Feast Day: July 29
Titles: Virgin, Confessor, Sister of Mary and Lazarus
Patroness of: Cooks, homemakers, servants, and hospitality workers
Biblical Background
St. Martha appears prominently in the Gospels as a devoted disciple of Christ and the sister of Mary Magdalene and Lazarus, whom Our Lord raised from the dead. The family lived in Bethany, a village near Jerusalem, and their home was a frequent place of rest for Christ.
In Luke 10:38–42, we see Martha welcoming Christ into her home, busying herself with service, while Mary sat at His feet to listen. When Martha gently complained, Our Lord lovingly corrected her: “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is necessary. Mary hath chosen the better part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
In John 11, after the death of Lazarus, Martha expresses a profound faith in Christ’s power: “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But now also I know that whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.” To her is addressed the magnificent declaration of Christ’s divinity: “I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, although he be dead, shall live.” (John 11:25)
Tradition and Legend
After the Ascension of Our Lord, according to pious tradition recorded in the Golden Legend and other medieval sources, Martha, with Mary Magdalene, Lazarus, and other disciples, was set adrift by persecutors in a boat with no sail or rudder. They miraculously arrived in Provence, in southern France.
Martha is said to have settled in Tarascon, living a life of holiness and penance. According to local legend, she subdued a fearsome dragon-like beast called the Tarasque, which terrorized the region. Armed only with holy water and a cross, she tamed the beast through prayer and led it to the town, where it was slain by the people. This account is preserved in the Breviary and iconography of the saint, where she is often depicted with a dragon at her feet.
Death and Veneration
St. Martha died a holy death in Tarascon and was buried there. Her relics were venerated from early times, and a magnificent basilica was erected in her honor. She is honored by the Church as a virgin and a woman of great faith, renowned for her hospitality, active charity, and confident belief in the Lord’s power.
Her feast is kept on July 29 in the Traditional Roman Calendar (pre-1962 Missal), shared with her sister Mary and brother Lazarus in some local traditions, though they are often commemorated separately in the West.
Devotional Considerations
St. Martha exemplifies the active life devoted to service of Christ, as distinguished from the contemplative life represented by Mary. Yet both lives are directed to God and are necessary within the Body of Christ.
Her intercession is sought by:
- Homemakers and those who labor in domestic duties
- Those anxious or burdened by temporal cares
- The sick and the dying (for her association with Christ’s power over death)
Prayer to St. Martha (Traditional Form)
O glorious St. Martha,
I have recourse to your protection and aid,
and as proof of my affection and faith,
I promise faithfully to complete this novena.Comfort me in my difficulties and intercede for my family
with your great faith and love, just as you called upon the Lord
and He answered you. Help me to grow in faith and trust,
serving Christ in all my actions and desires.Amen.