Patron saint of soldiers

Before beginning the headlong hurtle toward the end of the year, the church calls for Catholics to take the month of November to pause and remember.

We remember the saints Nov. 1 and the souls of all  the faithful departed one day later. During Advent, which begins Nov. 27 this year, God’s promise to send a savior is remembered.

Then there is Nov. 11, a holiday in which we remember the sacrifice of all veterans but which has Catholic connections because it is also the feast day of St. Martin de Tours.

Born of pagan parents and raised in Italy, St. Martin became a Christian at the age of 10.

Because his father served in the Roman Army, St. Martin was forced to enlist at the age of 15. He eventually served as an emperor’s guard, according to scholars.

He had a conversion as a young soldier when he encountered a cold, unclothed beggar. The shaking man asked for alms. Since he did not have money, St. Martin took his sword and cut his own cloak in half and gave one piece to the beggar. That night, St. Martin had a dream in which he saw Jesus wrapped in the half of the cloak he had given to the beggar.

As a battle neared the city of Worms, Germany, St. Martin told his superiors he could no longer serve in the Army because of his formed Christian conscience. When his superiors accused him of cowardice St. Martin proved his sincerity by offering to go into battle unarmed. 

Before the battle occurred, the Germans sought peace terms and St. Martin was hailed for his courage in the “bloodless victory.” He was discharged and he became a “soldier of Christ” as a monk who founded a hermitage and eventually was appointed a bishop.

After World War I ended with signing of a ceasefire agreement Nov. 11, 1918 in Compiègne, France, the anniversary of the event was marked as Armistice Day in the United States, Great Britain and France. 

After World War II, the holiday was recognized as a day of tribute to veterans of both wars. The United States changed the name to Veterans Day beginning in 1954 to honor veterans of all U.S. wars. The British Commonwealth calls Nov. 11 Remembrance Day.

Many faithful remembering St. Martin see his hand in the ceasefire and ongoing call for peace. St. Martin is not only the patron saint of soldiers but also of the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps, which has a medal in his name.