The Risen Jesus chose Mary Magdalene as the first witness and proclaimer of his resurrection. Why? Laura James’s glorious art helps answer that question. It brings us the real Mary Magdalene whom Jesus trusted, the faithful disciple who never abandoned him—the Mary Magdalene of scripture, not false legends. Come, meet Mary Magdalene. Follow her as she travels and ministers with Jesus, as she hears him predict his death and rising. Come seek with her as she weeps and peers into the tomb, as she meets Jesus in the garden and receives his holy order: “Go, tell my brothers and sisters that I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God” (John 20:17). This is the first time Jesus offers us a path to a direct relationship with God, “the Father” and Mary Magdalene has the “singular honor … of carrying [this] electrifying message to the others.”1 She proclaims, “I have seen the Lord,” (John 20:18) revealing “… a life transforming experience.”2 We hope you will also encounter the Risen Jesus here and find your own life transforming experience with this art. Yet, a simple internet search reveals that the demeaning, false “penitent, sexual sinner” legends still persist in art, as well as in song, movies, and literature. The Catholic Sunday lectionary continues to omit many of her important Gospel scenes creating the false impression that she, and other women were not significant disciples. New art is a critical and effective tool for filling the gaps and replacing the false images with Gospel truth. The art in this exhibit began with Rita L. Houlihan’s urgent mission to bring the Mary Magdalene of scripture to the public’s attention. To make this vision real, Rita turned to Laura James and her rich talent for creating compelling images of quiet, joyful, and sometimes, loud spiritual experiences. We are grateful that Mercy by the Sea has opened their space to bring these paintings together, as a complete series for the first time. We hope you will enjoy this art, with its colors, patterns, and striking compositions. We hope you will spread the word about this art and about the Gospel memories it preserves. We hope this art will touch the public’s imagination—regardless of religion—and carry the powerful memories of Mary Magdalene that our 1st century ancestors carried. These ancestors knew her as the disciple who traveled and ministered with Jesus, as the disciple who first brought the Good News of Resurrection—the foundational teaching of Christianity—to all. We hope you will hold these Gospel memories in your hearts and take them with you wherever you may go.