The Feast of Mary Magdalene is coming up on July 22nd. Mary Magdalene, known as the "Apostle to the Apostles," holds a special place in Christian history. Her unwavering faith and love for Jesus have made her an enduring symbol of devotion. On her feast day, we are reminded of her profound role as the first witness to the resurrection and her crucial role in spreading the Good News.
One of my favorite ways to celebrate the Feast of Mary Magdalene is with really good children's books. Reading books about the saints is such an easy and fun way to help our children learn about our faith's heroes. They are a powerful teaching tool to help children understand who the saints were and why they are important.
Today I am sharing some of my favorite books about Mary Magdalene. I hope they are a blessing!
The Miracle of the Red Egg by Elizabeth Crispina Johnson and Daria Fisher
In the Orthodox Christian tradition, Easter eggs are dyed red. The red symbolizes the blood of Christ and the egg symbolizes the resurrection. Dyeing eggs red for Easter is also associated with the story of Mary Magdalene and her encounter with the Roman Emperor Tiberius. According to the legend, after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Mary Magdalene traveled to Rome to share the Gospel with Emperor Tiberius. During the meeting, she gave the emperor an egg and explained to him that the egg was a perfect symbol of the resurrection of Jesus. However, the emperor was skeptical and responded that it was impossible for someone to rise from the dead, just as it was impossible for the egg in Mary Magdalene's hand to turn red.
The egg miraculously turned red at that moment, shocking everyone who witnessed it. This miraculous event is said to have convinced the emperor of the truth of Mary Magdalene's message, and he allowed her to continue her missionary work.
The Story of Saint Mary Magdalene and the First Easter Egg by Laura Wagner.
Another beautiful book on Mary Magdalene and the tradition of the red egg.
Twas the Morning of Easter by Glenys Nellist.
This book is part of a longer series called the "Twas" series that walks you through the liturgical year. I am so excited about this series! It is so difficult to find children's books that walk you through the seasons of the church year. These are keepsake books that I will be using every year along with their activity packs.
Twas the Morning of Easter is a beautifully illustrated book that tells the story of the women, including Mary Magdalene, who discovered the resurrection of Jesus. It is beautifully illustrated and follows the familiar rhyme of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
This book tells the story of Magdala, the Hometown of Mary Magdalene, with captivating rhymes and illuminating and delightful illustrations. Although Magdala is mentioned several times in the scriptures, it came lately as a huge surprise, when remains of this ancient fishery town were revealed on the western shores of the Sea of Galilee in the Holy Land. Most exciting was the discovery of a stone block, on which a Menorah shape was engraved. It tells that the artist must have seen the original Menorah in the Temple before 70 AD (the year of the Temple's destruction). In short years Magdala has already become a very special place of history and culture, as it provides an authentic location to walk and pray where Jesus taught, and to connect with the first-century life of Jesus’ followers.
OTHER HELPFUL LINKS ABOUT THE FEAST OF MARY MAGDALENE:
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