Apostleship of Prayer - Saints
November 11 - Martin of Tours
Martin of Tours was born of pagan parents in 316 in Pannonia in Hungary. As he was the son of a veteran soldier he was forced to serve in the army against his will. When he was eighteen years old he received the sacrament of Baptism. After this he lived more like a monk than as a soldier. At the age of twenty-three he refused a war bounty saying, "I have served you as a soldier; now let me serve Christ. Give the bounty to those who are going to fight. I am a soldier of Christ and it is not lawful for me to fight." He was discharged from the army and became a disciple of Hilary of Poitiers. When the hostilities lessened he was able to pursue his desire to become a monk.
He founded in 360 a monastery in France under the guidance of Hilary. Then he was ordained a priest and worked with great zeal against the Arians. The people of Tours wanted him to return and to become their bishop. He was tricked into returning to Tours where he reluctantly allowed himself to be consecrated the Bishop of Tours. He rejected the principle of execution heretics. As a bishop/monk he was a good shepherd to his flock and founded many monasteries. He also devoted much time to the education of the clergy, especially in the way they taught the Gospel.
In art he is often painted as giving his cloak to a poor man.
He died in the year 397.
Return to Home PageFor more information contact The Director