Today the church in the west celebrates the life of an incredible man, Martin of Tours. Born into an era where Christianity was recently legalized, he converted to Christianity against the wishes of his parents at the age of ten. As a teen he was required to join the calvary in the Roman empire.
- As a soldier in the military he once came across a naked beggar, and cut his coat in half, giving the begar the other half of his coat. That night he had a vision of Jesus wearing the other half of his coat. In the dream Jesus told the angels that Martin, who Christ noted had not yet been baptized, had clothed him. On waking Martin found his coat restored to one piece. Martin was baptized shortly after the incident.
- After this incident he was convicted he could not fight any longer, saying “I am a soldier of Christ.”
- His superiors charged him with cowardice, because of his refusal to fight. In response Martin offered to go in front of the troops unarmed. This offer was never implemented because peace was reached shortly after.
After his military service Martin became a diciple of Hilary of Poitiers spent time refuting Arianism in the imperial court. He eventually returned to him home land of Italy and became a monastic, and a Bishop
Here are some more things to know about Martin:
- He founded a monastery known as “The Abbey of Marmoutier”
- He vigorously fought against the idea that Christians would exicute people for heresy in the matter of the Priscillianists, who were the first heretics executed by Christians in 385.
- He healed a young girl with consecrated oil
- He raised three dead men to life.
- A sphere of light appeared over his head while he was celebrating holy Mass.
- Since his feast falls near the grape harvest in many areas his feast is celebrated with “St Martins wine”, and feasting on “St. Martin’s Goose”
- In Canada if there is warm weather late in the year it is called: “St. Martin’s little summer”
Many also of the brethren had, in the same manner, fashioned retreats for themselves, but most of them had formed these out of the rock of the overhanging mountain, hollowed into caves. There were altogether eighty disciples, who were being disciplined after the example of the saintly master. No one there had anything which was called his own; all things were possessed in common. It was not allowed either to buy or to sell anything, as is the custom among most monks. No art was practiced there, except that of transcribers, and even this was assigned to the brethren of younger years, while the elders spent their time in prayer. Rarely did any one of them go beyond the cell, unless when they assembled at the place of prayer. They all took their food together, after the hour of fasting was past. No one used wine, except when illness compelled them to do so. Most of them were clothed in garments of camels’ hair. Any dress approaching to softness was there deemed criminal, and this must be thought the more remarkable, because many among them were such as are deemed of noble rank. (Sulpicius, Vita, X)
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