MARY

the name of a woman mentioned in the Gospels as a disciple of Jesus (Luke viii. 2). It is recorded that seven demons were cast out of her. She apparently came from Magdala or Magadan (modern £il-Mejdel), near Tiberias. She witne ed the crucifixion of Christ, followed Him to burial, and prepared sweet spices for the sepulchre. The account in John XX. tells how she found the tomb empty and was the first to behold the risen Jesus (see also Mark XVI. 9). From confusion with the woman who anointed Christ’s feet in Simon’s house (Luke VII. 37), the popular conception of her has been that of one fallen from chastity who later repented of her sins. There are many famous pictures of the Magdalene by Correggio, Titian, Paul Veronese, and others. She has also been confused with Mary of Bethany, sister of Lazarus, and with the daughter of the Syrophoenician woman (Mark VII.). See legendary Life by Hrabanus Maurus IX. cent.; by Vincent of Beauvais, XIII. cent.