Dates

• Existence: 316 - 397 November 8

Biographical note

Born in Upper Pannonia (now Hungary), the son of a Roman officer. He was educated at Pavia and at the age of fifteen enrolled in the imperial cavalry. While on campaign, he shared his cloak with a poor beggar and had a heavenly vision, which led to his baptism. He left the army and placed himself in the hands of Hilary, bishop of Poitiers, living for ten years as a recluse and founding a community of monk-hermits at Ligugé. In 371, he was promoted to the see of Tours, but he accepted the office with great reluctance, and, establishing another great monastic center at Marmoutier, he continued to live there privately as a monk, while publicly he devoted himself to his episcopal duties. He opposed Arianism and Priscillianism, but befriended the Priscillianists when they were persecuted, and condemned the practice of invoking the civil power to punish heretics. His shrine at Tours became a popular pilgrimage site.

(paraphrased from The Book of Saints : A Dictionary of Persons Canonized or Beatified by the Catholic Church. 5th edition. New York: Crowell, 1966.)

Alternate names

Martinus Turonensis, Martin Obispo, Martin Caballero, Martin of Tours

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