MARY OF MAGDELA

Today is the feast of St. Mary Magdalene who was one of Jesus' most influential apostles. - she was not a prostitute. She kept vigil at the Cross, discovered the empty tomb and was the first to actually see the Risen Christ who sent her to 'go and tell' the good news. The problem began in 591 when Pope Gregory characterized Mary as a repentant prostitute, a label that stuck eclipsing her important leadership and apostolic roles even to this day. Making her a prostitute has allowed her leadership role among the disciples to be generally forgotten. For those who prefer a Church with an exclusively male hierarchy, it is easier to deal with her as a repentant sinner than as an apostolic woman who had a voice and used it.  
So says Dr. Elizabeth Johnson, csj and so say I.