Mary Magdalene: Fact, Fiction, & Mystery

by Raymond F. Collins

Other than the Virgin Mary, no woman has so captivated our attention as Mary from Magdala. From her portrayal as a prostitute to speculation that she was Jesus’ wife in popular fiction like The Da Vinci Code, images of Mary have abounded for centuries. These portrayals, however, often have very little basis in truth. Join one of America’s leading New Testament scholars in encountering the real Mary Magdalene. Under the guidance of Fr. Raymond F. Collins, you will explore Mary Magdalene in the Gospels, Gnosticism, and popular culture. As you do so, you will gain a powerful portrait of this Galilean follower of Jesus. You will begin by looking at the popular myth of Mary Magdalene as a sinful woman who repented and became a disciple of Jesus. Then, you will look at Mary Magdalene’s appearances in the synoptic Gospels―as a patron of Jesus as well as the witness to his death, burial, and resurrection. Then, you will look at the Gospel of John, which details the commission that Jesus entrusted to Mary. Finally, you will look at the portrayals of Mary Magdalene in noncanonical manuscripts, the recent discoveries of which have given rise to revisionist portraits of Mary Magdalene. You will see then how the Mary Magdalene of fiction differs from the Mary Magdalene of faith. Discover this essential biblical figure today.

Audio CD

Published September 28, 2021

About the author

Raymond F. Collins (STD, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) is a Roman Catholic priest of the Diocese of Providence and the author of numerous books and commentaries. His books include New Testament Christology, New Testament Theology: Exploring Unity and Diversity, and God's Saving Grace: A Pauline Theology. Prior to his retirement, Collins was professor of New Testament at Catholic University of America. He lives in Saunderstown, Rhode Island.