The Magdalene Rosary

The Marian rosary in honor of the Blessed Mother of Jesus has been in use for nearly eight centuries. It was originally promulgated by St. Dominic as a tool to be used in the spiritual warfare against the Cathars in medieval France. The Inquisition was formed in 1239 to help to root out the Cathar heresy which included the belief that Mary Magdalene and Jesus were "lovers." Since childhood I have said the traditional rosary to the Virgin Mary for special intentions and have experienced wonderful answers to prayer. 

One night in 1995 I fell asleep with my rosary in my hands and during my restless night, the links rearranged the configuration of my rosary. When I woke up, I discovered that my rosary had seven groups of seven prayers each, while one lone bead was lying by itself on the sheet. When I meditated on this strange "synchronicity," I decided that I wanted a rosary that had this seven-fold format to say in honor of Mary Magdalene.

Over the years I have developed this "7-fold" rosary with prayers celebrating the Mysteries of Mary Magdalene and the Sacred Union at the heart of the Christian Gospels. This rosary has 7 groups of 7 prayer beads  each, separated by a single prayer bead that introduces each group or "Mystery." The rosaries are prayed with two sets of   "Magdalene Mysteries": 

                 Seven Gospel Mysteries of Mary Magdalene 

 1. Mary meets Jesus for the first time and is healed of seven demons 

 2. Mary’s tears move Jesus to raise her brother Lazarus from the grave

 3. Mary anoints Jesus at the banquet and wipes her tears from his feet with her hair

 4. Mary follows the Way of the Cross 

 5. Mary stands with the Mother of Jesus at the foot of the Cross 

 6. Mary meets Jesus resurrected at the tomb on Easter morning 

 7. Mary goes forth to proclaim the Good News that Christ is risen 


                Seven Legendary Mysteries of Mary Magdalene  

 1. Mary travels with Joseph of Arimathea to safety in Egypt 

 2. Mary gives birth to her daughter Sarah 

 3. Mary is reunited with her family and escapes with them from Palestine by sea 

 4. Mary’s boat with no oars is swept ashore on the beach of Gaul 

 5. Mary preaches the Good News in Marseilles 

 6. Mary lives out her life as a hermit in the cave of Ste. Baume 

 7. At her death, Mary is assumed body and soul into heaven



 Prayers said with 'Magdalene" rosary are similar to those of the traditional Marian rosary.


1. Prayer to the Source of Life (said on each introductory bead, and after citing of the mystery being contemplated).


O Mystery of Life, Birther of all that is, 

Hallowed be Thy Name. 

Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done 

On earth as it is in heaven. 

Give us this day our daily bread 

And forgive us our debts 

As we forgive our debtors, 

And lead us not into temptation 

But deliver us from evil. Amen. 


2. Magdalene Prayer (repeated on each of seven beads during contemplation of the appropriate mystery). 


Dear Mary Magdalene, love incarnate, 

Sacred Vessel, Holy Grail, 

Chosen were you from all women, 

And blessed is your union with Jesus. 

Dearest Bride and Beloved of Christ, 

Show us the Way of the heart. 


3. Glory to the Source, the Force, and the Presence (said after each group of seven prayers before citing the next mystery).


Glory be to the Source, and to the Force, 

And to the loving Presence. 

As it was in the Beginning, is now and forever  

shall be, world without end.



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   Chaplet --one group of seven prayers with introductory prayer on the lead-in - created 

    by Linda Stern. 


                                               Spirit Art by Linda Joy




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                                                       photos by Linda Stern  2009

                                                                            healingstarlinda@gmail.com


                To order a custom-made chaplet 

                 please contact Linda Stern at 


                         Spirit Art by Linda Joy


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        My "Magdalene Rosary" created by Sally Norton


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COPYRIGHT 2009 MARGARET L. STARBIRD.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.