Lent 2026
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While we don't know much about St. Mary Magdalene, one thing we know with certainty is that she was possessed by seven demons.
There are two separate passages in the Bible that relate this fact:
Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, [Jesus] appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. (Mark 16:9)
Soon afterward [Jesus] went on through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out. (Luke 8:1-2)
This is all the information we get and so we don't know the precise reason why Mary was possessed by these seven demons.
However, we do know a little bit about demonic possession that can give us some clues as to what happened.
Demons typically don't possess saints
One basic truth behind demonic possession is that demons generally can't enter into someone's body unless there is an open door. It's true that demons can assault people without their permission, but a full possession can typically only occur with at least some sort of permission.
For example, the most common way a demon can enter into someone’s life is through a habitual state of mortal sin. The more we divorce ourselves from God through sin, the more susceptible we are to a demon’s attack or temptations.
This is often the view of Medieval commentators of the Bible, who believed the "seven demons" represented "seven sins." Seven is a number of "perfection" or "completion," and so medieval commentators believed Mary was "completely" given over to sin before she encountered Christ.
St. Bede explains in the Cantena Aurea that, "Out of whom seven devils are reported to have gone, that it might be shown that she was full of all vices."
St. Gregory similarly writes, "For what is understood by the seven devils, but all vices? For since all time is comprehended by seven days, rightly by the number seven is universality represented: Mary therefore had seven devils, for she was full of every kind of vice."
From troubled life to Apostle
Some modern-day scholars believe that Mary wasn't possessed by any demons, but only that she had many "infirmities," and was healed by Jesus. This is certainly possible, but the Gospel writers make it clear that these were "evil spirits."
While some commentators link her to an adulterous woman in the Gospels, there is no firm evidence to link her to that specific woman.
What can be said is that Mary Magdalene likely led a very troubled life prior to meeting Jesus, but after that encounter, she completely changed her ways and was "healed" by him. If it is true that she was a sinner, with Jesus' help she was able to turnaround completely and become a great saint.
She would then go on to become the "Apostle to the Apostles" and one of the most important disciples of Jesus.
