November 11--St. Martin of Tours, Bishop

The story goes like this: He was a Roman soldier on his horse when he met a nearly naked beggar. He cut his military cloak in half and gave it to the man. That night, he dreamed of Jesus wearing the cloak he cut off. He heard Jesus saying to the angels, “Martin, who is still but a catechumen, clothed me with this robe.” Thus, the saintliness of St. Martin of Tours was established.

The truth may not be far from the legend. St. Martin was a soldier in the Roman army in the 4th century when he declared his allegiance to Christ. He had become a monk and a hermit when he was going to Tours in France and was made bishop by popular acclamation. He founded a monastery near Tours as well as other monastic communities in his diocese. He is one of the first non-martyrs of the Church to have been called a saint.

Finding Jesus in the poor, and marginalized goes back to Jesus’ own words in the Parable of the Last Judgment (Mt. 25:31-46): “‘For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’” May we imitate St. Martin of Tours in giving to others and thus, giving to Christ.