Veteran Saints

 

   All honor this 11/11/11 to our servicemen, past and present, who have given their lives in defense of this nation and its values. They have never been honored enough. The known heroes who receive medals are visible reminders; but the millions who have served, many of whom died anonymously, are equally to be thanked for their sacrifices.  It was fitting that, what started out as Armistice Day, Nov. 11, 1918, should become a day to honor the brave in all our wars for freedom.

   As you know, I'm interested in the saints that we honor, as well. Many were soldiers. I've mentioned before those who were martyrs in early Christianity, when they refused to bow to false gods after finding Christ. Just the other day it was the forty holy martyrs, soldiers under Licinius, who were killed in the year 320 A.D. In the first three centuries the saints were mostly martyrs.

   There are many soldiers honored in the church calendar who became saints. One of the most well-known is St. Ignatius of Loyola. He was a courtier and knight, who, having been wounded, spent his recovery reading the lives of the Saints. He decided to become a soldier in the Church Militant (the part of Christ's mystical body on earth, the Church) to fight the forces of Satan. He was first General of a new spiritual chivalry, a new order of priests, the Society of Jesus. His motto was "Ad majorem Dei gloriam," to the greater glory of God.
He died in 1556.

   It so happens that today is the feast day of another ex-soldier. St. Martin of Tours is the first bishop and confessor honored by the Church in the West. He was the principal apostle of Gaul, which would become France.  He was born at Savaria in Pannonia and came to Gaul as a soldier. While still studying for Baptism as a catechumen (one studying the catechism, or one being catechized) he gave part of his cloak to a poor man who was begging in the name of Christ. During the following night, Our Lord appeared to him clothed in that half of his cloak and said, "Martin, a simple catechumen, covered Me with this garment."  Remember Christ said, "Whatever you do to the least of these, ......."

   At age 18 he was baptized and became a disciple of St. Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers. He built a monastery in the desert and called together a few disciples to follow him. He was the founder of monastic life in Gaul.  God had other plans for Martin. He was made Bishop of Tours and founded the famous Marmoutiers Abbey or Martin's monastery. He eventually had 80 monks at the monastery, imitating the lives of hermits.

   Martin lived more than eighty years and devoted himself to the glory of God and salvation of souls. He died at Candes, near Tours, in 397 A.D.  Few saints have been so popular. In France alone there have been about 4000 parish churches dedicated to him and 485 market towns or villages bear his name. In Rome is the church of St. Sylvester and Martin. In times past his cope (the cape worn for certain liturgical rites) was borne at the head of the army in times of war. Oaths were sworn on it in times of peace.

   Another saint commemorated on this day was an Egyptian soldier in the Roman army, a Christian named Mennas. He was martyred under Diocletian, that very busy Roman emperor who killed so many Christians, in the year 295 A.D.

   We are all soldiers in the army of Christ. As troops in the Church Militant, in the constant fight to save our souls and defend our Faith, we hope to gain our "medals" and join the ranks of those in the Church Triumphant, the saints in Heaven.

11/11/11