Memorial of St. Martha
Or: Sts. Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Jesus was frequently received at their house in Bethany, and it is recorded in the Gospel of St. John that “Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus” (11:5). St. Martha is especially noted for her supplications and her manifestation of faith in the divinity of Jesus just before He resurrected Lazarus after four days in the tomb.
See also:
Mass Readings
First Reading – Jer 15:10, 16-21
Woe to me, mother, that you gave me birth! a man of strife and contention to all the land! I neither borrow nor lend, yet all curse me. When I found your words, I devoured them; they became my joy and the happiness of my heart, Because I bore your name, O LORD, God of hosts. I did not sit celebrating in the circle of merrymakers; Under the weight of your hand I sat alone because you filled me with indignation. Why is my pain continuous, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? You have indeed become for me a treacherous brook, whose waters do not abide! Thus the LORD answered me: If you repent, so that I restore you, in my presence you shall stand; If you bring forth the precious without the vile, you shall be my mouthpiece. Then it shall be they who turn to you, and you shall not turn to them; And I will make you toward this people a solid wall of brass. Though they fight against you, they shall not prevail, For I am with you, to deliver and rescue you, says the LORD. I will free you from the hand of the wicked, and rescue you from the grasp of the violent.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 59:2-3, 4, 10-11, 17, 18 (R. 17d)
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.
Rescue me from my enemies, O my God;
from my adversaries defend me.
Rescue me from evildoers;
from bloodthirsty men save me. R.
For behold, they lie in wait for my life;
mighty men come together against me,
Not for any offense or sin of mine, O LORD. R.
O my strength! for you I watch;
for you, O God, are my stronghold,
As for my God, may his mercy go before me;
may he show me the fall of my foes. R.
But I will sing of your strength
and revel at dawn in your mercy;
You have been my stronghold,
my refuge in the day of distress. R.
O my strength! your praise will I sing;
for you, O God, are my stronghold,
my merciful God! R.
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.”
Or: Lk 10:38-42
Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”
Featured Saints
St. Louis Martin, father of a family (†1894). Father of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus. He led an exemplary married life with his wife, Blessed Zélie Martin, and was a model Catholic father. This date marks his death.
St. William Pinchon, bishop (†1234). Pastor of St-Brieuc (France); ardent defender of the rights of the Church and his flock.
St. Lupus of Troyes, bishop (†circa 478). Monk from the Abbey of Lérins, elected Bishop of Troyes, France. He defended the city from the fury of the Huns. Together with St. Germanus of Auxerre he fought the Pelagian heresy in England.
Blessed John Baptist Egozcuezábal Aldaz, religious and martyr (†1936). Brother of the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God, who was killed near Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War.
St. Olaf, king (†1030). King of Norway, after his conversion, he attempted to spread the Faith and eradicate idolatry in his kingdom, requesting missionaries from England for this task. But he faced great resistance on the part of rebellious nobles, and was driven from his kingdom and later slain in battle.
Blesseds Louis Bertran, Mancius of the Holy Cross and Peter of Santa Maria, martyrs (†1627). The first two were Spanish missionaries, and the third a Japanese convert, all Dominicans, who were burned alive in Omura, Japan, out of hatred for the Faith.
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