Your Faith Journey with EWTN
As we deepen our relationship with the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and are transformed by His love and mercy.
First century
Martha: Patron Saint of butlers, maids, cooks, servants, homemakers, and hotel keepers
Mary: Patron Saint of spiritual studies, lectors
Lazarus: Patron Saint of lepers, beggars, the sick
Sts. Martha, Mary, and Lazarus of Bethany are among the most beloved friends of Jesus, as told in the Gospel accounts. Their home near Jerusalem was a place where Christ often visited and found rest during His public ministry.
Each sibling reveals a different aspect of discipleship: Martha is known for service, Mary for contemplation, and Lazarus for being raised to new life by Christ.
Martha is often associated with service and hospitality. In the Gospel of Luke, she welcomes Jesus into her home and becomes concerned with the many tasks of serving, while her sister, Mary, sits at the Lord’s feet, listening to His teaching. Jesus gently reminds Martha that, while her service is good, “Mary has chosen the better part” (Luke 10:42 NABRE), emphasizing the importance of attentive discipleship alongside action.
In the Gospel of John, Mary is identified as the woman who anointed Jesus with costly ointment in Bethany, an act of deep love and reverence that foreshadowed Christ’s burial.
Lazarus, their brother, is at the center of one of the most dramatic miracles in the Gospel of John. After falling ill and dying, he was called forth from the tomb by Jesus after having been dead for four days. Restored to life, Lazarus became a sign of Christ’s power over death.
This miracle strengthened faith among many witnesses and intensified opposition to Jesus among some Jewish religious leaders who wanted to have Lazarus killed. Tradition holds that after these events, they left Bethany and went to Gaul or Cyprus, where Lazarus is believed to have founded a church and been martyred for the Faith.
The raising of Lazarus, described in the Gospel of John, is one of Jesus’ most significant miracles. It reveals His divine authority over life and death and prefigures His own Resurrection. By calling Lazarus out of the tomb after four days, Jesus demonstrated that death is not final for those who believe in Him. The event also strengthens the faith of His followers while intensifying opposition from religious leaders, marking a turning point in the narrative leading to His Passion.
Martha and Mary are often seen as representing two complementary dimensions of the Christian life. Martha embodies active service, hospitality, and care for others, while Mary represents contemplation, prayer, and attentiveness to the Word of God. In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus affirms that both are important, but He highlights the primacy of listening to Him. Together, they show that Christian discipleship requires both loving action and prayerful communion with Christ.
While Scripture does not provide details about the later lives of Sts. Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, several traditions developed in the early Church. One tradition holds that Lazarus and his sisters traveled to Cyprus, and he became the first Bishop of Kition. Another suggests that the three siblings went to Provence, where Lazarus founded a church and became Bishop of Marseille, later being martyred for the Faith in Cyprus. Although historical details are uncertain, these traditions reflect the early Christian accounts that those closest to Jesus continued to proclaim the Gospel after His Resurrection.
Jesus is the essence of humility, and He called us to be humble. In fact, humility is a virtue that’s common to the saints. But how can we grow in humility?
This eBook sheds light on this virtue and helps you to reflect on areas where pride may have crept into your life. Inside, you’ll find the Litany of Humility, reflections from Sacred Scripture, and meditations from the saints.
Please sign up today for this free eBook, and deepen your walk with Christ by growing in humility.
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As we deepen our relationship with the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and are transformed by His love and mercy.
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