The saint was a personal friend of Our Lord’s

               December 17 --- St. Lazarus

St. Lazarus of Bethany is also called Lazarus of the Four Days.  According to the Gospel of St. John, Our Lord was sent word of Lazarus' illness by his sisters, Mary and Martha.  They referred to their brother as " the one whom You love".  When Our Lord arrives in Bethany, Martha greets Him with the news that He is too late.  Her brother was in the tomb four days. 

Our Lord: "I am the Resurrection and the Life.  He who believes in Me shall live, even if he dies.  And everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die in eternity."  Upon seeing Mary's sorrow, Our Lord weeps.  Then in the presence of the Jewish mourners,  Our Lord calls Lazarus to come forth and he comes back to life. 

Many eye witnesses convert, but the chief priests consider killing Lazarus because so many believe now in Jesus Christ.  St. Lazarus died for the second time in Cyprus.  His tomb bears the inscription, "Lazarus, the friend of Christ".

There is no higher eulogy!

Imagine the love that Our Lord had for Lazarus.  He weeps for him.  He raises him from the dead.  After this miracle, He sups with him six days before the Crucifixion when He dies for him.  In a certain sense, Our Lord does this for us Catholics through the sacrament of Confession.  Our soul is revived through the implementation of sanctifying grace without which we are spiritually dead. 

Through the intercession of Our Lady,  ask St. Lazarus to frequent the sacraments regularly and to  strengthen our belief and love in Jesus Christ .  If we are hated for this, we know we are His friend.