MARY. See Mary.

Religious of St MAGDALEN, a denomination given to divers communities of nuns, consisting generally of penitent courtesans; sometimes also called Magdalennes. Such are those at Metz, established in 1452; those at Paris, in 1492; those at Naples, first established in 1324, and endowed by Queen Sancha, to serve as a retreat for public courtesans, who should betake themselves to repentance; and those of Rouen and Bordeaux, 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 consist 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 established 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.

MAGDALEN Hospital. See LONDON, No 115.