A Brief History of St. Martin

• 317-319 A.D. Born in Pannonia (Hungary) to pagan parents.
• Served in the Roman army until about the year 339, when he gave half his cloak to a beggar, and a vision of Christ drew him toward baptism and the religious life.
• Ordained an exorcist b y St. Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers.
• Lived a life of a hermit on the Italian coast.
• Converted his pagan mother, and was flogged for publicly opposing the Arians.
• Built a monastery with St. Hilary in Liguge, where he was chosen Bishop of Tours in 371.
• Lived in the stone and wooden grottoes of Marmoutier, attracted many followers, and became the founder of monasticism in Gaul.
• Rid Tours and Gaul of idolatry and, with St. Ambrose, protested against those who put heretics to death.
• Had an extraordinary gift of miracles and died a peaceful death.
• Feast Day, November 11

A Brief History of St. Martin of Tours Catholic Parish