Saint Martin the Merciful, Bishop
of Tours, was born at Sabaria in Pannonia (modern Hungary) in 316. Since his father was a Roman officer, he also was obliged
to serve in the army. Martin did so unwillingly, for he considered himself a soldier of Christ, though he was still a catechumen.
At the gates of Amiens, he saw
a beggar shivering in the severe winter cold, so he cut his cloak in two and gave half to the beggar. That night, the Lord
Jesus Christ appeared to the saint wearing Martin’s cloak. He heard the Savior say to the angels surrounding Him, “Martin
is only a catechumen, but he has clothed Me with this garment.” The saint was baptized soon after this, and reluctantly
remained in the army.
Two years later, the barbarians invaded Gaul and Martin asked permission to resign his commission for religious reasons.
The commander charged him with cowardice. Saint Martin demonstrated his courage by offering to stand unarmed in the front
line of battle, trusting in the power of the Cross to protect him. The next day, the barbarians surrendered without a fight,
and Martin was allowed to leave the army.
He traveled to various places during the next few years, spending some time as a hermit on an island off Italy.
He became friendly with Saint Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers (January 14), who made Martin an exorcist. After several years of
the ascetic life, Saint Martin was chosen to be Bishop of Tours in 371. As bishop, Saint Martin did not give up his monastic
life, and the place where he settled outside Tours became a monastery. In fact, he is regarded as the founder of monasticism
in France. He conversed with angels, and had visions of Saints Peter and Paul (June 29) and of other saints. He is called
the Merciful because of his generosity and care for the poor, and he received the grace to work miracles.
After a life of devoted service to Christ
and His Church, the saint fell ill at Candes, a village in his diocese, where he died on November 8, 397. He was buried three
days later (his present Feast) at Tours. During the Middle Ages, many Western churches were dedicated to Saint Martin, including
Saint Martin’s in Canterbury, and Saint Martin-in-the-Fields in London.
In 1008, a cathedral was built at Tours over the relics of Saint Martin. This
cathedral was destroyed in 1793 during the French Revolution, together with the relics of Saint Martin and Saint Gregory of
Tours (November 17). A new cathedral was built on the site many years later. Some fragments of the relics of Saint Martin
were recovered and placed in the cathedral, but nothing remains of Saint Gregory’s relics.
Saint Martin’s name appears on many Greek and
Russian calendars. His commemoration on October 12 in the Russian calendar appears to be an error, since ancient sources give
the November date.
