Today is the Memorial of St. Mary Magdalene:
Mary Magdalen was so called either from Magdala near Tiberias, on the west shore of Galilee, or possibly from a Talmudic expression meaning "curling women’s hair," which the Talmud explains as of an adulteress.
In the New Testament she is mentioned among the women who accompanied Christ and ministered to Him (Luke 8:2-3), where it is also said that seven devils had been cast out of her (Mark 16:9). She is next named as standing at the foot of the cross (Mark 15:40; Matthew 27:56; John 19:25; Luke 23:49). She saw Christ laid in the tomb, and she was the first recorded witness of the Resurrection.
My breviary assigns for Morning Prayer today the psalms and canticle from Sunday, Week I along with antiphons as follows:
Ant. 1.
Very early in the morning after the sabbath, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb, just as the sun was rising.
Psalm 63:2-9:
- O God, you are my God– for you I long! For you my body yearns; for you my soul thirsts, Like a land parched, lifeless, and without water. So I look to you in the sanctuary to see your power and glory. Antiphon
- For your love is better than life; my lips offer you worship! I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands, calling on your name. My soul shall savor the rich banquet of praise, with joyous lips my mouth shall honor you! Antiphon
When I think of you upon my bed, through the night watches I will recall that you indeed are my help, and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy. My soul clings fast to you; your right hand upholds me. Antiphon
Ant. 2. My heart burns within me; I long to see my Lord; I look for him, but I cannot find where they have put him, alleluia.
Daniel 3:57-88, 56:
Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever. Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever. You heavens, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever. All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever. All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. Sun and moon, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. Stars of heaven, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. Antiphon
Every shower and dew, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. All you winds, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. Fire and heat, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. Cold and chill, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. Dew and rain, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. Frost and chill, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. Ice and snow, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. Nights and days, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. Light and darkness, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. Antiphon
Let the earth bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever. Mountains and hills, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. You springs, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. Seas and rivers, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. All you birds of the air, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. You sons of men, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. Antiphon
O Israel, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. Antiphon Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven, praiseworthy and glorious forever. Antiphon
Ant. 3. While Mary was weeping she bent down to look into the tomb: she saw two angels seated there, clothed in white, alleluia.
Psalm 149:
Sing to the LORD a new song, a hymn in the assembly of the faithful. Let Israel be glad in their maker, the people of Zion rejoice in their king. Let them praise his name in festive dance, make music with tambourine and lyre. Antiphon
For the LORD takes delight in his people, honors the poor with victory. Let the faithful rejoice in their glory, cry out for joy at their banquet, with the praise of God in their mouths, and a two-edged sword in their hands, Antiphon to bring retribution on the nations, punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with chains, shackle their nobles with irons, to execute the judgments decreed for them– such is the glory of all God’s faithful. Antiphon
I was struck by the drama of this set of antiphons and readings: as if the antiphons asked the questions and the Old Testament selections supplied the answers; or if the antiphons showed images from the story and the Old Testament selections provided suitable background music.
It’s funny, because in my breviary these psalms and canticle are used for almost all the memorials. Yet in each one they seem to have some particular significance. Today especially.
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