Martin of Tours a Roman soldier.

Martin of Tours a Roman soldier.

(Was born about the year 316 of pagan parents in Sabaria. His father was an officer in the Roman army_.

Martin experienced the vision that became the most-repeated story about his life. He was at the gates of the city of Amiens with his soldiers when he met a scantily dressed beggar.

He took off his warm cloak and, using his gleaming sword, sliced it in two. He gave half to the beggar.

That night he dreamed of Jesus wearing the half-cloak which he had given away. He heard Jesus say to the angels: "Here is Martin, the Roman soldier who is not baptised ; he has clad me."

Martin was interested in Christianity and tried to find out about it. Its message attracted him, and he started to obey some of its precepts. He earned himself some notoriety by refusing to join in some of the bawdier songs and more outlandish activities of military life.

He gave freely to the poor, was kind to his servants, and liked to pray. But he postponed the actual step of Christian baptism. His first posting was to Rheims, and from there he was sent to Amiens.

Martin had a a dream vision, he saw a figure surrounded with shining glory Christ Himself, still wearing the half of Martin's cloak.

Our Lord reminded Martin of His words in the Gospel: "I was naked and you clothed me ... in as much as you did it to the least of the little ones, you did it to Me".

Martin got himself baptized as a Christian, and when his term of duty was up, he left the army and decided to serve Jesus by helping Christians.

Martin's preaching resulted in the decline of paganism in that part of Gaul. He destroyed temples and felled trees which the heathen held sacred.

Once when he had demolished a certain temple, he proceeded to the cutting down of a pine tree that stood near. The chief priest and other pagans there offered to cut it down themselves, on condition that he who trusted so strongly in his Christ Jesus would stand under it.

Martin agreed and allowed himself to be tied and placed on the side towards which the tree was leaning. Just as it seemed about to fall on him, he made the sign of the cross, at which the tree fell in the other direction.