Mary of Bethany

Sister of Martha and Lazarus, she lived at Bethany, an hour's walk from Jerusalem. Luke shows her seated at Jesus' feet listening to his word while her sister busies herself; to Martha's complaint Jesus answers that she has chosen the better part, which shall not be taken from her. John places her weeping at her brother's tomb and then, six days before the Passover, pouring pure nard over Jesus' feet, its value causing scandal among the disciples. Latin tradition long conflated her with Mary Magdalene and with the anonymous sinful woman of Luke; the calendar reform of 1969 distinguished them, and current exegesis holds them to be three different figures. She is commemorated on 29 July with her sister and brother.