November 11, Feast of Saint Martin of Tours

Saint Martin of Tours is commemorated every year on November 11. However, this day is not the date of his death but the date of his funeral. In fact, Saint Martin passed away on November 8, 397, in Candes, where he had gone to settle a dispute. His body was then brought back to Tours, where his funeral was held on November 11, in the presence of a large crowd. Every year, major celebrations are held in his honor, particularly in Tours.

The feast of Saint Martin is particularly associated with charity because it commemorates the saintly bishop’s act of sharing his cloak with a poor man. According to the account passed down by Sulpicius Severus, Christ appeared to Martin the following night, wearing the half of the cloak that had been given away.

This act makes Saint Martin a symbol of Christian charity.

Since Saint Martin is the patron saint of the Diocese of Tours, he is celebrated there in a special way.

Every year the following events are held:

• Solemn Masses
• Vespers, celebrated on the eve of November 11
• Torchlight marches or processions
• Pilgrimages along the paths of Saint Martin, notably the one connecting Angers to Tours and the one between Marmoutier and Tours.
• Times of prayer and adoration…
• A time for venerating the relics of Saint Martin
• Lectures on his life and message

The feast of Saint Martin is an opportunity to ask the holy bishop to teach us to see Christ in the poorest among us, to grant us a more generous heart, and to become agents of charity so that we may follow in his footsteps toward holiness.

 “May Saint Martin help us understand that it is only through a shared commitment to sharing that we can respond to the great challenge of our time: building a world of peace and justice, in which every person can live with dignity.” —Benedict XVI, November 11, 2007.

Beautiful Prayers for the Feast of Saint Martin of Tours

Prayer to Saint Martin by Bishop Bernard-Nicolas Aubertin

“Saint Martin, witness to Jesus Christ, teach us to experience the encounter with the Father in the depths of our hearts through silence and openness to the Word of God. Help us to recognize the face of Jesus in every person so that we may serve and love him with selfless generosity. Grant us the grace to manifest the joy of living in the freedom of the Holy Spirit, by stepping outside ourselves to reach the peripheries of our time. Saint Martin, intercede for us: may we be authentic disciples of the merciful Christ, who died and rose again to share his life with us. And entrust to our Father in Heaven all the intentions we carry in our hearts. Amen.” 

“Saint Martin,
You who traveled the roads of Europe,
You who lived in the footsteps of Jesus as a true disciple,
You who shared your cloak with a poor man out of love for Christ,
You who help us recognize His face in every person so that we may serve and love,
You who fought against evil and walked the earth doing good,
Intercede for us in these difficult times,
Protect us in these times of distress,
Grant us the strength to persevere and to keep the peace in times of trial,
Be our protector and lead us on the path to eternal life. Amen.”

Continue your prayer with Saint Martin thanks to Hozana!

• For 9 days, embark upon a pilgrimage toward the light so that you, too, may be transformed by grace!
• Alongside this great saint, pray for a vocation.
• In times of trial, alongside Saint Martin, reach out with this novena to Saint Rita.