Martin of Tours
Martin of Tours | |
|---|---|
| Bishop and Confessor | |
| Born | 316 or 336 Savaria, Diocese of Pannonia (modern-day Hungary) |
| Died | 8 November 397 (aged 60-81) Candes, Gaul |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church Oriental Orthodoxy Anglican Communion Lutheranism |
| Canonized | Pre-Congregation |
| Feast | 11 November (Catholic Church, Lutheran Church, and Anglican Communion) 12 November (Eastern Orthodox Church) |
| Attributes | Man on horseback sharing his cloak with a beggar; man cutting cloak in half; globe of fire; goose |
| Patronage | Against poverty; against alcoholism; Baħrija, Malta; beggars; Beli Manastir; Archdiocese of Bratislava; Buenos Aires; Burgenland; cavalry; Church Lads' and Church Girls' Brigade; Dieburg; Edingen equestrians; Erfurt; Foiano della Chiana; France; geese; horses; hotel-keepers; innkeepers; Kortrijk; diocese of Mainz; Montemagno; Olpe; Ourense; Pietrasanta; Pontifical Swiss Guards; quartermasters; reformed alcoholics; riders; Taal, Batangas; Touraine;[1] Bocaue, Bulacan; Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart; soldiers; tailors; Utrecht; vintners; Virje; wine growers; wine makers; Wissmannsdorf and Villadoz; Torre di Mosto |
Martin of Tours (Latin: Martinus Turonensis; 316/336 – 8 November 397) was the third bishop of Tours. He is the patron saint of many communities and organizations across Europe, including France's Third Republic. A native of Pannonia (present-day Hungary), he converted to Christianity at a young age. He served in the Roman cavalry in Gaul, but left military service prior to 361, when he became a disciple of Hilary of Poitiers, establishing the monastery at Ligugé. He was consecrated as Bishop of Caesarodunum (Tours) in 371. As bishop, he was active in the suppression of the remnants of Gallo-Roman religion.
The contemporary hagiographer Sulpicius Severus wrote a Life of St. Martin. He is best known for the account of his using his sword to cut his cloak in two, to give half to a beggar clad only in rags in winter. His shrine in Tours became an often-frequented stop for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
- ^ Rodis-Lewis 1999, p. 26.