We consecrated women who live in Magdala — Céline, Alessandra, Kathleen, and I — recently went on a deeply moving pilgrimage in Provence, France, following the footsteps of Mary Magdalene. This journey led us through places rich in history and faith, forming a profoundly meaningful spiritual itinerary.

Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume: A Feast in Honor of the Saint

We began our pilgrimage in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, and the date could not have been more providential: we arrived on July 27, the day on which the diocese celebrates the liturgical feast of Saint Mary Magdalene together with its bishop. The atmosphere in the city was exceptional, very different from the usual serenity of a sanctuary. A great popular celebration—groups dressed in traditional costumes and crowds of pilgrims—filled the streets leading to the basilica.

The highlight was, without a doubt, the veneration of the relics. Seeing Mary Magdalene’s skull, displayed in its reliquary, carried through the narrow streets of the town was a profoundly concrete moment that moved each of us. It made her presence and her story tangible. The simple, popular joy that filled the air was contagious: it was clear that Mary Magdalene is a beloved and celebrated saint throughout the region.

La Sainte-Baume: Dominican Hospitality and the Stillness of the Cave

After the festive bustle of Saint-Maximin, we made our way to the quiet of La Sainte-Baume. The contrast was striking. The ascent through the cool, shaded forest prepared our hearts for the recollection of the cave. There we were warmly welcomed by the community of Dominican friars who have guarded the sanctuary for centuries. Their discreet and serene hospitality nurtured our desire for spiritual encounter.

Spending a few days in this holy place, taking part in prayer in the very cave where Mary Magdalene contemplated God, was a profound grace. The silence invited our hearts to open to the Lord’s presence.

The meetings with the rectors of the sanctuaries of Saint-Maximin and La Sainte-Baume were especially enriching and offered us inspiration for our work in the Holy Land, particularly for our projects in Magdala, the city of Mary Magdalene.

A particularly endearing moment was the long picnic atop the Sainte-Baume mountain with the consecrated women from Bordeaux. Each one shared how Mary Magdalene’s relationship with Christ inspires our own consecration. It was a graced moment, filled with faith and sisterhood.

Widening the Circle: Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer and Tarascon

The pilgrimage continued to other important sites of tradition. In Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, considered the landing place of Mary Magdalene, Lazarus, Mary of James, Mary Salome, and other disciples, we deepened our understanding of the saints of Provence.

Then, in Tarascon, another pleasant surprise awaited us. The devotion to Saint Martha, “the hostess of Christ,” is vibrant and deeply rooted. The collegiate church that houses her relics radiates an ancient and serene piety. We were impressed by the fervent devotion of the locals and by the figure of Martha, often depicted subduing the Tarasque. Her witness as an active woman of faith beautifully complemented that of Mary Magdalene.

Returning with Full Hearts: From Provence to Magdala

This pilgrimage was much more than a series of visits. It was an inner journey in which, through

concrete places, venerated relics, and fraternal encounters, we learned to know and love Mary Magdalene — and the saints who accompanied her — more deeply.

Each stage left a mark that strengthened the bonds between us and rekindled our desire to follow Christ with her same ardor. We returned to the Holy Land — to the very places where Mary Magdalene walked with the Lord — with renewed light for our mission in Magdala.

On a personal level, this pilgrimage was a special gift, as my family lives in Provence. This made the logistics easier and allowed an encounter between my two families: my natural family and my spiritual family. We returned with hearts full of gratitude, memories, and a faith strengthened by these visible traces of sacred history.