Renowned scholar Sandra Schneiders, IHM, STD argues that the importance of Mary Magdalene in the development of our Christian tradition cannot be overstated.  In her 2013 lecture at Boston College she said:

The gospel narratives present Mary Magdalene as the only privileged witness named at all of the Paschal Mystery events—the suffering, the death, the burial, the empty tomb, and the resurrected Lord returned to his own – the prophet par excellence, disciple and apostle of the Risen One. 

As we learn more about Mary Magdalene, consider these primary roles.  They are derived from direct and indirect references to Mary Magdalene in the Gospels.