Born in 321 AD, in what is modern day France, St Martin began
his life journey as a pagan, converted to Christianity, ascended
through church ranks to become Bishop of Tours and ultimately achieved
sainthood.
Martin was forced into the army by his father at age 15. But he
disliked military life, and led a monk-like existence as an officer,
as he wanted to become a Christian, then a new religion in his land.
One severe winter’s day, army officer Martin saw a poor man at
the city gates of Amiens, shivering with cold and begging for food.
Having no money, Martin took off his warm woolen cloak, cut it in half
with his sword and gave half to the beggar. That night Martin dreamt
of Christ surrounded by angels, and wearing the half-cloak Martin had
given the beggar, and He said, "See, this is the cloak in which
Martin, the heathen, has covered me".
Shortly after Martin was baptized a Christian. Because of that,
and because he’d already spent five long years fighting invaders
from Germany, he asked for his release from the army. "Up to now,
I have served you as a soldier; let me now serve Christ".
Free to pursue a new life as a disciple of St Hilary of Poitiers,
Martin’s path was to remain challenged. He developed a community of
disciples, abstaining from worldly comforts and riches. In 371 AD, the
city of Tours wanted him as their bishop. A small pocket of opposition
said he was not refined enough. But clergy and majority rule prevailed
over such criticism, and Martin as consecrated as bishop. At first he
ruled a pagan diocese. But with each year, his increasingly far-flung
congregation grew through his visits by boat, donkey and on foot.
When he died, aged eighty, on November 9 401 AD, Martin’s body
was carried by boat to Tours for burial. It is said the boat moved
without oars or sail, accompanied by the sound of heavenly music, and
that trees along the river, bare and ready for winter, burst into
blossom at his passing.
