The cultus of Saint Martin of Tours was large, on par with that of the deacon, Saint Francis of Assisi. It remained so for more than a millennium. It only began to diminish in the last century. Born a pagan, Martin, followed in his father’s footsteps and entered military service for the Roman Empire. He was born around the time of the Council of Nicaea, the first ecumenical council, which was convened in AD 325. He became a champion of orthodoxy, vigorously opposing Arianism, which denied Jesus’ full divinity.
Against his parents’ wishes, Martin began to attend church at about the age of 10. In the following years, he became a catechumen. He remained a catechumen for years, entering Roman military service aged 15.
The most famous story about Saint Martin occurred while he was on active military service and still a catechumen. Riding on horseback, he encountered a freezing beggar. Martin cut his long military cloak in half and gave it to the beggar. It is reported that he dreamt that night of seeing Jesus wearing the cloak he gave away. In the dream, while wearing the cloak, Martin heard the Lord say to an angel: “Martin, who is still but a catechumen, clothed me with this robe.”
His encounter with the beggar seems to have been the catalyst for Martin to finally be baptized. While there is no chronology, the main chronicler of his life noted that he remained in military service for two years after being baptized.
Como nota breve: no me fío de los restaurantes mexicanos que no tienen una imagen de San Martín de Tours, al que llaman San Martín caballero, en la área de recepción.
After his baptism, on the eve of a battle, Martin refused to fight, insisting that he was now a “soldier of Christ.” Imprisoned for cowardice, Martin offered to go to the battle lines unarmed. The authorities were inclined to have him do this, but the battle never happened. Shortly afterwards, he left military service.
After leaving military service, Martin became a monk. Prior to being made a bishop, he established several monasteries. Saint Benedict, usually held to be the father of Western monasticism, who lived in the late fifth and early sixth centuries not only greatly admired but was inspired by Saint of Martin of Tours.
Bas relief of Saint Martin of Tours as a British WWI soldire for Westminister Cathedral, London, by Eric Gill, carved 1914-1918
For his time, Martin was a unique saint. As a friend of mine, Father John Montag, a Jesuit, noted several years ago: “St Martin was a hugely significant figure--he sort of redefined sainthood. Before he came along, you pretty much had to be a martyr to be considered a saint.” Father Montag went on to note: “I hope all the soldiers we remember today are inspired by Martin and his humble generosity. We could all use a bit of that!”
Saint Martin of Tours is the Patron Saint of beggars, reformed alcoholics, soldiers, tailors, and, oddly enough, in that lovely Catholic manner, also of winegrowers. Martin Luther, born on 10 November, was named “Martin” in honor of Martin of Tours.
Many Eastern Catholic Churches along with Orthodox Churches observe what is called Saint Philip’s Fast. Also called the Nativity Fast, it is similar to Lent, a penitential season during which one prepares to celebrate the Lord’s Nativity. Traditionally, in certain places in the Western Church, the Feast of Saint Martin ushered in what was called “Martinmas.”
Like Saint Philip’s Fast, Martinmas was a penitential time to prepare for the celebration of Christmas. The post-Mass activities tonight are the kinds of things that belonged to the celebration that preceded the beginning of Martinmas, kind of like a Mardi Gras.
My parents gave me Stephen as my middle name. So, Saint Stephen, who is held by the Church to be one of the first seven deacons from Acts 6, is my patron saint. But, being born on 11 November, I claim the holy bishop Saint Martin of Tours as my co-patron. Given the special connection between a bishop and his deacons, it is a divine arrangement that makes sense to me.
As I urged in a homily a few Sundays ago, make friends with some saints. Ask for their prayers, their intercession, and study their lives. As Fr. Tonino Lasconi, an Italian parish priest and author of several volumes on the renewal of catechesis, observed, “Without the saints, the faith vanishes.” Any form of Christianity that does not venerate the saints is impoverished.
It is no accident that it was on 11/11/1911 at 11:00 AM that the ceasefire that ended World War I occurred. All parties, at least all the European nations, engaged in the war knew that 11 November was the Feast of Saint of Martin Tours, a soldier who, through his encounter with a beggar, became a thoroughgoing man of peace, a man of God, a Christian. As Servant of God Msgr Luigi Giussani insisted: “The true protagonist of history is the beggar: Christ who begs for man’s heart, and man’s heart that begs for Christ.”
It is fitting, too, that we observe Veteran’s Day on Saint Martin’s Day. As General Douglas MacArthur said in his farewell speech before a Joint Session of Congress- “The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.” As a combat veteran myself, this rings true.
In a world that is just as dangerous and war-prone today, a world in which many are dying for lack of peace, in humility, let us ask- Sancte Martine Turonis, ora pro nobis- Saint Martin of Tours, pray for us.
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