St. Martha of Bethany, the friend of Jesus who welcomed Him into her home, is the patron of homemakers, cooks and all who serve. People pray to her for their homes and families and for help in difficult situations.
Below is a traditional prayer to St. Martha, short prayers, a novena, and her story from the Gospels.
Prayers to St. Martha
A traditional prayer to St. Martha
St. Martha, I come to you and with full confidence I ask your help. You welcomed our Lord into your home and served Him with love. I ask you to intercede for my family and for my request: (name your request). Help me to trust Jesus as you did when you said to Him, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” Obtain for me the grace I ask, and help me to serve God and others with a generous heart. Amen.
A prayer to St. Martha for a busy, anxious heart
St. Martha, you were worried and upset about many things, and Jesus gently called you to what matters most. Pray for me when I am overwhelmed. Help me to do my work well without losing my peace, and to make time to sit at the feet of Jesus. Amen.
Short Prayers
- St. Martha, pray for my home.
- St. Martha, help me serve with love.
- St. Martha, friend of Jesus, pray for us.
Novena to St. Martha
A novena is nine consecutive days of prayer for one intention. Each day, pray the main prayer above, name your intention, then pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary and one Glory Be. Some people pray to St. Martha on nine consecutive Tuesdays; her feast, shared with Mary and Lazarus of Bethany, is 29 July.
Who Was St. Martha?
Martha lived in Bethany, near Jerusalem, with her sister Mary and her brother Lazarus, and Jesus often stayed with them. In Luke 10 she is busy serving while Mary sits listening to Jesus. In John 11, when Lazarus has died, Martha goes out to meet Jesus and makes one of the great declarations of faith in the Gospels.
Since 2021 the Church celebrates Martha, Mary and Lazarus together on 29 July.
Scripture
“Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed, or indeed only one.” Luke 10:41-42 (NIV)
“Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” John 11:27 (NIV)
Questions People Ask
What is St. Martha the patron saint of?
Homemakers, cooks, housekeepers, servers and hospitality.
When is St. Martha’s feast day?
29 July, together with her sister Mary and her brother Lazarus.
Can I send a prayer to St. Martha through Holy Land Prayer?
We do not send prayers to a shrine of St. Martha. What we do is carry prayers to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem: you can write a prayer asking for this saint’s intercession in the form at the top of this page, and we will place it inside one of the chapels, where a priest prays it in English.
Who Writes These Prayers
The Holy Land Prayer team writes the prayers on this page. Traditional prayers are given in the form used in Catholic devotion. Scripture is quoted from the New International Version.
Last reviewed 28 September 2026 by the Holy Land Prayer team.
From Bethany to Jerusalem
Martha’s home in Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem (John 11:18), and it was there she told Jesus, “I believe that you are the Messiah.” If you would like your own prayer carried into the city, to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, write it in the form at the top of this page. It is printed and placed inside one of the chapels, a priest prays it in English, and a candle is lit for you, with photographs of both sent by email. See how it works.
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