{"id":134952,"date":"2024-07-09T05:00:13","date_gmt":"2024-07-09T09:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.regnumchristi.com\/en\/?p=134952"},"modified":"2025-12-16T12:22:27","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T17:22:27","slug":"nine-days-with-mary-magdalene","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.regnumchristi.com\/en\/nine-days-with-mary-magdalene\/","title":{"rendered":"Nine Days With Mary Magdalene"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Join us as we pray with, learn from, and walk alongside Mary Magdalene to prepare for her feast day, July 22nd.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

This meditation novena is a new take on a tried and true Catholic prayer.<\/p>\n

Each day will include a written and audio novena prayer and reflection by Jennifer Ristine, a Consecrated Woman of Regnum Christi, with illustrations by Danielle Storey.<\/p>\n

Jennifer Ristine, author of the book, Mary Magdalene: Insights from Ancient Magdala<\/span><\/a>, offers conferences, day retreats and spiritual exercises on the theme of Mary Magdalene: The Transforming Journey of a Missionary Disciple, <\/em>and has an historical fiction novel, Becoming Magdalene<\/em>, coming out in November 2025.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t
<\/i><\/span><\/i><\/span>Introduction<\/span><\/i><\/div>

Introduction Prayer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reflection & novena prayers written by Jennifer Ristine and illustrated by Danielle Storey.<\/i><\/p>\n

\"Regnum

Saints \u201ccome to be\u201d through free, profound, and continual encounters with the Lord. \u00a0They offer us a reality check. No one is exempt from the daily battle. They remind us that the universal heart desires something more, seeks meaning, and discovers purpose within and beyond itself. \u00a0Ultimately, the saints are beacons showing us the way to full maturity in freedom and love. The saints defy the \u201cbad guys\u201d by their simple testimony of holiness lived amidst the messiness of life\u2019s challenges. \u00a0They choose the right ally, a leader who demands nothing less than what he himself gave \u2013 his life out of love. The saints constantly reroute or maintain the course of faith, hope, and love no matter what comes their way. \u00a0They are faithful to the end. And they continue their fidelity to the Lord, unseen by human eyes. Their strategy? Befriending us.<\/p>\n

Saints are friends. And as any good friend, they invite us to share in the spiritual treasures that they have already received. \u00a0They want to share the joy of a deep encounter with the Lord that they have been blessed to know. For example, St. Francis invites us to the joy of living gospel simplicity, so as to discover the ultimate jewel of the Father\u2019s providence when we detach our hearts from all worldly gains. \u00a0Saint Teresa of Calcutta invites us to an intimate understanding of Jesus\u2019s thirst for souls found in an encounter with the destitute and most impoverished. When we find a saint that attracts us, be assured, God has sent his ambassador to encourage us, teach us essential life-giving messages, and be our guide as we enter into the mystery of a dynamic relationship with God.<\/p>\n

In this novena, a nine-day reflection, you are invited to walk with Mary Magdalene. \u00a0Let her share with you the spiritual goods and treasures she discovered in her journey of becoming a missionary disciple. Her journey reminds us of a fundamental truth: we are created out of love and for love. \u00a0We carry this vocation in fragile vessels. The inherent desire to love implies a freedom to do so, but necessitates a compass or guide. Mary Magdalene likely tasted the depths of freedom, one type of freedom led her to a certain spiritual death and the other led to new life. \u00a0A misguided use of freedom bound her with \u201cseven demons.\u201d Perhaps we can all relate in some way, as we recognize the subtle idols that snuff out the life of God within. But the good news is that Jesus steps into the messiness of our life. We have Mary Magdalene as a witness to this good news. \u00a0As he did with Mary Magdalene, Jesus reaches out, takes us by the hand, and invites us to an ever new and deeper freedom \u2013 a freedom lived in accordance with our dignity, made in God\u2019s image.<\/p>\n

As we begin this novena, let us reflect on the journey of a soul. \u00a0The fact of mere existence is a sign of God\u2019s desire to draw us into loving communion. \u00a0Beyond that, another sign of God\u2019s love is his invitation to participate in his mission of extending his Kingdom, bringing many others to experience the personal, redemptive love of the Lord. \u00a0No one is excluded from this invitation. Reflecting on the personal and unique call of Christ to us throughout our lives, may we be filled with hope and ask Mary Magdalene to intercede for us and for those in need of the hope that does not disappoint (Romans 5:5).<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n