{"id":983,"date":"2013-07-21T20:00:58","date_gmt":"2013-07-22T00:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sanctuaryofwomen.com\/blog\/?p=983"},"modified":"2017-07-22T11:11:46","modified_gmt":"2017-07-22T15:11:46","slug":"the-magdalenes-blessing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sanctuaryofwomen.com\/blog\/the-magdalenes-blessing\/","title":{"rendered":"The Magdalene’s Blessing"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n<\/a>Image: The Blessing Cups: Jesus and Mary Magdalene at Tea
\n<\/i>\u00a9 Jan L. Richardson<\/p>\n

Blessings to you on this eve of the Feast of Mary Magdalene! Earlier this year, at the Women’s Convocation in Bellevue, Washington\u2014a marvelous gathering whose speakers included Sr. Helen Prejean and Clarissa Pinkola Est\u00e9s\u2014I had the opportunity to speak on the theme of “Illuminating the Threshold.” Mary Magdalene, whose story is so associated with thresholds, easily found her way into my talk. As Gary and I traveled across the country for the convocation, I composed a blessing inspired by the Magdalene’s encounter with Jesus on Easter morning. I offered the blessing to those who came to my talk\u2014those who, like me, find themselves fascinated by threshold spaces and the invitations they hold.<\/p>\n

As we celebrate the Magdalene’s feast day (July 22), I offer this blessing to you. Wherever you are, whatever threshold you are on or are approaching, may courage and grace attend you.<\/p>\n

The Magdalene\u2019s Blessing<\/em><\/p>\n

You hardly imagined
\nstanding here,
\neverything you ever loved
\nsuddenly returned to you,
\nlooking you in the eye
\nand calling your name.<\/p>\n

And now
\nyou do not know
\nhow to abide this ache
\nin the center
\nof your chest,
\nwhere a door
\nslams shut
\nand swings open
\nat the same time,
\nturning on the hinge
\nof your aching
\nand hopeful heart.<\/p>\n

I tell you,
\nthis is not a banishment
\nfrom the garden.<\/p>\n

This is an invitation,
\na choice,
\na threshold,
\na gate.<\/p>\n

This is your life
\ncalling to you
\nfrom a place
\nyou could never
\nhave dreamed,
\nbut now that you
\nhave glimpsed its edge,
\nyou cannot imagine
\nchoosing any other way.<\/p>\n

So let the tears come
\nas anointing,
\nas consecration,
\nand then
\nlet them go.<\/p>\n

Let this blessing
\ngather itself around you.<\/p>\n

Let it give you
\nwhat you will need
\nfor this journey.<\/p>\n

You will not remember
\nthe words\u2014
\nthey do not matter.<\/p>\n

All you need to remember
\nis how it sounded
\nwhen you stood
\nin the place of death
\nand heard the living
\ncall your name.<\/p>\n

\u00a9 Jan Richardson<\/p>\n

2017 update: <\/strong>This blessing appears in my book Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons<\/em><\/a>.
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

P.S.<\/strong> The Hours of Mary Magdalene<\/em> is a video that my singer\/songwriter husband and I produced, intertwining my series of images inspired by the life and legends of the Magdalene with his gorgeous and haunting song, “Mary Magdalena.”\u00a0Please note that if you click the Vimeo logo in the player below (in the bottom right corner), it will take you directly to a larger version of the video.<\/p>\n