Saint of the day - July 29
Jesus Christ gravitated toward families and shared in the family life of Martha, today’s saint, and her sister Mary and brother Lazarus.
Martha lived in Bethany, near Jerusalem, along with her siblings. From her diligence, we learn not to allow ourselves to be so overcome by daily duties that we neglect love; from her profession of faith we learn that life in God makes us experience wonders that we could not believe possible.
Martha was considered diligent and meticulous, and was certainly one of the first to believe in Jesus.
When Jesus visited their home, Martha was "encumbered about many things", while Mary had chosen "the better part", that of listening to the master's discourse. Martha complained to Jesus: “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” The Lord answered: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”
Following the death of Lazarus, Jesus arrived at their home, and Martha went out immediately to meet him, while Mary waited until she was called. Martha told him: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” The ensuing conversation was compact, powerful, and saturated with faith. “Yes, Lord,” Martha said: “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”
Tradition tells us that, after the first persecutions of Christians, Saint Martha, along with Mary, Lazarus and other disciples, left their own land and went to France, arriving in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, in Provence, where they preached the Christian faith.
The liturgical memorial of Saint Martha was begun by Franciscans in 1262, who celebrated her feast on 29 July, eight days after the feast of her sister, St Mary Magdalene.
Other Saints of the Day
1. Saint Callinicus
2. Saint Lazarus of Bethany
3. Saint Olaf of Norway
4. Saint Faustinus
5. Saint Lupus
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