St. Martin’s Day

Today marks the feast of a somewhat obscure saint in the minds of American Catholics: St. Martin of Tours. This particular feast used to hold particular importance in Medieval Europe, as it marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of Winter. The occasion, often called “Martinmas” or “Old Halloween,” saw feasting, the giving of small gifts to children, and even marked the beginning of St. Martin’s Lent – something of a liturgical precursor to the season of Advent. So, who was St. Martin, and what can he teach us about Theology of the Body?

St. Martin’s life began in the early 4th century in the Roman province of Pannonia (modern Hungary). He first took an interest in the newly legalized religion of Christianity around the age of ten, becoming a catechumen against his parents’ wishes. Like his father, he joined the military at the age of 15 and served in the Roman Cavalry. Though unclear on when, Martin eventually left the military for the priesthood and became a disciple of St. Hilary of Poitiers with whom he founded an abbey at Ligugé. In 371, the Christians of Tours lured him to town in order to force him to become their bishop, against his own wishes. Despite his reservations, Martin served his flock well before dying in 379.

St. Martin’s hagiography has too many stories to fit into a small blog, but his most famous one tells us all we need to know about his character. While serving as a cavalryman in Gaul (modern France), Martin came across a scantily-clad beggar at the gates of the city of Amiens. Without hesitating, Martin cut his cloak in half and gave a piece to the beggar. That night, Our Lord appeared to Martin in a dream and said, “Martin, who is still but a catechumen, clothed me with this robe.” When he awoke, he found his cloak restored. This miracle inspired Martin to fully embrace Christianity, who shortly after received his baptism.

St. Martin provides us with another example of the fact that the body matters. He loved God fervently, and this love drove him to care for the less fortunate, such as in the recognition of the bodily needs of the beggar he met. Despite likely needing his cloak for reasons of both social status and military necessity, Martin didn’t think twice before damaging it to provide warmth to his fellow man. Martin understood what St. James meant when he wrote in his epistle, “If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit?” Martin understood that loving someone often involves providing for their bodily needs, even at his own expense.

As we approach the holiday season, filled with fireplaces, fun times, and warm food, don’t forget the needs of our fellow man. St. Martin offers us a great example of how we can love those around us this Winter.