St. Martin of Tours

About St. Martin of Tours

The History of Our Beloved St. Martin

As with many of our saintly figures, it is difficult to sort out pious stories from historic facts. We know that Martin was born into a pagan household sometime between 315 and 330 A.D. His father, a Roman soldier rose to the rank of military tribune and was determined to have Martin follow his example.

Around the age of 10, Martin became attracted to Christianity and was apparently strongly moved by the acceptance and care given to the poor by the Church in a time when such people were usually considered outcasts from society, especially the mentally ill.

At the age of 12, martin began to receive instruction concerning the Christian faith and 2 years later asked to be baptized but the Deacon assigned to decide whether Martin was sufficiently prepared ruled that Martin was not yet ready.

The following year, Martin's father used an edict which had been issued that the sons of veterans should be enrolled for military service to conspire to have Martin abducted and conscripted into the army. Martin lived as a soldier for the next 25 years but his fellow soldiers complained that he lived more like a monk than a soldier, giving away all but what met his most basic needs, treating other with kindness, and even sharing the servant's duties.

It was during this time that one of the most famous events in his life occurred. In the middle of a particularly frigid winter, Martin met a beggar suffering from the cold. Others passed the man without showing any compassion but Martin felt compelled to help him. Having already given what he had extra to the poor, Martin took his sword and cut his thick military cloak in half to share with the beggar. That night Martin dreamed that Christ came to him clothed in the part of the cloak which Martin had given to the poor man.

Following this, Martin once again asked to be baptized and the Bishop approved his request. Martin continued to serve for a time. He sought to leave the army, arguing that as a Christian, it was not lawful for him to serve. He told his commander, "I have faithfully served Caesar but let me now serve Christ." Since the barbarians were invading Gaul at the time, Martin was imprisoned but released when peace was declared.

Martin then went to study with Hilary of Poitiers, a well known theologian.

Martin began working with the mentally ill and the sick while living at least partly as a hermit. A monastery he founded in Gaul remained until the French Revolution.

Martin became so well known that he was sought after to become Bishop. Legend describes a plot to lure Martin from his cave or monastery on the pretense of attending someone who was ill. Town members had arrayed themselves along the road way he would travel to insure his arrival at the city.

It would seem that Martin was the people's choice for Bishop but a number of Church officials and Bishops were not pleased at the though of Martin as a Bishop. He dressed in the rough clothing of poor peasants, his hair was unkempt, he wouldn't eat meat, and he refused to allow those living with him or around him to kill the mice! He Wouldn't agree to live in the Bishop's Palace, entertain those politically important, or try to please the Emeror. Instead, he built a wooden hut near the cathedral and proceeded to live alone. Eventually some either others joined him, fashioning living spaces for themselves in caves and huts.

Legends are told of Martin's miraculous ability to heal, even restoring life to those dead. He inspired much admiration by his compassion, generosity, and humility. Martin was also known for his wisdom and his practice of kindess and tolerance in dealing with pagans and heretics. He opposed the use of the emperor's power in the suppression of heresy and worked for the release of those condemned to torture and death.

Martin fell ill at Candes where he had gone to act as a peacemaker. The exact date of his death is not certain because of confusion with the burial of his body in Tours, but his Feast Day is established as November 11th.

St. Martin was the first Christian to be venerated as a saint who was not in some way considered a martyr. His burial site became a sanctuary for those seeking justice. Because of his faithful service as a soldier and as a Christian and the assumption that those in the military are fighting for justice, St. Martin is considered the patron saint of the armed forces.