The Santa María Magdalena Brotherhood informs us that this Saturday, July 22, a solemn Eucharist will be held in honor of Saint Mary Magdalene in the Basilica of the Assumption at 8:00 p.m. to commemorate the name day of her titular image.
The blessing of a new mantle for Saint Mary Magdalene, donated and made by the brotherhood's sister María Teresa Rocamora Hurtado along with Juan Antonio Abellán Julia, will take place.
MAY THE MAGDALENE GUIDE YOU
During Holy Week, the throne and statue were arranged in the Aguados carriage house, located in the Ejíos de Marín. From there, along with the procession of the Prayer of the Garden, it participated in the "Traída de los Santos" (Bringing of the Saints), waiting at the corner of the town for the arrival of the floats descending from the Hermitage of the Most Holy Christ of Consolation. It then preceded the group to the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption to participate in the General Procession, the Penitent Procession, the Holy Burial Procession, and the Procession of the Risen Christ, which it also led. Hence the common saying in Cieza, "Walk with God and may Mary Magdalene guide you."
HISTORY AND YEAR THAT DID NOT PROCESS
The image was commissioned by the Ciezano priest, D. Pedro Marín Martínez, chaplain of Las Claras, to occupy the side altarpieces of the Hermitage of the Holy Christ, whose works had been completed in 1879. The work was commissioned to the Murcian sculptor Joaquín Eusebio Baglietto, who delivered the work in 1881.
Its first chambermaid was Mrs. Visitacion Aguado, who was responsible for paying for the throne, as well as the dress, mantle, scarf, and turban of the Image; the embroidery and tailoring of these outfits were carried out in 1892 by the young ladies María Solera and Carmen Pérez Marín. The wig was always blonde and was made with the natural hair of its own chambermaid. Upon her death in 1917, Mrs. Carmen Camacho took charge of the Image, being replaced by her niece Mrs. Pilar Gómez until 1940, the year in which Mr. Mariano Camacho took charge of the procession and his wife Mrs. Clara García took over as chambermaid, continuing to manage it until her death on April 3, 1993, coinciding with Easter Sunday. As a note, it should be noted that the image of Saint Mary Magdalene did not participate in the procession that Sunday as she remained watching over Mrs. Clara.
HIDDEN AND PROTECTED IMAGE
During the Civil War, the statue was kept in a partitioned space in the house of Don Mariano Camacho, which is why it has survived to this day and was not destroyed during the Civil War. There are other very old sculptures, such as the Veronica from 1892, which, incidentally, celebrated its 125th anniversary this year, and The Holy Christ by Juan Rigusteza from 1602. These are among the oldest sculptures in our processional heritage.
WHERE TO CONTEMPLATE THE IMAGE
The image of the Magdalene is currently in the Chapel of the Recumbent Christ of the parish of the Assumption, we can contemplate it in the left altar of said chapel where we observe a mural with three carvings, in the Center the image of the Christ of the Blood, carving by Luis Álvarez Duarte made in 2001 and on both sides, we have the image of Saint Mary Magdalene by Joaquín Eusebio Baglietto made in 1881 and the image of Our Lady of the Greatest Pain also by Luis Álvarez Duarte 2005.