Fourth-century soldier turned bishop of Tours, famous for sharing his cloak with a freezing beggar.
Life
Saint Martin of Tours was born around 316 in Pannonia, in present-day Hungary, the son of a Roman soldier, and became a soldier himself as a young man. According to the life written by his disciple Sulpicius Severus, at the gate of Amiens he cut his cloak in half for a beggar shivering in the cold, and that night saw Christ in a dream wearing that cloak.
After his baptism he left the army, became a disciple of Saint Hilary of Poitiers and founded a monastery at Ligugé. Around 371, at the insistence of the people, he became bishop of Tours, yet he lived simply like a monk and travelled the countryside preaching the Gospel.
He died in 397 and was one of the first saints honored who was not a martyr. The Church remembers him on November 11.
Spirituality
Martin's spirituality is eyes that recognize Christ in the poor. By sharing half his cloak, he clothed Christ himself. Even as bishop he led his people through humility and service rather than authority.
Reflection
Martin did not give everything, but half of what he had. Do I have a half cloak I could share with my neighbor? This winter, what could I share with someone who is out in the cold?