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 catechu-men, 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 Ligugé Abbey. To his dismay, he was elected Bishop of Tours in the year 372. He agreed to serve only if he were allowed to continue his strict, ascetic habit of life.
His monastery of Mar Moutier Abbey, 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.
The Feast Day of St. Martin of Tours is November 11
The Legend of St. Martin of Tours
Story and illustrations by Claire M.
Who was St. Martin?
Martin of Tours was born in either 316 or 336, in what is now Hungary and was then part of the Roman Empire. At the age of ten, he attended a Christian church against the wishes of his parents, although Christianity had, by this time, been legalized. He joined the military at the age of 15, but later resigned, declaring that it was not lawful for him to fight as a Christian. He became a monk and traveled widely, eventually establishing a hermitage at what is now Ligugé, France.
Why is St. Martin depicted cutting his cloak in half?
This story takes place while Martin was still a soldier. At the gates of the city of Amiens he met a beggar wearing just rags. With the sword he had refused to use against people, he cut his military cloak in half, giving half to the beggar. That night Martin had a dream about Jesus wearing the cloak and saying, "Martin, who is still but a catechumen, clothed me with this robe."
Why is St. Martin represented by a goose?
Martin was reluctant to be a bishop, even though he had a great deal of support and encouragement from the people in his region. Legends tell of Martin hiding from the enthusiastic crowd of followers with the agreement that he would only be bishop if they saw him when he came out. A goose led other animals and the people to him, so he finally agreed to serve as bishop. Thus, his symbol is a goose, with the addition of a shepherd staff – the symbol of all bishops.
