The Order of St Mary Magdelene
Custodian: Revd. Amma Jeanette Aubrey OMM
Many churches especially in the catholic traditions, have Orders dedicated to and revering Mary, Mother of Jesus. This is wholly appropriate and a wonderful expression of love and respect for the Holy Lady. In OCAC we revere and hold dear Mary Mother of God, but we also recognise the part that 'other Mary' (Mary Magdelene) played in the life and mission of Jesus.
Many of our people are part of Orders which adore Our Lady and so we felt called to do other than duplicate the good works already done by other Marian Orders and Societies.
The Order of St Mary Magdelene seeks to recognise and enhance the contribution that St Mary Magdelene made to all that Christ has left us. Often mis-understood, Mary Magdelene played a crucial role in supporting Christ in His life, His ministry and His mission. This Order hopes to educate and inform the christian church and the wider world about who Mary Magdelene was, what she did and what she meant to Jesus. Sometimes this work is seen as controversial: it should'nt be; Mary was a colleague, a friend, a supporter of Jesus and His work; and in many ways it was Mary who supported and helped Him in the work of His mission and obedience. We feel that Mary Magdelene represents a 'lost strand' of the later church: the church that excluded women from serving at the altar and in leadership positions. Many women through the ages have felt that Mary Magdelene played an underestimated role in the development of the christian church - something they feel some sympathy with. In OCAC we value and cherish the part that women play in the church and to build on this we have a religious order dedicated to St Mary Magdelene, and the mostly unseen work she did. Should Mary Magdelene have existed in our time; we feel that she would be viewed - rightly - as a strong and caring leader in the body we now know as 'The Church', and that she would still be loving the Christ she served when He walked this earth.
The Order of St Mary Magdelene is deliberately open to both men and women reflecting what we believe would be her wish to have equal opportunities for all in serving Christ.
There is an element of martyrdom in her serving: some see her as a saint; others are less enthusiastic about her. This is rather like the ambiguous treatment of women in the church throughout the ages.
This order celebrates St Mary Magdelene and the fact that Jesus chose to spend some of His time with her; confided in her and invited her to be at some important events in His mission. If you would like to do this too, we would encourage you to pray for St Mary Magdelene and consider how you can help.
To learn more of the Order of St Mary Magdelene click here.
