Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The testimony offered by Saint Martin, Bishop of Tours, whose liturgical feast is the 11 November, was the focus of the address given by Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday 11 November before leading the recitation of the midday Angelus prayer with the thousands of people gathered for this purpose in St Peter's Square. The Holy Father recalled that Martin was born in Pannonia, in what is today Hungary, in about the year 316, of non Christian parents. His father convinced him to embark on a military career. He was baptised when he was about 20 years old. After having left the army, he was ordained a deacon and a priest in Poitiers, in France, by the saintly Bishop Hilary. He chose to live a monastic life and with a group of followers founded the oldest known monastery in Europe at Ligugé. About ten years later he was elected Bishop of Tours, and dedicated himself with ardent zeal to evangelisation in rural areas and formation for the clergy. “Although may miracles are attributed to him- the Pope recalled - , Saint Martin is famous most of all for an act of charity. While still a young soldier he met along the road a poor man, frozen and trembling with cold. Martin took his own mantle cut it two with his sword and gave one half to the poor man. That night in a dream Jesus appeared to him, smiling and wrapped in that same mantle”.
The Pope underlined “that charitable act of Martin is part of the same logic which led Jesus to multiply the loaves of bread to feed the hungry crowds, and above all to leave Himself as food for humanity in the Eucharist, supreme sign of God's love, Sacramentum caritatis. This is the logic of sharing, which is the authentic expression of love of neighbour. “May Saint Martin helps us to understand that only with common commitment to share can we tackle the great challenges of our time: to build a world of peace and justice where every person may live with dignity. This will happen if the prevailing world model is one of authentic solidarity, which guarantees all men and women on the planet the necessary food, water and medical care and also work and energy resources and cultural goods and scientific and technological knowledge”. Before reciting the Angelus the Pope said “May the Blessed Virgin Mary help all Christians to be like Saint Martin, generous witnesses to the Gospel of charity and tireless builders of sharing and solidarity”.
After the Angelus, Benedict XVI mentioned the difficult situation in Lebanon: “The national assembly of Lebanon will soon be called to elect a new Head of State. As numerous initiatives undertaken in recent days demonstrate, this is a crucial moment, on which the very future of Lebanon and its institutions depends. I endorse the concerns recently voiced by Maronite Patriarch, His Beatitude il Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir, and his hope that all Lebanese may identify with the new President. Let us ask Our Lady of Lebanon to inspire the persons involved to have the necessary detachment from personal interests and an authentic passion for the common good.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 12/11/2007 - righe 34, parole 514)
