Jesus spent the majority of his ministry, established his home base, called his disciples, and performed many of the great miracles we read about in Scripture in the Galilee region.
When Father Juan Solana started construction on a guesthouse on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, he stumbled across the northern town of Ancient Magdala that launched an archaeological dig. In 2009, they discovered a First Century Synagogue where it is certain that Jesus taught. Inside the synagogue they also found four high quality purification baths and The Magdala Stone, a discovery many archaeologists call the most significant archaeological find in the past 50 years. Last summer, the synagogue of Rom and the Vatican museum held an exhibit of menorah's in art. The original Magdala stone was one of the central pieces on display due to the menorah being carved on its side.
The Magdala stone is unique in the sense that it was found in the midst of the synagogue, as a central feature. And it contains various symbols that scholars have interpreted as objects found in the Temple of Jerusalem. This has led to the conclusion that the Magdala stone is a model of the Temple of Jerusalem, indicating the centrality of the Temple in the lives of Magdala's residents.
Jennifer Ristine (MA 2009), is a consecrated woman of the Regnum Christi Movement and CDU graduate, who serves as Director and spokesperson of the Magdalena Institute. The institute was established for the promotion of the dignity of the human person, with an emphasis on women. Jennifer says that she uses her education in her role. “CDU gave me a good theological foundation and knowledge of sources that I can go back to again and again. When I have organized ecumenical events that involve persons from different faith backgrounds, I am aware of the basic fundamental principles that I want to transmit, that are universally common, yet rooted in revelation and essentially Judeo-Christian values.”
Jennifer oversees tours of the site, integrating archaeological discoveries with history, scripture and prayerful reflections. They organize day long women's symposiums showcasing women in the Holy Land who exhibit the "feminine genius." The symposiums invite speakers across religions to show women's contributions to culture and often highlight one particular woman in the bible. Other activities have included a day-long forgiveness conferences and a day-long spiritual retreats. Magdala is now open to the public serving pilgrims who come to Galilee to visit these holy sites to deepen their faith experience and grow closer to their risen Lord, Jesus Christ.
Jennifer says that Magdala discoveries confirm the already commonly held belief that Mary Magdalene was a wealthy woman. The town has several indications of the presence of a higher social class or wealth. Scripture scholars have long agreed, from interpretations of Luke 8:2-3, that Mary was a woman of means to support Jesus and his disciples in their ministry. Magdala removes the image of Mary Magdalene portrayed in the popular culture: that she was a poor prostitute on the street. This does not negate the fact that she needed liberation from Jesus, for scriptures tell us that she was "possessed by seven demons."
Jennifer is sharing her education with others, but she stresses that “CDU isn’t a mere intellectual exercise, the courses are meant to touch our daily lives. CDU inspires profound Christian living and evangelization of culture that's present in the values of CDU.”
Aside from her role in the Holy Land, Jennifer is also writing a book to be published this July. Its title is “Mary Magdalene: Insights from Ancient Magdala.” She requests prayers from her CDU family for this endeavor and also for her work in evangelization. Look for more about Jennifer’s book in the next newsletter.
