Martin: Difference between revisions

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=Martin and Christianity=
=Martin and Christianity=
While St. Martin is one of the most recognizable Roman Catholic saints, his form of Christianity is not Catholic by modern standards, but rather apostolic.  Like [[Paul]], threads were taken from Martin's garments, and "wrought frequent miracles upon those who were sick."  Martin also prophecied to the Emperor Maximus that he would be successful in attacking Emperor Valentinianus, but would die shortly thereafter - which came to pass.  There is also no indication, other than a friendship with Hilary of Poitiers, that Martin was a Trinitarian, although persecution from the Arians showed that he was not an Arian either.  The only indication of Martin's view of the Godhead is that throughout his biography, Sulpicius Severus refers only to God, the Lord, the name of the Lord Jesus, and the name of Christ.  It appears from this that Martin held an apostolic (pre-trinitarian) view of the Godhead. 
While St. Martin is one of the most recognizable Roman Catholic saints, his form of Christianity is not Catholic by modern standards, but rather apostolic.  Like [[Paul]], threads were taken from Martin's garments, and "wrought frequent miracles upon those who were sick."  Martin also prophecied to the Emperor Maximus that he would be successful in attacking Emperor Valentinianus, but would die shortly thereafter - which came to pass.  There is also no indication, other than a friendship with Hilary of Poitiers, that Martin was a Trinitarian, although persecution from the Arians showed that he was not an Arian either.  The only indication of Martin's view of the Godhead is that throughout his biography, Sulpicius Severus refers only to God, the Lord, the name of the Lord Jesus, and the name of Christ.   


The cult, or veneration, of Martin was hugely popular in the Middle Ages. His body was taken to Tours and the simple shrine erected over his sarcophagus later increased to a great basilica.  The later bishop, Gregory of Tours, made it his business to write and see distributed an influential ''Life'' filled with miraculous events of the saint's career.  The basilica was finally sacked by the Huguenots during the Wars of Religion in 1562, then utterly demolished during the French Revolution, when two streets were opened on the site to ensure it would not be rebuilt.  In 1860, excavations established its former site and recovered some fragments of architecture.
The cult, or veneration, of Martin was hugely popular in the Middle Ages. His body was taken to Tours and the simple shrine erected over his sarcophagus later increased to a great basilica.  The later bishop, Gregory of Tours, made it his business to write and see distributed an influential ''Life'' filled with miraculous events of the saint's career.  The basilica was finally sacked by the Huguenots during the Wars of Religion in 1562, then utterly demolished during the French Revolution, when two streets were opened on the site to ensure it would not be rebuilt.  In 1860, excavations established its former site and recovered some fragments of architecture.