Martin 			November 11
Bishop of Tours
Martin of Tours became one of the most popular of all saints and is a patron saint of France. He was born about 316 in Pannonia (modern Hungary), of pagan parents. His father was in the Roman army, and Martin himself became a soldier. Under Constantine as the first Christian emperor, Christianity flourished, but so too did the idea of monasticism or asceticism as an ideal for the committed servant of God.
Martin was enrolled as a catechumen at an early age, and found his commitment to Christ in conflict with his position as a soldier. He was disciplined for his “conscientious objection”, and eventually discharged from the army. That was the occasion of the famous story of Martin cutting his cloak in two to share with a beggar, and then seeing in a dream Christ wearing half a cloak and saying, “Martin, a simple catechumen, covered me with this garment.”
In 360, Martin joined Bishop Hilary, whom he admired, at Poitiers, and founded nearby the first monastery in Gaul. Martin pioneered the monastic way as a means of converting the countryside, the church having been largely confined to the cities and towns till then. In 372 by popular acclaim he was made bishop of Tours, a position he accepted only on condition he could continue his ascetic lifestyle. He remained bishop of Tours till his death in 397. He continued to encourage the spread of Christianity among country people.
Martin also became involved in the contemporary theological debates, arguing firmly for the autonomy of the church against the state in the case of Priscillian. Priscillian was a quasi-gnostic, condemned by the church as a heretic. The state, becoming increasingly intolerant of any deviancies, was determined to execute Priscillian on the capital charge of sorcery. Martin argued (unsuccessfully in the end) that Priscillian’s views were a matter for the church, not the state. Martin’s stand against violent repression of heresy was unpopular with some of his fellow bishops, as was his austere life-style.
Martin’s popularity as a saint owes as much to the charm of the biography of him written by his friend Sulpicius Severus as it does to his personal popularity.
For Liturgical Use
Martin was born about 316. Like his father, he joined the army, but found this incompatible with his Christian commitment. The story of his cutting his cloak in two to share with a beggar comes from this period of his life. He was attracted to the monastic life, and established monasticism in Gaul as a means of converting the countryside. In 372 he was made bishop of Tours, a position he held till his death in 397. He became an extremely popular saint in the Middle Ages and a patron saint of France.
Sentence
The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword.	Hebrews 4:12
Collects
Everloving God,
you called Martin from military service
to be a bishop in your church;
may we, following the example of his compassion,
care for the needy
and deal gently with all people,
that we may be clothed with righteousness;
through Jesus Christ our Redeemer.
Jesus of Nazareth, thank you for Martin,
the soldier who shared his cloak with a beggar,
the pastor who searched deep into the country,
the bishop who protested a heretic’s execution;
he brought the message of the kingdom.
Psalms	15	112
Readings
Deuteronomy 15:7-8,10-11	Help the needy
1 Thessalonians 5:4-11	The Christian’s armour
John 13:31-35		Love one another
Post Communion Sentence
Do good and be rich in good works, generous and ready to share.	1 Timothy 6:18 (adapted)