Magdalen
MAGDALEN
Religious of St. a denomination given to divers communities of nuns, consisting generally of penitent courtezans; sometimes also called Magdalanettes. They were established at Mentz in 1542; at Paris in 1492; at Naples in 1324; at Rouen and Bordeaux in 1618. In each of these monasteries there were three kinds of persons and congregations; the first consisted of those who were admitted to make vows, and those bear the name of St. Magdalen; the congregation of St. Martha was the second, and was composed of those whom it was not thought proper to admit to vows finally; the congregation of St. Lazarus was composed of such as were detained by force. The religious of St. Magdalen at Rome were established by Pope Leo X. Clement VIII. settled a revenue on them; and farther appointed, that the effects of all public prostitutes dying interstate should fall to them; and that the testaments of the rest should be invalid, unless they bequeathed a portion of their effects, which was to be at least a fifth part of them.
Fuente: Theological Dictionary
Magdalen
(or Magdalene) (, fem. adj. from Magdala), a surname regularly applied to one of the. Marys in the Gospels, derived from her place of nativity or former residence, in order to distinguish her from the other Marys (Mat 27:56; Mat 27:61; Mat 28:1; Mar 15:40; Mar 15:47; Mar 16:1; Mar 16:9; Luk 8:2; Luk 24:10; Joh 19:25; Joh 20:1; Joh 20:18). SEE MAGDALA.