Book excerpt: The early Christians formed communities to follow the risen Jesus. One such community wrote down its gospel story, but sometime in those early years, the Gospel of Mary Magdalene disappeared. In the late nineteenth century, it surfaced in the Cairo marketplace, and today, contemporary Christians are embracing the message of this Magdalene Gospel. The Magdalene Mystique invites readers into the spiritual life of an actual community that celebrates Mary Magdalene as mystic and visionary, beloved companion of Jesus, and first witness to the resurrection. Following Mary’s gospel, the community seeks to embody an ethos of equality and justice. With historic background based on the scholarship of prominent researchers including Karen King and Jane Schaberg, plus prayers, liturgies, and real-life stories, this is a powerful book for group study and private devotion.