St. Martin of Tours

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Hello, I am new to these forums and, as the title suggests, have a question about Martin of Tours.

I was researching various saints and while reading a number of things about him it said he was in the Roman army, but when he was 18 he was baptized and on the eve of battle claimed that, "“I am a soldier of Christ. I cannot fight,” and was imprisoned for cowardice. Now as Catholics we have many saints who were soldiers and fought in war, and there obviously is the Just War doctrine. So was he just mistaken or am I misinterpreting or missing something?
 
Hello , I do not know about his refusal to fight. This is what I have , (not much). Perhaps this was a personal revelation to his vocation. I for one was a soldier and was given a clear sign I was not to be one ever again (cancer). For me, it was a very personal thing I came to understand later. I wasn’t happy at the time as you could expect, but I believe it saved my life and soul because of my intentions. I was full of vengence coupled with my desire to bring young folks home alive, therefore the right thing happened for the better good and I was shown mercy. Tim

One winter while on duty in Amiens, France, as a 4th century Roman soldier, Martin, yet a catechumen, came across a beggar barely dressed in rags and freezing in the cold. Moved with compassion, Martin drew his sword and skillfully slashed his own military cloak, giving half to the poorly clad beggar. Later that night in a dream, Christ appeared wearing the same torn cloak Martin had given to the beggar. Thereafter, Martin was fully received into the Catholic Faith, was released from military duty, settled in France, founded the area’s first monastic community, and went on to become Bishop of Tours. Having endured scourging and exile, Martin courageously and continually refuted the Arian heresy and defended the fullness of the gospel.

Upon his death in 397, Martin became the patron saint of France. His military cloak became a relic often carried into battle by France’s army. Whenever in the field, a tent was set up to enshrine the relic of St. Martin’s cloak, or “cappa” in Latin, and the priests who were entrusted to care for it were called “cappellani”. Eventually, all those who tended to the spiritual well-being of military personnel became known as “cappellani”, “chapelains” in French, “chaplains” in English. St. Martin of Tours is the patron saint of soldiers and his feast day is November 11.
 
There are several other Saints who turned from a career or pending career as a solider to become a dedicated religious. Ignatious of Loyola and Francis of Assisi come to mind.

TOP, thanks for the lesson about chaplins–I didn’t know that part of the story before.
 
Sr_Sally said:
There are several other Saints who turned from a career or pending career as a solider to become a dedicated religious. Ignatious of Loyola and Francis of Assisi come to mind.

TOP, thanks for the lesson about chaplins–I didn’t know that part of the story before.
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Your welcome. My military mentor started out as a chaplains assistant. Maybe there is something here for me to learn as well. Tim
 
Sr_Sally said:
There are several other Saints who turned from a career or pending career as a solider to become a dedicated religious. Ignatious of Loyola and Francis of Assisi come to mind.

TOP, thanks for the lesson about chaplins–I didn’t know that part of the story before.
Click to expand...
True, but what confused me is that he actually said that he couldn’t fight because of his faith, implying moral reservations, whereas Ignatious and Francis just left the military.
 
If he said that he couldn’t fight, it was himself that could not fight, not his comrades, hence a personal revelation. Tim
P.S. Though I can’t fight , I still support my brothers and sisters in a just cause.
 
Ah, I figured it was something like that. Thanks for the answers and I wish the best for all of you 🙂
 
Bespectacled said:
Hello, I am new to these forums and, as the title suggests, have a question about Martin of Tours.

I was researching various saints and while reading a number of things about him it said he was in the Roman army, but when he was 18 he was baptized and on the eve of battle claimed that, "“I am a soldier of Christ. I cannot fight,” and was imprisoned for cowardice. Now as Catholics we have many saints who were soldiers and fought in war, and there obviously is the Just War doctrine. So was he just mistaken or am I misinterpreting or missing something?
Click to expand...
Here is a good biography…

newadvent.org/cathen/09732b.htm

A few people (such as us Franciscan 1221 penitents) still observe the fast of St. Martin’s from 12 November to 24 December.
 
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