Inspired by the spirit of Louis de Wohl’s lives of the saints and Mark Twain’s Joan of Arc, I offer this historical fiction for our times. Becoming Magdalene is more than history, more than fiction. It is the transforming journey of a disciple. Through a unique and fresh lens, is an invitation to discover yourself in this enigmatic saint. Witness the existential tensions present in every human heart in the search for identity and belonging. See her struggle with relationships and overcome the wounds, defense mechanisms, and false perceptions of self and God. Listen for interior movements of the heart, indicative of the multiple influences at play in the spiritual life. Step into the messiness of life that has potential to reconcile rifts and fulfill grand and noble desires as she walks with the Lord.

My personal prayer, extensive contact with sacred scriptures, research into multiple historical sources, and firsthand ministry in her hometown, Ancient Magdala, inform every chapter. This gives credibility and foundation to creative license. My pastoral work in spiritual direction, Ignatian spiritual exercises, and an extensive knowledge of Catholic spirituality, including Saint Teresa of Avila and Saint John of the Cross’ works, inform the profound interior experiences described in the life of Mary Magdalene.

Young adults, men and women, lay or religious will watch her life unfold. She becomes the Apostle to the Apostles as she learns from mistakes, resists yet grows in faith, falls and stands again. Healed and called by her Rabboni, she matures in interior freedom and love through a purifying process of vulnerability. Pray, laugh, cry, and rejoice with her as the heart of a disciple is forged.

Mary Magdalene experiences adventures that will help us enter into the mysteries of our faith, encounter the Risen Lord, and face everyday life challenges. It can be read for pleasure, for historical curiosity, for faith growth and for spiritual reading. I pray that you will be moved to listen to the Lord’s call to become his disciple as you read Becoming Magdalene: The Transforming Journey of a Disciple.