Saint Martin nke Tours

Anthony van Dyck, Public domain, through Wikimedia Commons

November 11: Saint Martin nke Tours, Bishop—Ncheta

316 or 336–397
Patron Saint of beggars, soldiers wey dey fight on horseback, people wey dey ride horse, geese, horses, people wey dey run inns, Pontifical Swiss Guards, officers wey dey manage army supplies, people wey don stop to dey addicted to alcohol, soldiers, tailors, and people wey dey make wine
Dem dey ask for im intercession against addiction to alcohol and poverty
Dem declare am Saint before dem establish the Congregation for canonization
Liturgical Colour: White
Version: Full – Short

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Words wey dem quote:
So, one time, when e no get anything except im weapons and im simple soldier uniform, for the middle of winter, one winter wey cold pass normal so much that the serious cold dey kill many people, e happen to meet one poor man wey no get cloth for the gate of Amiens city. The man dey beg people wey dey pass to pity am, but all of dem pass the poor man without minding am. Then Martin, that man wey God fill im life, understand say this person wey others no pity na person wey God leave for am to help. But wetin e go do? E no get anything except the cloak wey e wear, because e don already give out im other clothes to help people like this. So e draw the sword wey e tie for im waist, divide im cloak into two equal parts, and give one part to the poor man, while e use the remaining part cover imself again. ~From the Life of Saint Martin, wey Sulpicius Severus write

Think About Am: Saint Martin nke Tours don be one of the saints wey people honour and love pass for the history of Europe for two main reasons: e live holy life with heroic courage, and somebody write everything down. People believe say Sulpicius Severus be rich man wey come enter Christian faith through the ministry of Bishop Martin. Later, e become priest, ask Bishop Martin questions about im life before the bishop die, and write one book about Martin life wey dey amaze person. People copy the book again and again, and for many centuries, e become one of the main books wey both people for religious life and laypeople dey read. Because plenty people know and love Martin, many church buildings and monasteries bear im name.

Dem born Martin for Sabaria for Pannonia, inside the Roman Empire, wey today be Szombathely for Hungary. Some early records talk say dem born am for 316, while others talk say na 336. When Martin still young, im family move go Ticinum, wey today be Pavia for northern Italy. Dem born am for the Roman Empire during one important time of change. For 313, Emperor Constantine issue the Edict of Milan, wey make Christianity legal. Later, Constantine imself become Christian, and people come know say e favour Christians pass people wey continue to worship other gods. Because of this, many people begin enter Christian faith, some because of politics and money matters.

Martin papa na soja wey rise reach the rank of military tribune. When Martin still be pikin, Christianity begin interest am, but im papa and mama hold tight to Roman pagan worship, and dem no value Christianity wey government just make legal. But Martin no dey satisfied with wetin im papa and mama choose. So, when e reach ten years, e go the Catholic Church for im area and ask to become Christian. Dem register am as catechumen, and e begin the long preparation for Baptism, wey e no receive until ten years later. When e reach twelve years, e ask im papa and mama to allow am become hermit, but dem refuse. When e reach fifteen years, Martin become soja, to obey the law of the state wey say sons of military officers must join the Roman army. Even though plenty people wey dey live immoral life surround am, Martin remain faithful to im faith and live life wey full of virtue. E dey always talk with respect, e dey show other people special kindness, e often dey give poor people most of im money and belongings, e humble imself by serving people wey suppose serve am, and e continue im preparation for Baptism.

One day, as Martin dey ride im horse pass through one town for the middle of winter, e see one poor man wey no wear enough cloth and wey dey shake because of cold. The man beg people for help, but dem no mind am. Martin know say e must help, but e don already give im money and other clothes to people wey dey in need. The only thing wey remain na the military cloak wey e wear, so e come down from im horse, bring out im sword, cut the cloak into two, and give the poor man half. Later, im fellow sojas laugh at im small cloak wey look funny. That night, Martin dream, and Jesus appear to am, wearing the half-cloak. Jesus tell the plenty angels wey surround dem, “Martin, wey still be only catechumen, don give Me cloth to wear.” When Martin wake up, e know wetin e need to do. E ask for Baptism, and e receive am when e reach twenty years.

Martin remain for the army for two more years because one friend ask am to stay. One day, the commanding officer dey share extra money give the sojas as dem dey prepare for battle the next day. When dem call Martin come forward, e talk say, “I don be your soja until now. From now on, allow me serve God. Give your extra money to person wey go fight for you. I be Christ soja, and e no right make I take part for battle.” Dem accuse Martin say e be coward because dem dey go battle the next day. E answer the accusation say, “If una believe say na fear make me dey do this, tomorrow I go stand without weapon for front of the enemy army. With only my faith in Jesus and the sign of the cross to protect me, I go face dem without armour.” Dem then put Martin for prison to wait for the battle, but the battle no happen because the other side ask for peace. Soon after that, dem release Martin from the army.

After Martin hear about the well-known bishop Hilary of Poitiers, wey later become Saint, e travel go Poitiers for the place wey be France today. E stay with the bishop for some time, and learn the true teaching of the faith from am. Bishop Hilary also ordain am as deacon and appoint am as exorcist. After dem force Bishop Hilary go exile because e oppose Arianism for the emperor court, and after Deacon Martin dream about bringing im pagan papa and mama to the Christian faith, e decide to return to im hometown. For road, robbers attack am, but when dem ask am who e be, e tell one of the robbers say e be Christian. Deacon Martin then share the Gospel with the man, wey repent, let Martin go, and later become Christian. When Deacon Martin reach house, e bring im mama to the Christian faith, but e no fit persuade im papa. Other people for im hometown also become Christians.

After Deacon Martin face the anger of some Arian priests wey e oppose, and even the Arian Archbishop of Milan, e and one priest spend some time living as hermits for the Island of Gallinara. For there, na herbs and roots wey grow for bush dem dey chop. One day, Martin chop one poisonous root by mistake, but through fervent prayer, God heal am.

When Deacon Martin hear say Bishop Hilary exile from Poitiers don end, e move go one town near the holy bishop and establish one monastery. From there, e begin preach throughout the region and perform many miracles. E bring one catechumen wey never receive Baptism back to life. When the catechumen come back to life, e talk say na because of Martin prayers. Another time, Martin bring one slave wey hang imself back to life. 

For 371, with the agreement of the people, dem choose Martin as Bishop of Tours. Even though e first oppose am and try hide, dem trick am carry am go the cathedral, where dem dey wait to ordain am. After dem ordain am as Bishop of Tours, Bishop Martin move go outside the city and set up places where e and other clerics fit stay apart from people to pray. For the next twenty-six years, e live this kind life of prayer away from people, and e still dey do active ministry. E travel all around Gaul (France), dey preach, bring plenty people to the faith, perform miracles, and drive evil spirits out. E stand against false teachings wey dey oppose the faith, work with other bishops wey hold the true faith—like Ambrose of Milan, wey later become Saint—destroy pagan temples, and gain everybody respect. People wey oppose am fear am, and people wey support am praise God every time dem see am dey do im ministry.

Even though Saint Martin of Tours live life of outstanding virtue and deep prayer, im life and the honour wey people dey give am show how important e be to share saints’ stories with other people. After im death, im life continue to inspire plenty people. As we dey honour Saint Martin, think deeply about ways wey God fit want use you as E use Sulpicius Severus, the person wey write Saint Martin life story. Even if God no call you to write book about one saint wey you know, think about ways wey you fit share the Gospel by learning more about the saints and sharing their stories with other people.

Prayer: Saint Martin of Tours, even though dem born you into pagan family, God speak to your heart from when you still small, and you listen and respond. Your kindness, deep prayer, and generosity help you continue to turn your life to God, and this make you example wey inspire everybody. Abeg, pray for me, make I always listen to God voice and respond with all my heart. Saint Martin of Tours, pray for me. Jesus, na You I trust.

Dem take dis reflection from:

Saint Dem and Feast Dem for di Liturgical Year
Volume One–Four

All di Saint Dem for Today