Saturday— Feast Day of Saint Ann
Today is a day of contemplation, prayer and solitude—nothing in particular is planned. We will have breakfast at the hostellerie restaurant and attend the 11:45 am Mass in the Chapel of the hostellerie. Then we’ll have lunch at Brasserie “La Terrasse,” next door. You may want to spend the afternoon in the Chapel of Saint Mary Magdalene, joining the Dominicans in their seven daily prayers—Matines, Laudes, Mass, Eucharist, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Vespers and Complines. Or you could walk the grounds of the hostellerie and visit the cemetery and the lower forest. You may want to wander in the forest or go back up to La Sainte-Baume to Mary Magdalene’s Cave for a more quiet, personal visit with her… and go all the way up to Chapel St. Pilon, where Mary Magdalene was raised up seven times a day by angels. We will have dinner at the hostellerie restaurant and pack our bags so we are ready to leave in the morning.
CHAPEL OF THE HOSTELLERIE
BACK OF THE HOSTELLERIE
THE FOREST BELOW THE CAVE
CHAPEL ST. PILON
Novena to Saint Mary Magdalene—Day 8
Opening Prayer—Saint Mary Magdalene, you who were pardoned by Jesus, you who greatly loved; show us the way to true conversion and purity of heart. With love you followed Jesus to serve him; teach us to freely offer our lives for our brothers and sisters. You stood at the cross of Jesus with Mary and John. Obtain the grace of faith and hope in our sufferings. On Easter morning, you received from Jesus the mission of announcing the resurrection to His disciples. Help me to believe that life is stronger than death, that love triumphs over all. Dearest Saint Mary Magdalene, please intercede on behalf of my special intention (recite your special intention here). Through your intercession, I trust in the Lord, AMEN.
Gospel of Matthew 28:1-6—Jesus Has Risen
1 And in the end of the sabbath, when it began to dawn towards the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre. 2 And behold there was a great earthquake. For an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and coming, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. 3 And his countenance was as lightning, and his raiment as snow. 4 And for fear of him, the guards were struck with terror, and
Gospel of Mark 16:1-6—Jesus Has Risen
1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought sweet spices, that coming, they might anoint Jesus. 2 And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they come to the sepulchre, the sun being now risen. 3 And they said one to another: Who shall roll us back the stone from the door of the sepulchre? 4 And looking, they saw the stone rolled back. For it was very great. 5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed with a white robe: and they were astonished. 6 Who saith to them: Be not affrighted; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified: he is risen, he is not here, behold the place where they laid him.
Gospel of Luke 24:1-8—Jesus Has Risen
1 And on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled back from the sepulchre. 3 And going in, they found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it came to pass, as they were astonished in their mind at this, behold, two men stood by them, in shining apparel. 5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their countenance towards the ground, they said unto them: Why seek you the living with the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen. Remember how he spoke unto you, when he was in Galilee, 7 Saying: The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 8 And they remembered his words.
EMPTY TOMB
Gospel of John 20:1-16—The Empty Tomb
1 And on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene cometh early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre; and she saw the stone taken away from the sepulchre. 2 She ran, therefore, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and saith to them: They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. 3 Peter therefore went out, and that other disciple, and they came to the sepulchre. 4 And they both ran together, and that other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. 5 And when he stooped down, he saw the linen cloths lying; but yet he went not in. 6 Then cometh Simon Peter, following him, and went into the sepulchre, and saw the linen cloths lying, 7 And the napkin that had been about his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but apart, wrapped up into one place. 8 Then that other disciple also went in, who came first to the sepulchre: and he saw, and believed. 9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. 10 The disciples therefore departed again to their home.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
11 But Mary stood at the sepulchre without, weeping. Now as she was weeping, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been laid. 13 They say to her: Woman, why weepest thou? She saith to them: Because they have taken away my Lord; and I know not where they have laid him. 14 When she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing; and she knew not that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus saith to her: Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, thinking it was the gardener, saith to him: Sir, if thou hast taken him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 16 Jesus saith to her: Mary. She turning, saith to him: Rabboni (which is to say, Master).
JESUS AND MARY MAGDALENE
Novena Prayer Day 8—After the Sabbath, at sunrise, the holy ones carrying the myrrh arrived first at the tomb. The shadows of night had not yet disappeared, but already the light of day was appearing. The women wished to perform one last ritual for the deceased. Mary cries again, like her earlier days in Magdala. Yesterday she lost her master who delivered her from the seven demons; here they also took away the body upon which she shed her tears and anointed with perfume. Leaning towards the tomb, she returns, but without conversion of heart. She is crying desperately, dwelling on all that she has lost. Consequently she now believes that all that she gained, all the good choices she made, all the blessings that have come to her because she had faith, because she had opened herself up to grace – all these things are gone. She then sees without recognizing. She questions the one she thinks is the gardener: “Have you seen the one my heart loves?” Jesus identifies himself by calling her name, ‘Mary’; like he called Lazarus from the tomb, he called her from her slumber and gave her new life. With her heart full of joy she now realizes that what seemed like loss is now all gain. Now she understands what has happened. Our own spiritual lives are so often marked by many gains—new insights into grace and faith. Then one day, we have doubt, uncertainty, or events which challenge the spiritual growth in our life. The events in Mary’s life are similar to the ups and downs in our lives. If we can continue to reflect on the grace, then the times of doubt can become moments of grace as well. If we can hear Jesus calls us by name when the poor or hungry calls, then we continue on our road to growth and deeper faith. Mary hears her name and all the graces come flooding back. She is able to get up and do as Jesus asks her—“Go and tell my disciples the Good News that I am risen.” That is our task as well. Tell the world the Good News that our Savior is risen for us. Mary is the model for us as that person who realizes that nothing was lost, all was gained. This gave her the courage to give witness to the truth of Jesus’ saving life.
Closing Prayer—Lord, turn the hearts of your people towards you, so that we may search for you as did Mary Magdalene on the resurrection morning. May we be led by your Spirit to have the courage to renounce oneself, and to search for true joy. Through Christ, Our Lord, AMEN.
