St Martha of Bethany

St Martha is known for her hospitality, welcoming Jesus to her house. St John, in his Gospel, tells us that Jesus loves Martha, Mary and Lazarus.

At home, Martha is an active woman, taking care of meals and other housework.  

This contrasts with the role of her sister, Mary, a contemplative model, who focuses on listening to Jesus.

When Martha vented to Jesus about Mary leaving her alone to do all the work, Jesus comforted her lovingly, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about so many things."

Later, after Lazarus died, Martha stayed in the house waiting for Jesus. When Jesus came, Martha said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. Even now, I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you."

Martha was believed to have evangelised South France very early after the death and resurrection of Jesus, probably travelling by sea. In Tarascon, South France, there is a Collegiate Church of St Martha. Its website stated that, despite the absence of a written record, the presence of Roman remains, an empty tomb carved into the rock, an early Christian altar, and the tradition about Martha taming a dragon suggested an early connection to Martha. (https://paroisse-de-tarascon.fr/)

In Canada, the Sisters of St Martha of Antigonish, or 'The Marthas' (https://www.themarthas.com), have been active in local social and health care services for years. Unfortunately, in March 2026, it had to end its "religious sponsorship" of the then-only faith-based hospital in Nova Scotia due to challenges posed by new MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying) legislation. (https://globalnews.ca/news/11722172/st-marthas-nova-scotia-faith-based-care/)

The Feast Day of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus is 29 July. A Novena is usually started on 20 July with the prayer dedicated to St Martha. St Martha's imagery is often associated with a bread basket, holy water, a holy bible, and a dragon.