Vatican City, 10 June 2016 – Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, today issued a decree by which, in accordance with the will of the Holy Father, it is established that the liturgical memory of St. Mary Magdalene, celebrated on 22 July, will be elevated to the level of a feast day. In the Mass and in the Divine Office to be celebrated on that date from now on, the usual texts in the Roman Missal and the Liturgy of the Hours will be used, but the Mass will also include a specific Preface entitled "de apostolorum apostola" (Apostle of the apostles"), the full Latin text of which is given below. The bishops, upon approval by the Holy See, will make this accessible in the various vernacular languages.

Præfatio: de apostolorum apostola

Vere dignum et iustum est,

æquum et salutáre,

nos te, Pater omnípotens,

cuius non minor est misericórdia quam potéstas,

in ómnibus prædicáre per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Qui in hortu maniféstus appáruit Maríæ Magdalénæ,

quippe quae eum diléxerat vivéntem,

in cruce víderat moriéntem,

quæsíerat in sepúlcro iacéntem,

ac prima adoráverat a mórtuis resurgéntem,

et eam apostolátus offício coram apóstolis honorávit

ut bonum novæ vitæ núntium

ad mundi fines perveníret.

Unde et nos, Dómine, cum Angelis et Sanctis univérsis

tibi confitémur, in exsultatióne dicéntes:

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dóminus Deus Sábaoth.