MAGDALEN, MARY. See MARY.
Religious of St MAGDALEN, a denomination given
to divers communities of nuns, consisting generally of
penitent courtesans; sometimes also called Magdale-
nettes. Such are those at Metz, established in 1452;
those at Paris, in 1492; those at Naples, first estab-
lished in 1324, and endowed by Queen Sancha, to
serve as a retreat for public courtesans, who should be-
take themselves to repentance; and those of Rouen and
Bourdeaux, which had their original among those of
Paris in 1618. In each of these monasteries there are
three kinds of persons and congregations; the first con-
sist of those who are admitted to make vows, and these
bear the name of St Magdalen; the congregation of St
Martha is the second, and is composed of those whom
it is not judged proper to admit to vows; finally, the
congregation of St Lazarus is composed of such as are
detained there by force.
The religious of St Magdalen at Rome were establish-
ed by Pope Leo X. Clement VIII. settled a revenue
on them; and farther appointed, that the effects of all
public prostitutes, dying intestate, 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, to them.