A Brief History of St. Martin

  • 317-319 A.D. Born in Pannonia (Hungary) to pagan parents.
  • Served in the Roman army until about the year 339, when he gave half his cloak to a beggar, and a vision of Christ drew him toward baptism and the religious life.
  • Ordained an exorcist by St. Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers.
  • Lived a life of a hermit on the Italian coast.
  • Converted his pagan mother, and was flogged for publicly opposing the Arians.
  • Built a monastery with St. Hilary in Liguge, where he was chosen Bishop of Tours in 371.
  • Lived in the stone and wooden grottoes of Marmoutier, attracted many followers, and became the founder of monasticism in Gaul.
  • Rid Tours and Gaul of idolatry and, with St. Ambrose, protested against those who put heretics to death.
  • Had an extraordinary gift of miracles and died a peaceful death.
  • Feast Day, November 11.