Discovering Saint Martha: The Patron Saint of Cooks and Travelers

Saint Martha is a biblical figure who is best known for her role in the New Testament story of Jesus and the two sisters, Martha and Mary. According to the Bible, Martha and her sister Mary were close friends of Jesus and he often visited their home in Bethany, a village near Jerusalem. She is remembered for her hospitality and the care she showed for him and his disciples when they visited her home.

Martha is the patron saint of cooks and travelers, and is often depicted in art holding a platter of food or a broom. She is also considered a symbol of hospitality and generosity.

There is not much information available about the major life events of Saint Martha, as the Bible only mentions her in a few passages. However, it is known that she was present at the death of her brother Lazarus and was present when Jesus raised him from the dead. This event is recorded in the Gospel of John, chapter 11.

Some interesting facts about Saint Martha is that she is the only female saint to be named in the New Testament as a specific person, rather than as a group of women. This is significant because during the time the Bible was written, women were not often named in historical texts. Also, she is often portrayed in religious art with a dragon. This is because, according to legend, she once tamed a dragon. Another interesting fact is that Saint Martha's symbol is a palm branch, which represents her faith and piety.

The birthdate and death date of Saint Martha are not known, but her feast day is celebrated on July 29th in the Catholic Church. She was canonized as a saint by Pope Gregory IX in 1232.