November 11 Celebration of Saints
November 11 Celebration of Saints
Saint Martin of Tours
The birthdate of Saint Martin of Tours is not specifically known, it is believed to have been in the year 316 or 336. He was born in Savaria in the Diocese of Pannonia, now known as Szombathely, Hungary.
His father was a staff officer in the Roman army. When Martin was very young his father retired and was granted land in Northern Italy, where Martin was raised.
When he was 10 years old, Martin converted to Christianity. It was a new religion there, the Roman Empire allowed to be practiced starting in 313 and it was still considered to be a minority faith.
At age 15 he enlisted in the Roman army in Gaul (France). While in the military he came across a beggar dressed in tattered rags in the middle of the cold winter. Martin cut his cape in half with his sword, giving one half to the beggar for warmth.
That night he had a vision in a dream that Jesus was wearing half of his cloak, saying to angels “Martin clothed me with this robe.”
After leaving the military, Martin became a monk and hermit, practicing Trinitarian Christianity as a disciple of Hilary of Poitiers. As a disciple, he established a monastery at Ligugé.
Due to conflicts with Arian Christians in the Roman imperial elite, Hilary was exiled and Martin set out to cross the Alps to return to his home in Northern Italy.
Upon his return, the Arian archbishop banned him from the city and Martin sought refuge as a hermit on the island of Gallinaria (Isola d’Albenga).
Hilary returned to reclaim his see in 361 and Martin joined him, establishing a hermitage in the city that attracted many converts. The hermitage became an evangelistic center to surrounding regions, and Martin undertook many journeys to preach and convert the people of the western region of Gaul.
Martin became the third Bishop of Tours (Caesarodunum) in 371. He ordered the destruction of pagan altars and artifacts and established a basic system of parishes. He continued to travel as he established more parishes in farther-away regions.
Martin died in 397 in the part of Gaul that is now central France.
Saint Martin of Tours is the patron saint of beggars, wool weavers, tailors, geese, vintners, innkeepers and the country of France.
Other Saints for Today
Other saints for this day include:
Saint Aba Mina, Saint Athenodorus, Saint Bartholomew of Rossano, Saint Bertuin, Saint Columba the Virgin, Saint Cynfran, Blessed Kamen Vitchev, Saint Menas, Saint Mercurius, Saint Rhediw, Saint Theodore of Studites and Saint Veranus.
