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St. Mary Magdalen Church in Honesdale has honored its patron saint since formation in the 1830’s. Never before have they been able to say they were blessed with anything of her physical presence. On Monday, St. Mary’s had the honor of hosting a visit of a relic of St. Mary Magdalen, which church tradition teaches is one of her actual bones.
Fr. William Langan, who began his pastorate in Honesdale in July, explained later that the arrival of the relic was significant for the people not only because the church patronage. St. Mary Magdalen, who had been a prostitute, had found mercy from Jesus Christ, and became the first witness of Christ’s resurrection. Identifying with her, as sinners who have found grace, the relic is a link to the very substance of their faith not seen, yet believed.
Indeed, the faithful came, and came. Several Masses were scheduled Monday, the only day of the relic’s visitation. Confessions were heard all day. The noon time Mass at the small red brick sanctuary at 5th and Church Street was packed. Afterward, a long line of pilgrims stood in line, waiting their turn to view and pray before the portion of a tibia, what is believed to one of her leg bones that knelt in prayer before the Lord.
The relic normally is kept at Ste. Baume, a grotto in southeastern France, ever since 1279. A French priest, Fr. Louis-Marie Arino-Durand, is accompanying the relic on a six week tour of parishes throughout the eastern United States. This is only the second St. Mary Magdalen Parish the relic is visiting, the other being in Louisiana, Fr. Langan noted. This tour is the first time the relic has been in the United States, and only the second time it has left France.
He said that he learned about the tour from a local parishioner who called and suggested he turn on ETWN, a Catholic TV network, where the tour was being discussed. The next day Fr. Langan made a call, and calls it a “little miracle” that his invitation was accepted to include St. John the Evangelist Parish in Honesdale (of which St. Mary’s is a part) on the itinerary. This was the only open spot on the tour calendar.
Edward Clancy, who is assisting with the tour arrangements, stated the greatest miracle attributed to the relic is the many deep conversions by pilgrims. The survival of the her relics is also considered a story of miracles, having been spared from pillage and disaster through the centuries- including a Muslim invasion in the 11th Century and the French Revolution in the 18th.
Fr. Arino-Durand offered the Homily at the noon Mass. He spoke of two women of the Bible, with some similarities who are yet very different. St. Mary Magdalen came to the garden tomb on the third day after Jesus had been crucified. The tomb was empty. Who she supposed to be the gardener, asked why she was weeping. He called her by name: Mary. She instantly knew it was her Lord, risen from the dead. She was told to go and tell his brethren that He is Alive.
Then there was Eve, also in a garden- at the Creation. She also had he presence of God. Unlike Mary Magdalen, her story is one of disobedience. Mary Magdalen, in the “RE-Creation,” was a converted sinner. In both cases, God called the woman by name.
“Imagine, after our personal tears, and after our death when we will meet Christ, He will call you by your name in the Garden of the New Life,” said Fr Arino-Durand.
Something happened between the story of Eve and the story of Mary Magdalen. That was the Incarnation, thanks also to a woman, Mary, the Blessed Mother. “She said yes, when Eve said no,” the priest said. He stated that Mary Magdalen shows us that it is never too late on this earth, to return to God. “He’s waiting for you,” said Fr. Arino-Durand. “Come into the garden and meet the Lord today.”
St. Mary Magdalen Church in Honesdale has honored its patron saint since formation in the 1830’s. Never before have they been able to say they were blessed with anything of her physical presence. On Monday, St. Mary’s had the honor of hosting a visit of a relic of St. Mary Magdalen, which church tradition teaches is one of her actual bones.
Fr. William Langan, who began his pastorate in Honesdale in July, explained later that the arrival of the relic was significant for the people not only because the church patronage. St. Mary Magdalen, who had been a prostitute, had found mercy from Jesus Christ, and became the first witness of Christ’s resurrection. Identifying with her, as sinners who have found grace, the relic is a link to the very substance of their faith not seen, yet believed.
Indeed, the faithful came, and came. Several Masses were scheduled Monday, the only day of the relic’s visitation. Confessions were heard all day. The noon time Mass at the small red brick sanctuary at 5th and Church Street was packed. Afterward, a long line of pilgrims stood in line, waiting their turn to view and pray before the portion of a tibia, what is believed to one of her leg bones that knelt in prayer before the Lord.
The relic normally is kept at Ste. Baume, a grotto in southeastern France, ever since 1279. A French priest, Fr. Louis-Marie Arino-Durand, is accompanying the relic on a six week tour of parishes throughout the eastern United States. This is only the second St. Mary Magdalen Parish the relic is visiting, the other being in Louisiana, Fr. Langan noted. This tour is the first time the relic has been in the United States, and only the second time it has left France.
He said that he learned about the tour from a local parishioner who called and suggested he turn on ETWN, a Catholic TV network, where the tour was being discussed. The next day Fr. Langan made a call, and calls it a “little miracle” that his invitation was accepted to include St. John the Evangelist Parish in Honesdale (of which St. Mary’s is a part) on the itinerary. This was the only open spot on the tour calendar.
Edward Clancy, who is assisting with the tour arrangements, stated the greatest miracle attributed to the relic is the many deep conversions by pilgrims. The survival of the her relics is also considered a story of miracles, having been spared from pillage and disaster through the centuries- including a Muslim invasion in the 11th Century and the French Revolution in the 18th.
Fr. Arino-Durand offered the Homily at the noon Mass. He spoke of two women of the Bible, with some similarities who are yet very different. St. Mary Magdalen came to the garden tomb on the third day after Jesus had been crucified. The tomb was empty. Who she supposed to be the gardener, asked why she was weeping. He called her by name: Mary. She instantly knew it was her Lord, risen from the dead. She was told to go and tell his brethren that He is Alive.
Then there was Eve, also in a garden- at the Creation. She also had he presence of God. Unlike Mary Magdalen, her story is one of disobedience. Mary Magdalen, in the “RE-Creation,” was a converted sinner. In both cases, God called the woman by name.
“Imagine, after our personal tears, and after our death when we will meet Christ, He will call you by your name in the Garden of the New Life,” said Fr Arino-Durand.
Something happened between the story of Eve and the story of Mary Magdalen. That was the Incarnation, thanks also to a woman, Mary, the Blessed Mother. “She said yes, when Eve said no,” the priest said. He stated that Mary Magdalen shows us that it is never too late on this earth, to return to God. “He’s waiting for you,” said Fr. Arino-Durand. “Come into the garden and meet the Lord today.”
