Martha

Who they were

Martha lived with her sister Mary and her brother Lazarus at Bethany, a village near Jerusalem, where Jesus often stayed; St John's Gospel says He loved them. Martha generously welcomed Him into her home.

When Lazarus died she went out to meet Jesus, sure that He could do anything, and heard Him say, 'I am the resurrection and the life.' She answered with a great profession of faith: 'Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world.'

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: Martha is honoured as a saint from the Gospels. Until 2021 29 July was her memorial alone; Pope Francis then made it the memorial of Martha, Mary and Lazarus together.

Why that counted as sanctity

Martha served Christ with generous hospitality and, in the hour of grief, confessed Him as the Christ, the Son of God, the resurrection and the life.

Connected on this site

• Lazarus of Bethany Saint Brother or sister
• Mary of Bethany Saint Brother or sister
  “Together with her siblings Lazarus and Mary of Bethany, she is described as living in the village of Bethany near Jerusalem and witnessing Jesus resurrecting her brother, Lazarus.” — Wikipedia