By Fr. Bernard Basset, SJ.
St. Mary Magdalen
QT, Mary Magdalen is honoured
by the Church on July 22. For those who are interested in scriptural problems, this lovable saint provides material galore. The question of the one, two or three Manes has not yet been solved. In the Western Church tradition has identified Mary Magdalen with the sinful woman whom Our Lord forgave (Luke 7) and with Mary the sister of Martha and Lazarus. Both facts arc mentioned in the Mass for her feast.
The Three Manes THE Greek Fathers as a whole followed the theory that there were three different people and the Greek Church gave each a separate feast.
I. The anonymous sinner of Luke 7 who washed Our Lord's feet.
2. Mary of Bethany, who chose the better part, whose brother Lazarus was raised from the dead and who anointed Our Lord's feet before the Passion.
3. Mary Magdalen out of whom Our Lord cast seven devils (Luke 8) to whom He appeared on Easter Sunday and who was present at the foot of the Cross.
Father Hugh Pope who himself defends the Western tradition says that if we only had St. Luke to guide us we should have no grounds for identifying the three. It is John (X1 2 and XII 3) who provides a clue which the Westerp Church has accepted.
"Much has been forgiven her" mGR. Knox in his new trans
lation has introduced a further change which deserves thought. In the scene with the Sinful Woman (Luke 7) Our Lord told the story of the man who had two debtors one of whom owed five hundred pieces of silver, the other fifty. He forgave them both. " And now tell me," he asked of the Pharisee. " which of them loved him the more ?" The Pharisee answered correctly. In the old version Our Lord was then quoted as saying of the sinful woman " Much has been forgiven her, because she has loved much." Mgr. Knox following other scholars, has turned it round translating it " If great sins have been forgiven her, she has also greatly loved." Both versions are beautiful, the new throws further light and better fits the story which went before.
Posters of the Crib VISITORS from America and • Canada speak with en thusiasm of the experiment tried in some transatlantic cities of putting up posters of the crib on public hoardings and also reproductions of famous Italian master
pieces. The effect on Christians alone is reported to have been very impressive. I was told that the same experiment was also successful in Holland. Can any reader supply information on this?
Overheard outside a church "J.TOW wonderful that the Holy " Father should have canonised Marie Corelli."
St. Wulstan's, Fleetwood
QT. Wulstan's, Fleetwood, an the
air on Sunday in the July series of Church broadcasts from seaside places, takes its broadcasting very seriously. A week ago the congregation was busy practising a carefully chosen list of hymns, one by St. Ambrose, another by Abelard. As a change from scripture reading a lovely passage from St. Augustine on creation in general and on the sea in particular was selected. During the broadcast the police diverted the traffic to prevent noise. Some of the congregation, fishermen, were hoping to hear their Evening Service out at sea. I have not yet heard with what success. St. Wulstan's deserves an Oscar or the equivalent for at the 7.30 Mass last Sunday no one left the Church until the prayers at the end of Mass were finished.
Tailpiece I LIKE the story of the absent • minded professor who sat up in his bath and said " Now what exactly did I come up here for ?"