在2016年以前，教会按照纪念日的等级纪念这位圣人。2016年6月3日，圣座礼仪及圣事部遵照教宗方济各的意愿，在罗马礼仪日历中把玛利亚·玛达肋纳的纪念日抬格为庆日来庆祝。圣部在法令中是这样介绍这位圣妇的：这位妇人，因爱基督和被基督深爱而得名，大圣额我略称她是“天主仁慈的见证人”，圣多玛斯•阿奎那（Saint Thomas Aquinas）称她是“宗徒的宗徒”，现在，信徒们能把她看作是在教会内女性角色的楷模。（参看：圣座礼仪及圣事部：在罗马礼仪日历中把玛利亚•玛达肋纳抬升至庆日庆祝法令 Prot. N. 257/16）
July 22, 2026 Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene Gospel: John 20:1-2, 11-18
Today is Wednesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time. The Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene today. The recently published Roman Missal tells us: Saint Mary Magdalene (1st century), from the city of Magdala in Galilee, was one of the Lord’s most intimate disciples and is commonly identified as the woman from whom the Lord drove out seven demons. She remained with the Lord during His Passion, standing by the Cross in His final agony; according to the accounts of Saint Mark and Saint John, she was also the first to see the Risen Lord. Ecclesiastical tradition relates that she spent her later years as a hermit in Provence, France, where she lived out the remainder of her life.
Prior to 2016, the Church commemorated this saint with the rank of a Memorial. On June 3, 2016, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, in accordance with the wishes of Pope Francis, elevated the Memorial of Mary Magdalene to the rank of a Feast in the Roman Calendar. In its decree, the Congregation describes this holy woman thus: “This woman, known for her love of Christ and for being greatly loved by Him, was called by Saint Gregory the Great ‘a witness to God’s mercy,’ and by Saint Thomas Aquinas ‘the Apostle to the Apostles.’ Henceforth, the faithful may look to her as a model for the role of women in the Church.” (cf. Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Decree Elevating the Memorial of Saint Mary Magdalene to the Rank of Feast in the Roman Calendar, Prot. No. 257/16)
Today’s Gospel passage from Saint John presents the story of Saint Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the Risen Lord Jesus Christ. I wish to offer some reflections on this occasion.
We know that the tomb is a sign of death. When we approach a tomb, it is natural for us to recall those friends or family members buried there. This is because we view life and death according to the logic of this world, rather than through the eyes of faith.
Today, when Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found it empty, what did she do? She did not enter the tomb immediately. Instead, she went to Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved, indeed to all the Apostles in Jerusalem and those gathered with them, to announce what had happened. What did she proclaim? She said: “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” (cf. John 20:1-2) At that moment, she still viewed these events according to the logic of this passing world. She remained weeping outside the tomb. Later, summoning her courage, she entered the tomb where Jesus had lain and saw two angels clothed in white—the Gospel passage selected does not recount their words to her. But when she emerged from that tomb, she encountered the Risen Lord. He called her by the name she knew so well: “Mary!” Instantly, she recognized that the person before her was the Jesus she sought. She longed to remain with Jesus.
Today, we too long to remain with Jesus. Yet He says to us: “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father, to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” (cf. John 20:17) For He is always with us. He meets us in the sacraments, in prayer, in every suffering person we encounter—in the least, the marginalized, and those in distress—in the tabernacle, and on the Cross, under diverse forms. He desires even more that we bring the joyful news of His Resurrection to all people, so that through our service, and especially through the renewal of our own way of life, the world may rediscover the Savior hidden within their lives.
May we all imitate the virtuous example of Saint Mary Magdalene, following Jesus Christ with undivided hearts, docile to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, becoming worthy preachers of the Risen Lord Jesus Christ to the world, and bearing courageous witness to the truth through the concrete experience of our lives.
O God, whose Only Begotten Son entrusted Mary Magdalene before all others with announcing the great joy of the Resurrection, grant, we pray, that through her intercession and example we may proclaim the living Christ and come to see him reigning in your glory. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
July 21, 2026 Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor of the Church Gospel: Mt 12:46–50
Today is Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time. The Church celebrates today the Optional Memorial of Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor of the Church. The Roman Martyrology tells us: Saint Lawrence (1559–1619) was born at Brindisi, Italy, and joined the Capuchin Order in Verona. A gifted theologian and accomplished linguist, he traveled widely throughout Europe and became especially renowned for his missions to the Protestants. In 1601, bearing only a crucifix, he led the Imperial Army during the recapture of Szekesfehervar (Hungary) from the Turks. Having served as Minister General of the Capuchins, he died in Lisbon on July 22, 1619, his sixtieth birthday. He was later declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Saint John XXIII.
Today, the passage from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew presents to us the discourse by which Jesus reveals who His true kindred are. I wish to take this opportunity to continue offering some reflections.
Jesus’ mother and His brothers stood outside and did not enter the house where Jesus was. This reflects their inability to accept the Kingdom of God as proclaimed by Jesus, for in their view, the Kingdom of God preached by Jesus differed essentially from the kingdom taught by the Pharisees, the vision of God depicted by the Sadducees, and the Messiah proclaimed by the Herodians. Therefore, they did not enter the house where Jesus was, hoping instead that He would come out and, like them, return to Nazareth. Jesus did not comply with their wishes by leaving those who were willing to accept His Kingdom. Rather, He further revealed to us: “Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (cf. Mt 12:50) This reflects the very nature of the Kingdom He proclaimed: in this Kingdom, there is only the God who loves mankind and those beloved by God; all are brothers and sisters.
When Jesus said to the one who told Him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” (Mt 12:48), it might seem as though He were saying: “I do not recognize my mother, nor do I recognize my brothers.” The reality is quite the opposite. The Lord Christ, rich in mercy, thus implicitly extols His beloved Mother. The Blessed and Most Holy Virgin, when she heard from the angel that she was to become the Mother of God, humbly replied: “Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word!” (cf. Lk 1:26–38). After Jesus’ birth, through her prayer, He performed His first miracle in the Gospel according to John, at Cana in Galilee (cf. Jn 2:1–12). Today, while Jesus was speaking to the crowds, His Mother and His brothers arrived outside, wishing to speak with Him (cf. Mt 12:46). This very proof unequivocally demonstrates that the Blessed Mother fully fulfilled the divine will, entrusting herself wholly to God, thereby assisting Christ in carrying out the work of redemption on earth.
O God, who for the glory of your name and the salvation of souls bestowed on the Priest Saint Lawrence of Brindisi a spirit of counsel and fortitude, grant, we pray, that in the same spirit, we may know what must be done and, through his intercession, bring it to completion. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
July 20, 2026 Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Or Optional Memorial of Memorial of Saint Apollinaris of Ravenna Gospel: Mt 12:38-42
Today is Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time. The Church celebrates today the Optional Memorial of Saint Apollinaris of Ravenna (Bishop and Martyr). The Roman Martyrology tells us: Saint Apollinaris of Ravenna (1st–2nd century) is believed to have been a native of Antioch. He eventually became the first Bishop of Ravenna, Italy. He endured grievous torments for Faith and suffered martyrdom; thus, his veneration spread widely throughout the Church.
Today, the passage from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew presents to us the dialogue between Jesus and the scribes and Pharisees. In today’s Gospel, we encounter a frequently recurring term: sign. We also hear Jesus mention four figures from the Old Testament: the Prophet Jonah, the Queen of the South, Solomon, and the men of Nineveh. Therefore, let us endeavor to understand.
First, the sign. In English, the word is sign, meaning a mark or token. When we speak of signs, we often recall the tokens God grants to each of us. God frequently gives us signs unexpectedly, prompting us to remember His presence and, consequently, to respond to His call addressed to each one of us.
To the men of Nineveh, the Prophet Jonah was their sign, for they repented at his preaching (cf. Jon 3:1–10). God saw their repentance and refrained from bringing upon them the threatened destruction. To the Jews of Jesus’ time, Jonah was a prefigurement of Jesus, for Jonah, having resisted the divine will, spent three days and three nights in the belly of the whale. There, he prayed to the Lord, his God (cf. Jon 2:1–10). Likewise, Jesus, to redeem the world, died upon the Cross and rested in the tomb for three days and three nights.
To the Queen of the South, Solomon was the object of her quest. She longed to receive Solomon’s wisdom. Who was this Queen of the South? She is the Queen of Sheba (cf. 1 Kgs 10). Bearing abundant gifts, she journeyed from her pagan land to Solomon to seek wisdom. Today, this Queen of Sheba becomes a model for us all. Though she possessed high rank and great power, she came before a foreign king in humility to seek instruction. She did not seek further riches of this world but solely sought wisdom.
Direct your faithful, Lord, in the way of eternal salvation, which the Bishop Saint Apollinaris showed by his teaching and martyrdom, and grant, through his intercession, that we may so persevere in keeping your commandments as to merit being crowned with him. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
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