Veteran’s Day is a fitting day to celebrate the feast of the patron saint of soldiers, St. Martin of Tours. Though he dutifully followed in his father’s footsteps to be a soldier in the Roman military, Martin discovered that being a soldier for Christ was the higher calling for him, and ironically, he is also known for being the first documented conscientious objector.
Martin was born to a pagan family in the early 300s near present day Hungary. By the age of 10, his family relocated to Northern Italy, and Martin started hearing about Christianity, which had been recently legalized in the region. Martin took an interest in Church teachings and became a catechumen. However, his father was a high-ranking officer in the calvary for the Roman military, and at the age of 15, Martin was required to join the military as well. He continued his pursuit of learning the Catholic Faith, and around the age of 20, he discerned that fighting in battle was not what God wanted him to do.
Free from military obligations, Martin committed himself to the teachings of Jesus Christ, spending most of his life in Tours. He was first a disciple of Hilary of Poitiers, who is now a doctor of the Church. After confronting certain heresies, Martin went into hiding for a time, but then he was given a grant of land to build a monastery for himself and his own disciples. Then, against his will, Martin was ordained the Bishop of Tours. However, he was craving a more remote life, so he established an abbey at Marmoutier so he would have a place to retreat and live as a monk with his disciples.
St. Martin of Tours is often depicted with a sword slicing through his own cloak, referring to a legend that he once sliced his cloak in half to share with a cold beggar. He then had a vision of Christ saying to him, “Martin, a mere catechumen, has clothed me.” During his life, Martin shared the Gospel boldly in his words and his actions, and many were converted to the Christian faith, including his own mother. He is the patron saint of the poor, soldiers, conscientious objectors, tailors, and winemakers.
Today we pray for all soldiers, whether soldiers in the military or soldiers of Christ, to have the courage to help those in need and to boldly take a stand for what is noble.
Let us pray
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
St. Martin of Tours, you were born under pagan ways, but since your childhood, you were chosen to be a Prince of the Church. As Bishop of Tours, many souls were redeemed and liberated through your prayers. We humbly ask for your intercession before our Lord Jesus Christ that we may be made worthy of the grace and mercy of the Holy Spirit that lead us from darkness to light into the eternal Kingdom, forever and ever. Amen.
Saint Martin of Tours, pray for us.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Up next → Tomorrow’s saint of the day is Saint Josaphat Kuntsevych.
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Written by Angie