After the Lord’s Ascension, Martha, the sister of Mary Magdalene, came to Marsilia with Mary and the others whom the Jews had put into the little boat to be drowned, as was said in the preceding chapter. That region was converted to the faith by their words and examples.
At that time, in a certain wood upon the Rhodanus between Arelate and Avinio, there was a dragon called the Terraschon. Its forward half had the form of a fish, while the other half had the form of a land animal. It was thicker than an ox and longer than a horse, with teeth sharp like a sword. Hiding in the river, it killed everyone who crossed and sank passing ships.
It had come by sea from Galatia in Asia and had been begotten by Leviathan, an aquatic and exceedingly savage serpent.
At the request of that country’s people, Martha went to it. She showed it the sign of the cross and sprinkled it with blessed water. Made gentle as a sheep, it was bound by Martha with her own girdle and led out. The people killed it with spears and stones.
Afterward, on the advice of her teacher Saint Maximinus, she ordered a great church built there and established her dwelling beside it. A great multitude of women gathered around her to serve God. She led an austere life, eating neither meat, eggs, nor cheese, drinking no wine, and eating once a day. A hundred times by day and as many times by night she bent her knees in prayer.
We nowhere read that she had a husband or the companionship of a man. She restored to life and health an unbelieving young man who had drowned in the river near Avinio.
§ I: Martha’s Passing
The Lord revealed her death to her a year beforehand, and throughout that year she suffered from fever. Eight days before her death, she heard choirs of angels carrying to heaven the soul of her sister, who had then died. She said to her: “O my beloved sister Mary, may you live with my Teacher and my Guest in the blessed dwelling.”
She assembled her companions and announced this to them. When the day of her death finally arrived, she admonished her followers to light lamps and keep watch around her until she died.
At midnight, while those standing nearby were overcome by sleep, a violent wind suddenly extinguished all the lamps. Seeing a crowd of malignant spirits, Martha began to pray and say: “My father Eli, my dear guest, deceivers have gathered to devour me, holding written accusations of the things I have done. Eli, do not withdraw far from me, but attend to my aid.”
Suddenly she saw her sister Mary coming to her with a multitude of angels. Mary carried a burning torch by which she rekindled the extinguished lamps.
While each called to the other, Christ came and said: “Come, my beloved hostess. Just as you received me in your earthly lodging, so today I receive you into the lodging of heavenly glory.”
As the hour of her passing approached, she had herself carried outside so that she might see heaven, placed upon the ground over ashes, the sign of the cross held before her, and the Lord’s Passion according to Luke read in her presence.
When the reader reached Christ’s final words, “Father, into your hands,” and so forth, Martha rendered her spirit, which flew to heaven with the angels.
On Sunday, while praises of God and funeral rites were celebrated around her body at the third hour, the Lord appeared to blessed Frontonius at Petragorica. Frontonius was celebrating the solemnities of Mass for the people and had fallen asleep in his chair after the Epistle.
The Lord said: “Arise and follow me.” Going with him, Frontonius came to Terraschon. They entered the church where blessed Martha’s body lay and celebrated the office while others made the responses, until the Lord and Frontonius committed her to burial.
Meanwhile the people at Petragorica awaited the continuation of Mass. A deacon awakened the sleeping Frontonius. Waking, he said: “Why have you awakened me, brothers? Our Lord Jesus Christ summoned me to the office for the body of Martha, his hostess, and we have just committed her to burial.
“Send messengers there to bring back my ring and gloves. When I prepared myself to bury the body, I entrusted them to the sacristan and left them there through forgetfulness, because you awakened me so quickly.”
A messenger was sent and brought back the ring and one glove, for the sacristan kept the other as testimony to the event.
It should not be believed that Frontonius was personally in both places—sleeping in his chair at Petragorica and performing the burial office at Terraschon. Rather, while he slept there in person, he saw in a dream that he was present for the burial office. It was not Frontonius himself in a bodily sense, but an angel of the Lord in his likeness who performed the office and carried the gloves and ring there.
This agrees very well with what is found in Cause 26, Question 5, Bishops. It says there that the prophet Ezekiel saw the Lord’s visions in spirit, not in the body, and that Paul does not dare say that he was rapt in the body.
Marcella, Martha’s maidservant, is said to have written her life. Marcella afterward went into Sclavonia, preached there, and converted very many to the faith. Ten years after Martha’s falling asleep, she rested in peace.