With only 365 days in the year, it is difficult to dedicate each day of the year to a single saint. That is why the Roman Catholic Church has the Roman Martyrology, which lists each saint that the Church remembers on a particular day.
During the month of April, the Church is always thinking about Easter and so it is fitting that April 24 recalls two Marys who were present at the cross and at the resurrection.
St. Mary of Clopas and St. Mary Salome
The Roman Martyrology provides the following note on April 24:
At Jerusalem, commemoration of the holy women Mary of Clopas and Mary Salome, who together with Mary Magdalene came to the Lord’s tomb on Easter morning to anoint his body and were the first to hear the announcement of his resurrection.
Relatively little is known about Mary of Clopas, as the Gospel of John is the only place where her name is expressly given.
Biblical scholars have had differing views as to the correct interpretation about her identity. For example, according to the Catholic Encyclopedia, “St. Jerome would identify this Alpheus with Cleophas who, according to Hegesippus, was brother to St. Joseph. In this case Mary of Cleophas, or Alpheus, would be the sister-in-law of the Blessed Virgin, and the term ‘sister,’ adelphe, in John 19:25, would cover this.”
After the resurrection, she might have stayed in Jerusalem, or some traditions claim that she went to France with St. Mary Magdalene. There is a church in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer where her relics are believed to be located.
St. Mary Salome is similarly mentioned in the Gospels only a few times and is known as one of the "three Marys" who followed Jesus during his public ministry. She is also believed to have joined Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James to anoint the body of Jesus in the tomb.
Some traditions also state that she accompanied St. Mary Magdalene to France and is buried there as well.
What we do know is that these two Marys were witnesses of the resurrection and were among the first to hear the good news.
