Martin of Tours - Hungary - 4th Century

Martin must be one of the great characters of the Heavenly Kingdom. He gave up army life saying’ I am a soldier of Christ, it is not lawful for me to fight. He lived as a monk and set up one of the first monasteries at Poitiers. The people demanded that he be their bishop, and tricked him into taking that responsibility. Some people thought that his scruffy hair and shaggy appearance wasn’t a good sign.

He was a compassionate man, who pleaded with the Emperor for Priscillian and his followers, who were accused of being a threat to the State, with their radical ideas.   While still a soldier, he gave half his precious cloak to a beggar, and in a dream saw Christ wearing the half cloak in Heaven. His prayer was ‘Lord, if your people still need me, praised be your good will.