The Magdalene Laundries Name
Lady Arabella Denny was a philanthropist who founded the first Magdalene Asylum to assist prostitutes and what they deemed fallen girls/women, into rehabilitation. The women were provided with skills that serve them in life. After months, but not longer than two years, they were permitted to go back home or into the workforce.
The name was taken from Mary Magdalene last name. Mary was a woman who, according to the gospels, traveled with Jesus as one of his followers and was a witness to his crucifixion and and was the first person Jesus appeared to after his resurrection.
Mary was going to be stoned by the townspeople when Jesus encountered her for the first time. He saved her from being stoned. She then vowed never to sin and followed him until his last breath. Nowhere in the Bible does it state that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute.
Fritz von Uhde, “Noli Me Tangere,” 1894
That narrative derived from Pope Gregory I in 591 who wanted to stain the importance of her role in the history of Christianity. History has shown the power of the Roman Catholic Church over nations and the domination of men in power. When this narrative was created, they took the next step to write this in all their literature and teach it as fact for centuries. No one questioned the teachings of the Church. Within the last few decades technology and access to information has allowed the truth of her life and history to surface, be re-written, and re-learned.
By naming the Laundries with Magdalene, Lady Arabella Denny continued to perpetuate the false narrative by the Roman Catholic Church.
