The growing devotion to St Lazarus, ‘the beggar’, and the multiplicity of graces granted through his intercession confirms the faith of his devotees. His worship, so far, remains ambiguity, that is, between what is permitted by the Christian secular (and ecclesiastical) tradition and the reluctance to celebrate it. In addition to crutches and dogs, its other attributes are: a bag or zurrón to collect alms, and a bell or matraca.
ST LAZARUS SKIN
Around the world there are stained glass windows, frescoes, carvings and prayers, which tell us about the veneration of this biblical character, always linked to leprosy and hospitals, because he suffered from a skin disease, probably leprosy. Narration that, according to the biblists, is a midrash,4 not a simple parable or story already known to the Jews,5 as has often been said. Lazarus, poor, appears here as the protagonist of a narrative that is different from the others made by Jesus himself. What we know of him is found in the Gospel according to Luke (Lk 16:19-31). “Another Saint Lazarus, ‘the beggar’, is also a biblical character, apparently contemporary with Christ. His feast is celebrated on 29 July in the Roman Catholic Church, according to the Roman Martyrdom, together with his sisters Martha and Mary2 of Bethany.3 Other traditions mark its celebration on 17 December. As early as the 3rd century it was venerated throughout the Church. In the East it is said that he arrived in Cyprus, and that he was Bishop of Kittion (Larnaca) consecrated by St Paul and St Barnabas during the first apostolic journey of the ‘Apostle of the Gentiles,1 which occurred around 40 a.C. In pseudoclementine traditions it is said that he accompanied St.
Part of its history is contained in the New Testament. “Saint Lazarus ‘of Bethany’ was the ‘of Jesus’ and ‘brother of Martha and Mary’, the ‘return to life’. Therefore, we need to know, albeit briefly, some of these holy men who shared both name and faith. “To answer this question, first of all I must say that, although it is difficult for some to believe, there are several saints with the name ‘Lazarus’ in the history of Christianity, both Western and Eastern, who are inspired by two main sources: Saint Lazarus, ‘the Bishop’ and St Lazarus ‘the beggar’, devotions that have intermingled since very ancient times. What does Practising Cuban Catholics and those believing brothers who enter this group called “popular piety” believe in?
To talk about this Sanctuary, Palabra Nueva approaches the priest Elixander Torres Pérez, who has been its rector since August 4, 2017.
on the 17th, when its titular saint is celebrated, it can reach 90,000 pilgrims. With about 1,500 faithful a day, it can reach about 35,000 on a weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) of December, not counting that from the opening of the temple at 7:30 a.m. The National Shrine of San Lázaro is the second in importance of Cuba, after the Basilica-Sanctuary of Our Lady of Charity of Copper.