A Letter: St. Martin of Tours
From a letter by Sulpicius Severus
St. Martin (Martin of Tours, bishop) (c. 316 – d. 397)
The poor and humble man
Martin knew long in advance the time of his death and he told his brethren that it was near. Meanwhile, he found himself obliged to make a visitation of the parish of Candes. The clergy of that church were quarreling, and he wished to reconcile them. Although he knew that his days on earth were few, he did not refuse to undertake the journey for such a purpose, for he believed that he would bring his virtuous life to a good end if by his efforts peace was restored in the church.
He spent some time in Candes, or rather in its church, where he stayed. Peace was restored, and he was planning to return to his monastery when suddenly he began to lose his strength. He summoned his brethren and told them he was dying. All who heard this were overcome with grief. In their sorrow they cried to him with one voice: “Father, why are you deserting us? Who will care for us when you are gone? Savage wolves will attack your flock, and who will save us from their bite when our shepherd is struck down? We know you long to be with Christ, but your reward is certain and will not be any less for being delayed. You will do better to show pity for us, rather than forsake us.”
Thereupon he broke into tears, for he was a man in whom the compassion of our Lord was continually revealed. Turning to our Lord, he made this reply to their pleading: “Lord, if your people still need me, I am ready for the task; your will be done.”
Here was a man that words cannot describe. Death could not defeat him nor toil dismay him. He was quite without a preference of his own; he neither feared to die nor refused to live. With eyes and hands always raised to heaven he never withdrew his unconquered spirit from prayer. It happened that some priests who had gathered at his bedside suggested that he should give his poor body some relief by lying on his other side. He answered: “Allow me, brothers, to look toward heaven rather than at the earth, so that my spirit may set on the right course when the time comes for me to go on my journey to the Lord.” As he spoke these words, he saw the devil standing near. “Why do you stand there, you bloodthirsty brute?” he cried. “Murderer, you will not have me for your prey. Abraham is welcoming me into his embrace.”
With these words, he gave up his spirit to heaven. Filled with joy, Martin was welcomed by Abraham. Thus he left this life a poor and lowly man and entered heaven rich in God’s favor.
Saint Martin of Tours was born in Pannonia in Hungary around the year 316. The son of a pagan army officer, he was inducted into the military against his will at the age of 15. About the year 337, when he was 21, a famous incident occurred at Amiens, where he was stationed. He came upon a poorly clad beggar in the freezing cold and cut his cloak in two and gave half of it to the beggar. That night he had a vision of Christ clad in his half cloak. He became a convert to Christianity, gave up the military and returned home, where he converted his mother and others.
He then went to Illyricum, where he so actively opposed the Arian heresy he was scourged and forced to leave the country. He returned to Italy and lived for a time as a recluse on the island of Gallinaria in the Tyrrhenian Sea. He returned to Gaul in 360 and was joined by St. Hilary, bishop of Poitiers, and while dwelling with other hermits, he founded a monastery at Liguge’ in France where he led a monastic life under the direction of Saint Hilary.
He was ordained a priest and after ten years at Liguge, and despite his objections, Martin was named bishop of Tours in 371. He lived privately at Marmoutier as a monk and established the great monastic center of Marmoutier. While publicly devoting himself to his episcopal duties, he worked with zeal to spread the faith and convert pagans. He ruthlessly destroyed pagan temples and was often saved from harm by miraculous means. Martin experienced mystical visions, revelations and had the gift of prophesy. Martin made a visit to Rome and then traveled to Candes in Tourmaline, where he established a religious center. He died there in 397 at the age of 81. Martin was one of the great saints of Gaul and the outstanding pioneer of Western monasticism before Saint Benedict. He is one of the patron saints of France and his shrine at Tours became one of the most popular pilgrim centers in Europe.
Source: The Liturgy of the Hours – Office of Readings