St. Martin of Tours: Soldier of Mercy, Bishop of the Poor
St. Martin of Tours is remembered not for military victory or theological treatises, but for a single act of mercy that changed the course of his life. As a young Roman soldier, Martin encountered a freezing beggar at the city gates of Amiens. With no money to give, he cut his cloak in half and shared it. That night, Christ appeared to him in a dream wearing the cloak, revealing that true greatness is found in charity.Martin soon left the army, embraced the Christian faith fully, and eventually became Bishop of Tours. Despite his position, he lived simply, defended the poor, opposed violence, and became one of the earliest non-martyr saints to be widely venerated. His life reminds the Church that holiness often begins with ordinary compassion offered without hesitation.