St (Saint) Martin Of Tours

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Martin, one of the patron saints of France, was born about 330 at Sabaria, the modern Szombathely in Hungary.  His early years were spent in Pavia in Italy.  After a term of service in the Roman army, he traveled about Europe, and finally settled in Poitiers, whose bishop, Hilary, he had come to admire.

According to an old legend, while Martin was still a catechumen, he was approached by a poor man, who asked for alms in the name of Christ.  Martin, drawing his sword, cut off part of his military cloak and gave it to the beggar.  On the following night, Jesus appeared to Martin, clothed in half a cloak, and said to him, "Martin, a simple catechumen, covered me with this garment."

Hilary ordained Martin to the presbyterate sometime between 350 and 353, and Martin, inspired by the new monastic movement stemming from Egypt, established a hermitage at nearby Liguge.  To his dismay, he was elected Bishop of Tours in 372.  He agreed to serve only if he were allowed to continue his strict, ascetic habit of life.  His monastery of Marmoutier, near Tours, had a great influence on the development of Celtic monasticism in Britain, where Ninian, among others, promoted Martin's ascetic and missionary ideals.  The oldest church in Canterbury, which antedates the Anglo-Saxon invasions, is dedicated to St. Martin.

Martin was unpopular with many of his episcopal colleagues, both because of his manner of life and because of his strong opposition to their violent repression of heresy.  He was a diligent missionary to the pagan folk of the countryside near his hermitage, and was always a staunch defender of the poor and the helpless.

Martin died on November 11, 397.  His shrine at Tours became a popular site for pilgrimages, and a secure sanctuary for those seeking protection and justice.

                                                                                             Taken from Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2006