Kathryn Lopez
1.
Today's Saint Martin of Tours from a window in Chartres Cathedral. May he pray for all soldiers, living and dead. https://t.co/8z5gNGfewr
— Fr Lawrence Lew OP (@LawrenceOP) November 11, 2014
2. From the Liturgy of the Hours today, a letter of Sulpicius Severus:
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 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.
3.
By his life, Saint Martin of Tours shows us the nobility inherent in service of those less fortunate than ourselves. #HomilyTweet
— Fr James Bradley (@FrJamesBradley) November 11, 2015
May St Martin of Tours inspire within us a spirit of hospitality and loving kindness. pic.twitter.com/DjbPfyP9vt
— Fr. Patrick Brennan (@Pathound) November 11, 2015
Martin did see the Lord Jesus, just as clearly as he saw the beggar, and he was able to see in both the divine image of God become man in Christ. But more than this ( if there could be more!) he saw in that half of his cloak that God who made himself a beggar for our sake deserved not half of what we have been given, but everything. To truly follow Christ means not simply to give part of ourselves to the Lord, but to give ourselves over to him completely.
Martin knew that Christ did not simply want his cloak, he wanted the man who owned the cloak- Christ wanted Martin.
And the Lord who so wanted Martin, also desires all of us.
This is precisely the spiritual challenge of Saint Martin to us. Surrendering ourselves over to Christ completely might not lead us on the same path of sanctity that Saint Martin followed, but for us as it was for Saint Martin, Christ presents himself to us, and begs- will you give yourself over to me wholly and completely?
6. From Pope Benedict in 2007:
Dear brothers and sisters, St Martin’s charitable gesture flows from the same logic that drove Jesus to multiply the loaves for the hungry crowd, but most of all to leave himself to humanity as food in the Eucharist, supreme Sign of God’s love, Sacramentum caritatis. It is the logic of sharing which he used to authentically explain love of neighbour. May St Martin help us to understand that only by means of a common commitment to sharing is it possible to respond to the great challenge of our times: to build a world of peace and justice where each person can live with dignity. This can be achieved if a world model of authentic solidarity prevails which assures to all inhabitants of the planet food, water, necessary medical treatment, and also work and energy resources as well as cultural benefits, scientific and technological knowledge.
7. And from 2011:
Often portrayed sharing his mantle with a poor man, Martin became a model of charity throughout Europe and indeed the whole world. Nowadays, volunteer work as a service of charity has become a universally recognized element of our modern culture. Nonetheless, its origins can still be seen in the particularly Christian concern for safeguarding, without discrimination, the dignity of the human person created in the image and likeness of God. If these spiritual roots are denied or obscured and the criteria of our collaboration become purely utilitarian, what is most distinctive about the service you provide risks being lost, to the detriment of society as a whole.
8.
From St. Martin of Tours Church on Sint Maarten pic.twitter.com/SKRvAqJ3ZW
— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) November 11, 2015
10.
S. Martin of Tours pray for us pray for the Church. A real conversion story. A life imitating Jesus with Whom he shared his cloak. Will we?
— Bishop David Kagan (@VescovoDDK) November 11, 2015
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