MEMORIAL: JULY 29
July 29th was originally the feast of St. Martha, but in 2021 Pope Francis added Martha’s siblings, Mary and Lazarus, to the feast day. Jesus visits their home in Bethany multiple times in the Gospels. Mary is traditionally seen as Mary Magdalene; Lazarus is the friend that Jesus wept over after his death and then resurrected him; and Martha is known as the homemaking sister.
In these three siblings, we see genuine friends of Christ who individually experience Jesus’ mercy in different ways. Martha experiences guidance from Jesus on how to understand the will of the Father. Mary experiences the powerful forgiveness of Jesus when He does not condemn her at her attempted stoning. Lazarus experiences the physical healing of Jesus when He raised him from the dead. These siblings give us the model of how Jesus shows love and mercy to His friends. They are the patron saints of siblings.
