Mary Magdalene was cured of seven devils by Christ and became his follower (Luke 8: 2). She was present at the Crucifixion, and was the first person to whom the resurrected Christ revealed himself (with the words 'Touch me not', in Latin 'Noli me Tangere').
She is often held to be the same person as Mary of Bethany, the sister of Lazarus and Martha. She is characterised as the penitent whore and as a paragon of contemplation. Her attribute is the pot of ointment with which she anointed Christ's feet, as is told in the Gospels. She is usually shown wearing red.