The Magdalene Mystique » 2007 » February

The Author

Betty Conrad Adam, an Episcopal priest, is resident Canon Theologian at Christ Church Cathedral, Houston, and spiritual director of the Magdalene Community. She holds a PhD in philosphy from Rice University and was a recipient of a Merrill Fellowship at the Harvard Divinity School.

The Book

The Magdalene Mystique retells the story of Mary Magdalene for our time. As the consummate “other” who is mislabelled and demonized, the Magdalene becomes an ancestor who can help us bridge our cultural and religious divisions. Her lost Gospel tells us how a more deeply connected consciousness can happen to all of us and how we can be lead into a “shared peace.”

The CD

The Magdalene Mystique: Songs From Within by Anita Kruse is a companion to the book, The Magdalene Mystique. The music that accompanies our services can be found on this CD along with voices from other religious traditions. You will find this music helpful for private devotion or for use in your community.

Update from Dar es Salaam and the Gospel of Mary

posted February 20th, 2007 at 5:55 pm by Betty

In our contemporary Magdalene community, we think ourselves back to the earliest days of Mary Magdalene’s preaching and teaching — to the days when communities recorded various traditions about Mary Magdalene and Jesus. One such recording is found in the Gospel of Mary (Magdalene), written probably during the first half of the second century by a community living in either Syria, Asia Minor, or Egypt.

The Gospel of Mary begins in the middle of a resurrection dialogue with Jesus and four disciples, Peter, Andrew, Levi, and Mary Magdalene. All is well and good while Jesus is communicating openly with the disciples but after delivering his revelatory message, he vanishes, leaving the work of the ministry to the disciples. The disciples fall into grief and tears, wondering what their next actions should be, until Mary Magdalene stands up, greets them, and says,

“Do not weep and be distressed nor let your hearts be irresolute. For his grace will be with you all and shelter you.
Rather we should praise his greatness, for he has prepared us and made us Human Beings.”

I couldn’t help thinking of what Mary’s words might mean to us today as I solemnly read the latest update from Dar es Salaam. The articles I call your attention to can be found on-line at the Episcopal News Service, “Primates Meeting Communique” and “Primates endorse pastoral council, primatial vicar in closing communique,” and on the front page of the New York Times “Anglicans Rebuke U.S. Branch on Blessing Same-Sex Unions.”

In our contemporary Magdalene community we think ourselves back to the earliest days before there was a church organization and institution. We think our way back to those days when in Magdalene communities the people spoke boldly and openly with charisms and gifts of the Spirit - with parrhesia, to use the original Greek term. To speak with parresia, means to speak with “boldness,” “courage,” “confidence,” “joyfulness,” and “fearlessness.”

May we continue to so speak.

Tags: same sex unions anglican Dar es Salaam spirituality mary magdalene episcopal interfaith religion culture