What Was Mary Magdalene’s Age?
- Tanya Torres
- Sep 9, 2025
- 1 min read
I will title this drawing Mary Magdalene’s Night Prayer.
My studio was full of oil paint fumes, which made me allergic and afraid to be in here. It’s better now, so I was able to draw again. It was all for a good cause: I’m painting a large oil painting with beautiful bright colors. I had started it years ago for a friend, and it’s time to complete it. The smell and the start of classes, and a fear of illness, made me stay away these last few days. As long as I don’t stop, I need to be flexible with myself.
I was wondering today: How old was Mary Magdalene when she met and followed Jesus? There are all kinds of answers… But I was thinking that she must have been young, in her 20s or early 30s. Why? Because she was so passionate. How does someone decide to leave everything behind and follow her heart? She must have been idealistic and filled with a great faith and great courage.
I remember myself at that age. It’s as if all the newness of life fills you and frees you. Later in life, wisdom reigns you in...
She was able to listen to her heart without reserve. She walked with Jesus and stayed by his side at the most difficult times.
That’s something we can do at any age: open our heart and listen, keep our faith alive no matter what.
I agree with you. and I have to wonder,if I think about it from an ancient perspective, I believe, to be in your 30s at the time of Jesus was not considered young. Most women were married between 12 and 14. I understand the average life expectancy for Hebrew people at the time of Christ was about 35. However, that includes infant mortality rates and childbirth mortality for women. understand people who made it past those hurdles could expect to live to be 50 and the rare person lived to about 65.
Taking everything in mind, it would be strange for a woman in that culture at that time not to have been married in her mid to late…