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 Magdaleneis with 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 Miracle of the Red Egg is a wonderful book on the legend shares how this tradition started way back in apostolic times.
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 egg.
Twas the Morning of Easter by Glenys Nellist. It is a beautifully illustrated book that tells the story of the resurrection of Jesus, following the familiar rhyme of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
It 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.
For More Ways to Celebrate Mary Magdalene