The story of Saint Martha

A close friend of Jesus

St Martha is a central figure in the Gospels. She lives in Bethany, a village near Jerusalem, with her sister Mary and her brother Lazarus. This family was close to Christ: Jesus was received there with affection, and he loved to stay there, finding rest, welcome and privacy in their home.

Marthe appears in several Gospel scenes. The best known is in the Gospel according to Saint Luke: Jesus comes to their home, and Martha busies herself with domestic chores while Mary, her sister, remains seated at the Master's feet to listen to him. Martha, annoyed, asked Jesus to intervene. He gently replies:

"Martha, Martha, you worry and fuss about many things... Only one is necessary." (Lk 10:41-42)

This word is not a harsh criticism, but an invitation to balance. Martha, a woman of service, is precious, but Jesus reminds her of the importance of listening, of contemplation, of being beyond doing.

A strong and courageous faith

Marthe reappears in Saint John's Gospel, at the time of the death of her brother Lazarus. When Jesus arrives in Bethany four days after the death, it is Martha who goes to meet him. She says to him with faith and boldness:

"Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

But she immediately adds:

"I know that whatever you ask of God, God will grant."

In this moving dialogue, Martha professes admirable faith. It is she who proclaims:

"Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world." (Jn 11:27)

This testimony places Martha among the great believers of the Gospel. Through her, the Church contemplates a woman of action, but also a woman of living and profound faith, capable of standing her ground in times of trial.

A living Provençal tradition

According to an ancient tradition, Martha, Mary Magdalene and Lazarus left the Holy Land after Jesus' resurrection, fleeing persecution. They are said to have landed in Provence, in a boat without a sail or an oar, at the place known today as Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.

Marthe is said to have settled in Tarascon, where she evangelised the region. She is said to have defeated a monstrous beast, the Tarasque, through prayer and faith. She thus became the patron saint of Tarascon, where a shrine has been dedicated to her since the Middle Ages.

She died piously in Tarascon, and her cult quickly spread throughout France and beyond. She is honoured as the patron saint of cooks, hoteliers, service women, Christian homes and families.

A saint for our times

Saint Martha reminds us that service is a form of love. She is the saint of those who devote themselves behind the scenes, active people, women of concrete faith. She shows that holiness can spring from everyday life, from simple gestures, from sincere hospitality.

But she also invites us not to get lost in the hustle and bustle, to refocus on Christ, to cultivate listening, prayer and trust. She embodies a balance between action and contemplation, between self-giving and welcoming God.