further than Mary Magdalene standing outside that empty tomb. John’s Gospel doesn’t start the Resurrection story in the bright, blinding light of victory. It starts in the heavy, suffocating darkness of grief.

And there she is. Our first reading from the Song of Songs describes her heart perfectly: “On my bed at night I sought him whom my heart loves; I sought him but I did not find him.”

Mary was seeking. Her world had completely shattered. The man who had delivered her from the horrific torment of seven demons—the one who gave her back her life, her dignity, and her purpose—was dead, brutally executed. The rest of the guys, the Apostles, had retreated behind locked doors, paralyzed by fear. But love doesn’t calculate. Love doesn’t hide. Love acts. Even when it makes no logical sense, even when she thinks she’s only going to tend to a corpse, her loyalty forces her to move.

Righting a Historical Wrong

Now, I have to stop right here because I want to knock this out of the park for her today. I love Mary Magdalene. She is genuinely one of my absolute favorite people in the entire Bible. When I get to heaven, after I see our Lord, she is one of the very first people I want to sit down with, pour a couple of cups of coffee, and just listen to her talk.

Because what a journey she had! To go from where she started to where she ended up is one of the most stunning stories of redemption in human history.

And yet, look at what we did to her. In the late sixth century, a pope gave a famous sermon and made a tragic mistake. He completely conflated Mary with the anonymous sinful woman in Luke 7 and Mary of Bethany. With that one homily, centuries of church tradition erroneously branded her a penitent prostitute. She was slandered. She was lied about. Her true identity was buried under fifteen hundred years of bad art and misplaced labels.

But Mary didn’t let the slander win. She is still a hero to thousands of us today because Scripture tells the real truth. She wasn’t who they said she was. She was a woman of means who funded Jesus’ ministry. She was a pillar of the early Church. And Jesus didn’t care about the labels the world—or even institutional human error—would later try to pin on her. He knew her true heart.

The Sound of Her Name

Look at the garden on that morning. Mary is weeping, completely blind with tears. She sees angels and doesn’t even care; she just wants her Lord. She turns around and sees Jesus standing there, but she thinks He’s the gardener. She asks the question so many of us ask when we are walking through the dark: “Where have you put Him?”

And Jesus doesn’t give her a deep theological lecture. He doesn’t explain the mechanics of the Resurrection. He just speaks one single word. He says her name:

“Mary.”

He spoke her name. And in the unique, beautiful cadence of the Master’s voice, the darkness vanished. She turns and cries out, “Rabbouni!”—Teacher! In an instant, the old has passed away, and the new creation has come. By speaking her name, Jesus re-created her entire world.

The First Preacher

And then He tells her something incredible: “Do not hold on to me… but go to my brothers and tell them…”

My brothers and sisters, this is the exact moment the spirit of the Order of Preachers was born. This is why Saint Mary Magdalene is the proud Patroness of our Order! Long before the Apostles were sent out into the world, a woman was sent by Christ Himself. She was given a direct command to preach the Resurrection to the very men who would become the pillars of the Church. Thomas Aquinas gave her the title Apostolorum Apostola—the Apostle to the Apostles.

And look at what she preached. She didn’t go back to the disciples to debate theology or argue Church law. She ran to them, breathless, her heart on fire, and gave them her raw, personal witness:

“I have seen the Lord!”

Our Dominican Calling

That is the heart of who we are as Dominicans. We don’t preach dry, dusty theories. True preaching is the overflow of our contemplation. It’s what happens when we encounter the Risen Christ in the quiet, pre-dawn hours of our own lives, hear Him call us by our name, and then run out into a hurting world to say, “I have seen Him! He is alive!”

Mary Magdalene is a hero because she stayed at the foot of the Cross when others ran, she sought Him in the dark when all hope seemed dead, and she carried the torch of the Gospel when the world was entirely consumed by night.

One day, by God’s grace, we’ll get to sit down at that heavenly banquet and hear her tell the story herself. But until that day comes, we honor her legacy by doing exactly what she did: lifting up our voices, standing tall against the lies of the world, and boldly proclaiming the truth of the Resurrection.

Saint Mary Magdalene, Patroness of our Order, pray for us.

I often find immense joy in looking deeply at the lives of the saints who grace our altars and inspire our faith. Today, I want to shine a bright light on a woman whose true legacy has been obscured by centuries of misunderstanding, but whose witness is absolutely foundational to who we are: St. Mary Magdalene.

Within our parish, she holds a place of distinct honor. Furthermore, as a friar of the Dominican Order (Order of Preachers, Independent), she has a profound, personal connection to my own ministry.

Let us dive into the historical truth of this incredible woman, clear away the myths, and celebrate why she matters so deeply to us today.

Dispelling the Myth: She Was Not a Prostitute

For centuries, Western tradition unfortunately conflated Mary Magdalene with other biblical figures, leading to the widespread belief that she was a reformed prostitute. This simply does not align with the Gospel accounts.

The misconception largely stems from a homily delivered by Pope Gregory the Great in the year 591, where he combined three distinct New Testament figures into one person:

• Mary of Magdala, from whom seven demons were cast out (Luke 8:2)
• Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus (Luke 10:39)
• The unnamed “sinful woman” who anointed Jesus’ feet in Luke 7

The Gospels themselves never paint Mary Magdalene as a prostitute or a public sinner. Instead, they introduce her as a woman of independent means who, after being healed by Jesus, became one of His most prominent disciples and a crucial financial supporter of His ministry. It is time we fully shed the unbiblical labels and honor her for who she truly was: a faithful, courageous leader.

The Historical Facts: The First Witness of the Resurrection

When we stick strictly to the Scripture and early church history, Mary Magdalene’s true stature emerges. She was not a peripheral figure; she was at the very center of the Paschal Mystery.

• Unwavering Courage: When the male disciples fled in fear during the Passion, Mary Magdalene stood faithfully at the foot of the Cross alongside the Blessed Mother.
• The First Evangelist: On Easter morning, she was the very first person to encounter the Risen Christ.
• The Commission: Jesus specifically chose her to bear the news of the Resurrection to the hiding Apostles. Because of this divine commissioning, the early Church Fathers—most notably St. Thomas Aquinas—bestowed upon her the glorious title: Apostolorum Apostola (The Apostle to the Apostles).

Patroness of the Order of Preachers & The Symbol of the Cross

Why does Mary Magdalene hold such a massive place in my heart as a Dominican? Long before our order was formally founded by St. Dominic in the 13th century, Mary Magdalene was claimed as our patroness and protectress.

Dominicans are the Order of Preachers (OP). Our entire charism is built around going out into the world, proclaiming the Truth, and announcing the Good News of the Gospel. Mary Magdalene did exactly that. She did not keep the joy of the empty tomb to herself; she ran to announce it. She is the archetype of the Dominican vocation—contemplating the Lord and sharing the fruits of that contemplation with others.

This call to preach the absolute truth (Veritas) is visually anchors our identity. In our tradition, the Dominican cross—a beautiful cross floury, stylized with lily-like ends—is divided cleanly into black and white.

• The white represents purity, light, and the joy of Christ’s Resurrection.
• The black represents penance, sacrifice, and the mantle of humility worn while serving the world.

Mary Magdalene perfectly mirrors this beautiful emblem. Her sorrow at the foot of the Cross represents the black mantle of grief and penance, while her joy at the empty tomb represents the brilliant white light of the Resurrection that she was chosen to proclaim.

Celebrating the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene: July 22nd

In the Dominican tradition, July 22nd is not just a standard memorial—it is celebrated with the highest rank of liturgical joy. For centuries, the Order has sung special hymns, chanted proper responsories, and highlighted her specific role as the herald of grace.

In 2016, the wider Church formally elevated her liturgical date from a Memorial to a Feast, placing her on the same liturgical level as the male Apostles. When we gather at St. Michael’s on July 22nd, we honor her with:

1. The Singing of the Gloria: A joyful inclusion in the Mass that underscores her apostolic importance.
2. Special Intentions for Preachers: Praying for all who are called to voice the Gospel, asking that they receive her same unshakeable courage.
3. A Rededication to Truth: Remembering that the truth sets us free, and like Mary, we must be bold enough to speak it even when others are hiding in fear.

Why She Graces St. Michael’s Parish

At St. Michael’s, we cherish her as one of our pillar saints for a very specific reason: she embodies the radical hospitality and inclusivity of the Unified Old Catholic Church.

She reminds us that Christ calls everyone to ministry, breaking down traditional barriers. Her presence in our parish reminds us to look past the labels the world tries to pin on people, to seek the truth of every individual’s dignity, and to boldly proclaim the gift of life and family.

May we all have the fierce loyalty of Mary Magdalene to stand by Christ in difficult times, and her joyful courage to proclaim, “I have seen the Lord!”