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Also known as: Martin the
Merciful; The Glory of Gaul
Profile
Pagan parents; his father was a Roman military officer and tribune. Martin
was raised in Pavia, Italy. Discovered Christianity, and became a
catechumen in his early teens. Joined the Roman imperial army at age 15,
serving in a ceremonial unit that acted as the emperor's bodyguard, rarely
exposed to combat. Cavalry officer, and assigned to garrison duty in Gaul.
Trying to live his faith, he refused to let his servant to wait on him.
Once, while on horseback in Amiens in Gaul (modern France), he encountered
a beggar. Having nothing to give but the clothes on his back, he cut his
heavy officer's cloak in half, and gave it to the beggar. Later he had a
vision of Christ wearing the cloak.
Baptized into the Church at age 18. Just before a battle, Martin announced
that his faith prohibited him from fighting. Charged with cowardice, he
was jailed, and his superiors planned to put him in the front of the
battle. However, the invaders sued for peace, the battle never occurred,
and Martin was released from military service at Worms. Spiritual student
of Saint Hilary at Poitiers.
On a visit to Lombardy to see his parents, he was robbed in the mountains
- but managed to convert one of the thieves. At home he found that his
mother had converted, but his father had not. The area was strongly Arian,
and openly hostile to Catholics. Martin was badly abused by the heretics,
at one point even by the order of the Arian bishop. Learning that the
Arians had gained the upper hand in Gaul and exiled Saint Hilary, Martin
fled to the island of Gallinaria (modern Isola d'Albenga).
Learning that the emperor had authorized Hilary's return, Martin ran to
him in 361, then became a hermit for ten years in the area now known as
Ligugé. A reputation for holiness attracted other monks, and they formed
what would become the Benedictine abbey of Ligugé. Preached and
evangelized through the Gallic countryside. Many locals held strongly to
the old beliefs, and tried to intimidate Martin by dressing as the old
Roman gods, and appearing to him at night; Martin continued to win
converts. He destroyed old temples, and built churches on the land.
When the bishop of Tours died in 371, Martin was the immediate choice to
replace him. Martin declined, citing unworthiness Rusticus, a wealthy
citizen of Tours, claimed his wife was ill and asking for Martin; when he
arrived in the city, he was declared bishop by popular acclamation,
consecrated on 4 July 372.
Moved to a hermit's cell near Tours. Other monks joined him, and a new
house, Marmoutier, soon formed. Rarely left his monastery or see city, but
sometimes went to Trier to plead with the emperor for his city, his
church, or his parishioners. Once when he went to ask for lenience for a
condemned prisoner, an angel woke the emperor to tell him that Martin was
waiting to see him; the prisoner was reprieved.
Martin himself was given to visions, but even his contemporaries sometimes
ascribed them to his habit of lengthy fasts. An extensive biography of
Martin was written by Sulpicius Severus. He was the first non-martyr to
receive the cultus of a saint.
Born
c.316 at Upper Pannonia (in modern Hungary)
Died
8 November 397 at Candes, Tours, France of natural causes; by his request,
he was buried in the Cemetery of the Poor on 11 November 397; his relics
rested in the basilica of Tours, a scene of pilgrimages and miracles,
until 1562 when the cathedral and relics were destroyed by militant
Protestants; some small fragments of his tomb were found during
construction excavation in 1860
Patronage
against impoverishment, against poverty, alcoholism, beggars, Burgenland,
cavalry, equestrians, France, geese, horse men, horses, hotel-keepers,
innkeepers, Mainz, Germany, quartermasters, reformed alcoholics, riders,
soldiers, tailors, vintners, wine growers, wine makers
Representation
globe of fire; goose; man on horseback sharing his cloak with beggar; man
cutting cloak in half
Readings
Martin knew long in advance the time of his death and he told his brethren
that it was near. Meanwhile, he found himself obliged to make a visitation
of the parish of Candes. The clergy of that church were quarreling, and he
wished to reconcile them.
Although he knew that his days on earth were few, he did not refuse to
undertake the journey for such a purpose, for he believed that he would
bring his virtuous life to a good end if by his efforts peace was restored
in the church.
He spent some time in Candes, or rather in its church, where he stayed.
Peace was restored, and he was planning to return to his monastery when
suddenly he began to lose his strength. He summoned his brethren and told
them he was dying. All who heard this were overcome with grief. In their
sorrow they cried to him with one voice: "Father, why are you deserting
us? Who will care for us when you are gone? Savage wolves will attack your
flock, and who will save us from their bite when our shepherd is struck
down? We know you long to be with Christ, but your reward is certain and
will not be any less for being delayed. You will do better to show pity
for us, rather than forsake us."
Thereupon he broke into tears, for he was a man in whom the compassion of
our Lord was continually revealed. Turning to our Lord, he made this reply
to their pleading: "Lord, if your people still need me, I am ready for the
task; your will be done."
Here was a man words cannot describe. Death could not defeat him nor toil
dismay him. He was quite without a preference of his own; he neither
feared to die nor refused to live. With eyes and hands always raised to
heaven he never withdrew his unconquered spirit from prayer. It happened
that some priests who had gathered at his bedside suggested that he should
give his poor body some relief by lying on his other side. He answered:
"Allow me, brothers, to look toward heaven rather than at the earth, so
that my spirit may set on the right course when the time comes for me to
go on my journey to the Lord."
from a letter by Sulpicius Severus
source:
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintm07.htm
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