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Sts Martha, Mary and Lazarus

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lazarus1 Pope Francis, on 2nd February 2021, added the memorial of the siblings, Saints Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, to the General Roman Calendar, giving them the combined feast day of July 29. The memorial of St. Martha was already included in the Church’s calendar but St. Lazarus and St. Mary had been left off due to previous uncertainty about Mary’s identity.

Sts. Martha, Mary, and Lazarus were three siblings living in the town of Bethany outside of Jerusalem during the time of Christ.

Signed by Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Divine Worship congregation, the pope’s decree said that “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 decree continued.

St. Martha has been given the title 'disciple of the Lord'. When Martha received the Lord as a guest at Bethany, she looked after Him with great devotion. She it was that begged the Lord to raise her brother Lazarus from the dead. St. Martha is the Patron Saint of Cooks, Housewives, Servants, Waiters, and Waitresses.

Benedict speaks of Martha and Mary