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.
Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus were siblings who lived in the village of Bethany, about two miles from Jerusalem. They were close friends of Jesus Christ and are honored together in the Catholic Church on July 29 (previously, only St. Martha was honored on this day, but Pope Francis included Mary and Lazarus in 2021 to recognize the holiness of the entire family).
Saint Martha
- Patron Saint of cooks, homemakers, and hospitality.
- Known for her active service and practical nature.
- In Luke 10:38-42, Martha is seen serving Jesus while her sister Mary listens at His feet. Jesus gently reminds her that contemplation (Mary’s choice) is also important.
- In John 11, Martha expresses great faith in Jesus before the resurrection of her brother Lazarus:
“I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God.”
Saint Mary of Bethany
- Often identified with the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume (John 12:1–8).
- Known for her deep contemplative love for Jesus.
- Sat at Jesus’ feet, listening to Him—a model for those called to prayer and interior life.
- A different person from Mary Magdalene, though often confused in tradition.
Saint Lazarus
- Best known for being raised from the dead by Jesus (John 11).
- His resurrection prefigures Jesus’ own Resurrection and shows Christ’s power over death.
- After the miracle, many Jews came to believe in Jesus, and the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus.
- According to tradition, Lazarus later became a bishop and evangelized in places like Cyprus or Gaul (France).
Significance of the Family of Bethany
This trio models three pillars of Christian life:
- Martha: Service and action
- Mary: Contemplation and prayer
- Lazarus: Witness and resurrection
They show the hospitality, faith, and love that marked the home where Jesus was always welcome.
𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐆𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐥,
𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞
𝗚𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹 (𝗝𝗻 𝟭𝟭:𝟭𝟵-𝟮𝟳)
𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 [𝗟𝗮𝘇𝗮𝗿𝘂𝘀, 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗱]. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗮 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗺;𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗮 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀, “𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗱, 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲, 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗱. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗜 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱, 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂.” 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗿, “𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲.” 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗮 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗺, “𝗜 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘆.” 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿, “𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲; 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗲, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗳 𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝗲. 𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀?” 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗺, “𝗬𝗲𝘀, 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗱. 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱.𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱.”
0729 Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus 2p LETTER 20250708 Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus – 29th July
“I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.”
“Martha received Jesus into her home; may we receive Him into our hearts.”
“In Martha, we learn that service is not opposed to holiness but a path to it.”
“Lazarus! Come forth !”
https://www.youtube.com/embed/-fhL4SDbI8sPrayer 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.
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