When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

"Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled: my own eyes have seen the salvation which you prepared in the sight of every people, a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel."

The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

- Luke 2:22-35

2011 Albany Mary Magdalene Mass and Celebration

“Women, why are you here?” [2010]

“Women, why are you crying?” [2011]

“Oh God, you have created us in your image and have endowed all people with intelligence, talents, the ability to dream dreams and the hope to follow them. Too often women have been denied opportunities to follow their dreams and Your calling. 

In the voice of Joan Chittister: ‘You are the voice of today’s Church.  Speak loudly!  You are the fire of today’s Church.  Burn brightly!  You are the hope for the Church now and for centuries to come.  Your name is right under the names of Moses and Judith, Esther and Joseph and Jesus.  Amen!!’”  From the petitions for the feast of Mary Magdalene

On Thursday, July 21, 2011, Call To Action [Capital District Branch] sponsored a Mass celebrating the life and message of Mary Magdalene, and honoring the role of women in the life of Christ.  This gathering, on the eve of the feast of Mary Magdalene, was held at The College of Saint Rose’s Hubbard Interfaith Sanctuary.

Mary Magdalene captures the imagination, and offers women and men of faith a model of feminine discipleship and ministry. As a heroic counter figure, Mary Magdalene shows what a woman’s role could be like if it were not for the prevailing masculine domination exerted by the Roman church. The existence of such a challenge to the present male culture of the Roman tradition is extremely significant: it arose from the deep conviction among Catholics across the world that women are worth so much more than what they are credited with in the official church.  The devotion to Mary Magdalen has been a clear manifestation of the latent tradition in the hearts of Catholics that knew women - as much as men – are called to full participation in the ministries of faith.

This devotion was apparent in Albany:  the July 21, 2011 service was beautiful, filled with spectacular music, prayer and liturgy, and with the Body

 and Blood of Christ.  Friends from the ministries assisted in the celebration, along with our sisters and brothers from Call To Action.   The reflections both during and after the service brought to mind the marginalization of many by the Roman church.  However, the overriding message and spirit of the evening – especially while listening to a toddler sing and dance around the worshipers and watching the children who participated in bringing up the gifts – was one of great hope!!!

Thank you, Call To Action, for bringing us together so beautifully for this occasion!

On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”

Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he told her.

- John 20:1-2, 11-18