Was St. Mary Magdelene always sinful?

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Many people say that St. Mary Magdelene was a prostitute. And it is assumed that she was a prostitute before her conversion to Christianity. However did she remain one after?
 
It never says anywhere in Scripture that St. Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. It only says that she came from Magdala, which was a town known for prostitutes and women of loose virtue. I believe she wasn’t one.
 
There is a Western tradition that identifies Mary Magdalene with the woman called “the sinner” (i.e., prostitue) who anointed Jesus.

It is not found in the East, who consider them to be two separate women. In fact, St. Mary Magdalene is considered an Equal of the Apostles.
 
The only thing that the Bible says concerning Mary Magdalene’s past life is that she had been possessed by demons and healed by Jesus. From the D-R:
Mar 16:9 But he rising early the first day of the week, appeared first to Mary Magdalen; out of whom he had cast seven devils.
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From the D-R:
Luk 8:2 And certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary who is called Magdalen, out of whom seven devils were gone forth,
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bookish said:
It never says anywhere in Scripture that St. Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. It only says that she came from Magdala, which was a town known for prostitutes and women of loose virtue. I believe she wasn’t one.
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She is not identified as such…

But I am not sure how to proceed with a question that asks “Do you think she continued to be a hooker (if she was one to begin with) after becoming a Christian?”

Steadfastly NO. The sinners Christ called as apostles did not persist in their lifestyle of sin.
 
ASimpleSinner said:
She is not identified as such…

But I am not sure how to proceed with a question that asks “Do you think she continued to be a hooker (if she was one to begin with) after becoming a Christian?”

Steadfastly NO. The sinners Christ called as apostles did not persist in their lifestyle of sin.
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Yea, nice point, thanks.
 
bookish said:
It never says anywhere in Scripture that St. Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. It only says that she came from Magdala, which was a town known for prostitutes and women of loose virtue. I believe she wasn’t one.
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I was just wondering, I read somewhere that she is the patron saint to sexual temptation.
 
holdencaulfield said:
I was just wondering, I read somewhere that she is the patron saint to sexual temptation.
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Yeah - down the line a Pope screwed things up for Mary Magdelene.

What we know is she helped fund Jesus’ public ministry, traveled with him, was cured of 7 demons (generally denotes ILLNESS not sexual sins) and came from Magdela.

Oh and of course we know the whole Apostle to the Apostles thing.
 
holdencaulfield said:
Many people say that St. Mary Magdelene was a prostitute. And it is assumed that she was a prostitute before her conversion to Christianity. However did she remain one after?
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Mary Magdelene was a sinner for sure, just like we are. I would think she struggled with sin just like we do, no matter venial or mortal. Don’t we contine to sin even though we have been forgiven by God once we repent? We fall, ask forgiveness, and pick ourselves up and start all over doing what God asks.

I don’t think we can presume what her sins were after she knew Christ, but her meeting Christ must have been a life changing thing for her.🙂
 
holdencaulfield said:
So that was just his own personal belief?
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No, that was the belief of many scholars during the reign of Gregory the Great…that Mary Magdelene was a prostitute. . There are 3 women mentioned in the New Testament (other than the Virgin Mary & Marha)…Mary Magdelene, Mary of Bethany & the “unnamed sinner”. At one time, these last 3 were believed to be one woman…specifically, Mary M. was thought to be the “unnamed sinner”. Biblical scholars now agree that the three women written about in scripture are indeed three women.
 
holdencaulfield said:
Many people say that St. Mary Magdelene was a prostitute. And it is assumed that she was a prostitute before her conversion to Christianity. However did she remain one after?
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there is no evidence in the gospels that she was sinful or a prostitute before her conversion. there is ample evidence, in the fact that she is a saint, and the first one to whom the risen Christ appeared, that she continued in virtue after.
 
Eilish_Maura said:
Yeah - down the line a Pope screwed things up for Mary Magdelene.

.
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we don’t know that, unless we have the full text of the sermon preached by Pope Gregory, in which he chose to make a point about sin and redemption by mentioning various women from the gospels. We don’t know if he identified them as the same woman, or if those who heard, recorded or passed on the sermon made that interpretation.
 
puzzleannie said:
there is no evidence in the gospels that she was sinful or a prostitute before her conversion. there is ample evidence, in the fact that she is a saint, and the first one to whom the risen Christ appeared, that she continued in virtue after.
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I know that’s why I was asking where the belief came from?
 
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