History of A Saint

Martin of Tours
317 to November 8, 397

Patron of France, soldiers, horses and horse riders, beggars, geese, and winegrowers.

Martin of Tours, like many young Americans even now, came from a military family and lived in a military world. His father was a cavalry officer under the Roman emperor Constantine the Great. Martin was an army child, born in Hungary, raised in northern Italy, bred for the corps. His future was to have been a clear one. As the son of an army officer, he would automatically be conscripted into the army, it was the law; it was his lineage; it was his role in society. His parents were not Christians. When Martin was a boy, his family moved to Italy, There he met some priests who told him about Jesus. He listened eagerly to the stories about Christ’s love for the poor, the sick and the sorrowful. He heard Jesus’ words calling us to love God and one another. When Martin was ten years old, he told his parents he wanted to be baptized and live as a Christian. They refused to let him have his wish.

When he was fifteen, his father enrolled him in the Roman army. Martin soon became an officer, but in his heart he longed to become a follower of Jesus. As a soldier, Martin tried to treat others with love. A famous story is told about St. Martin when he was eighteen and stationed in France. One very cold winter day, Martin saw a beggar huddled by the city gates, shivering with cold. Martin took off the cloak he was wearing, cut it in two with his sword, and gave one half to the beggar. That night, Martin had a dream. In the dream he saw Jesus wearing the part of his cloak that he had given to the poor man. Martin knew then the meaning of Jesus' words, "Whatever you do to the least of mine, you do to me". As a result of this vision, Martin immediately went to be baptized. Shortly after, Martin asked permission to resign from the army, for he could not bring himself to hurt another. The emperor called him a coward, but Martin said he was not afraid of death and would willingly go into battle without a weapon or a shield; he would go with a cross as his only protection. The Emperor Julian ordered him to do this, but a few days before the battle the enemy surrendered.

Martin was permitted to resign as a soldier, and he became a soldier of Christ. He fought for Christ with words rather than with a sword. Martin studied under St. Hilary, Bishop of Poiters. He returned home to Pannonia and converted his mother. He fought false teachings and was beaten and driven out of towns for it. Eventually, he returned to France and founded a monastery, the first in Gaul. He lived there for ten years directing his disciples, preaching throughout the countryside and performing miracles. When the Bishop of Tours died, the people asked for Martin to be their bishop. There is a legend that Martin hid because he didn't want to be bishop, but his pet goose kept honking and gave away his hiding place. As a bishop, Martin traveled to help people. He also founded another monastery where he trained priests to take the Gospel to the poor.

When Martin died, he was immediately honored as a saint.