Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus– 29th July

In the household of Bethany the Lord Jesus experienced the family spirit and friendship of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, and for this reason the Gospel of John states that he loved them. Martha generously offered him hospitality, Mary listened attentively to his words and Lazarus promptly emerged from the tomb at the command of the One who humiliated death. 

The traditional uncertainty of the Latin Church about the identity of Mary (the Magdalene to whom Christ appeared after his resurrection, the sister of Martha, the sinner whose sins the Lord had forgiven), which resulted in the inclusion of Martha alone on 29 July in the Roman Calendar, has been resolved in recent studies and times, as attested by the current Roman Martyrology, which also commemorates Mary and Lazarus on that day. Moreover, in some particular calendars the three siblings are already celebrated together. It has decreed that 29 July be designated in the General Roman Calendar as the Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus.

 

Prayer to Sts. Martha, Mary and Lazarus

Grant, we pray, almighty God,

that the example of your Saints may spur us on to a better life,

so that we, who celebrate the memory of Saints Martha,

Mary and Lazarus,

may also imitate without ceasing their deeds.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

COLLECT

O God,

whose Son called Lazarus to life from the grave.

and was pleased to be welcomed in Martha’s house as a guest,

grant, we pray,

that, serving faithfully our brother and sisters,

we may merit, with Mary, to be fed by meditating on your words.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God, for ever and ever.

Opening Prayer

Today, Lord, we honor Martha, Mary and Lazarus.
Friends of Jesus.
Give us their faith in Christ, as the Lord of Life
and the first fruit of the Resurrection.
Make us willing servants
to one another
and attend to their needs.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Prayer to Saint Martha, Mary and Lazarus of Bethany

O God, heavenly Father, whose Son Jesus Christ enjoyed rest and refreshment in the home of Mary and Martha of Bethany: Give us the will to love you, open our hearts to hear you, and strengthen our hands to serve you in others for his sake; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, whose Son blessed by his presence the home of Lazarus and Mary and Martha in Bethany: grant that, like Martha, we may serve Christ faithfully in the person of our brothers and sisters; and that, like Mary, we may feed on his Word and grow in his love and grace; and that, like Lazarus, we may be brought forth from death to new life in him; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

Prayer

Almighty ever-living God, whose Son was pleased to be welcomed in Saint Martha’s house as a guest, grant, we pray, that through her intercession, serving Christ faithfully in our brothers and sisters, we may merit to be received by you in the halls of heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

St. Martha Novena

Saint Martha, I resort to thy aid and protection. As proof of my affection and faith, I offer thee this light, which I shall burn every Tuesday. Comfort me in all my difficulties and through the great favors thou didst enjoy when the Savior was lodged in thy house, intercede for my family, that we be provided for in our necessities. I ask of thee, Saint Martha, to overcome all difficulties as thou didst overcome the dragon which thou hadst at thy feet. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

(Mention your request here…)

Saint Martha, pray for us.

Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…

Novena to St. Martha the Sister of Mary and Lazarus

O admirable Saint Martha,

I have recourse to thee

and I depend entirely on thy intercession in my trials.

In thanksgiving,

I promise to spread this devotion everywhere.

I humbly beg thee to console me in all my difficulties.

By the immense joy that filled thy soul

when thou didst receive the Redeemer of the world

at thy home in Bethany,

be pleased to intercede for me and my family,

in order that we may keep God in our hearts and therefore,

deserve to obtain the remedy to our necessities,

especially the present situation that overwhelms me.

[Mention your intention(s) here…]

I implore thee, O Auxiliatrice in all needs;

help us to overcome our difficulties,

thou who so victoriously fought the devil.

Amen.

Say 3 Our Father…, Say 3 Hail Mary…, Say 3 Glory Be…

St Martha, pray for us.

Powerful Miracle Prayer to St. Martha

O blessed St. Martha,

your faith led Jesus to proclaim,

“I am the resurrection and the life”;

and faith let you see beyond his humanity when you cried out,

“Lord I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

With firm hope you said,

I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him,

and Jesus called your brother Lazarus back from the dead.

With pure love for Jesus

you welcomed him into your home.

Friend and servant of our Savior,

I too am “troubled about many things.”

(Pause for silent prayer.)

Pray for me that I may grow in faith,

hope and love, and that Jesus,

who sat at your table,

will hear me and grant me a place

at the banquet of eternal life.

Amen.

Prayer for the Intercession of Saint Lazarus

Dear Saint Lazarus, friend of Christ Incarnate and patron of the poor and the sick. I request your intercession, with the aid of the Holy Spirit; May the Lord, Who prefigured His Resurrection through your own miraculous rising, always guide me in my earthly pilgrimage and protect me in sickness and in health. Together with Saint Martha and Saint Mary, you welcomed the Savior into your home. May I do the same by welcoming Jesus into my heart and serving Him faithfully in my brothers and sisters. Help me to imitate Christ more perfectly.

Holy St. Lazarus give me the strength to overcome all temptation and difficulty. May your witness inspire me to have faith and hope in Jesus, especially amid great trial. Pray that I will display heroic virtue and persevere in love so as to merit to be received by God into the halls of heaven. I ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who lives and reigns with the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever. Amen.

Saint Lazarus of Bethany, pray for us!

Prayer to miraculous Saint Lazarus

Saint Lazarus Miraculous, resurrected by the divine power of Jesus Christ, we beg you for the sad moment of your agony and for the infinite joy you experienced when Jesus with those sweet words sent you out of the grave, to intercede with the Divine Master so that through your Mediation grant us what we trust you beg.

Amen.