Next week, Monday Nov 2, I’ll be at Trinity College, University of Oxford to give a lecture in the wonderful The Bible in Art, Music and Literature seminar. Of course, I’ll speak about my favorite saint, in a talk titled: “Meaningful Multiplicity: Embracing the Many Faces of Mary Magdalene.”

Want to join in? Check the website of the Centre for Reception History of the Bible on how to get more info.

Here’s the abstract of my talk.

Mary Magdalene is one of the most enigmatic figures in the Gospels. She has been interpreted in various ways, interpretations that in turn have resulted in many imaginings: a penitent convert, devoted follower, possessed woman, preacher, hermit, miracle worker, companion of Christ, teacher of the apostles, first witness to the resurrection, feminist. Together these imaginings form a remarkably appealing but also challenging constellation. During this seminar I’ll explore how we can think through the value of these many faces of Mary Magdalene, and how we might deal in a meaningful way with this constellation today.

Images (details): Giovanni Girolamo Savoldo, Mary Magdalene, ca. 1535-40, The National Gallery (left); David LaChapelle, Mary Magdalene abiding lamentation, 2018, David LaChapelle Studio (right). Both now on view at the Städel Museum in Frankfurt.