Give or take a coat
11/11/2017
St Martin’s presence in our days might be more evident than what we think. The most we know of his life was written by Sulpicius Severus, a contemporary and biographer of St Martin. Based on his words Martin was benevolent to his companions: outstanding love, patience and humility described him.
Severus wrote that during Martin’s military training in Amiens (France), he was already rather seen as a monk than a soldier. He had only one servant, with whom he often changed roles. Martin not only shared his food with him, but served him at the table, cleaned his footwear. He kept nothing more than he was actually needed for his daily eating and dressing. The well- known cloak halfing also took place in Amiens, on a rougher than usual winter day. Martin’s sharing his red cloak to a ragged beggar is just one example of his magnanimity that accompanied Martin during his lifetime.
Later on, when Martin was a bishop he was heading to hold a mass in Albenga, and on the way, he met a beggar. Martin gave his clothes to this poor man, and changed into the beggar’s ragged ones. During his mass angels surrounded him and covered his body.
True, honest giving carries an intangible, beautiful reward in itself and has not lost from people. In fact, St Martin’s day is 6 weeks before Christmas Eve, and very close to the end of the year. Winter has started; days are colder and light is less. This season, including Advent, carries the tradition of turning inside, measurement and opportunity of leaving unnecessary things behind and sharing.
There is a campaign, which year by year spreads and reaches out to more and more people. Institutions and individual can equally join to it: clothes racks are placed on the streets and in public places with a simple message saying: “If you are cold take a coat, if you wouldn’t want others to feel cold, give one.”
St Martin’s presence in our days might be more evident than what we think. The most we know of his life was written by Sulpicius Severus, a contemporary and biographer of St Martin. Based on his words Martin was benevolent to his companions: outstanding love, patience and humility described him.
Severus wrote that during Martin’s military training in Amiens (France), he was already rather seen as a monk than a soldier. He had only one servant, with whom he often changed roles. Martin not only shared his food with him, but served him at the table, cleaned his footwear. He kept nothing more than he was actually needed for his daily eating and dressing. The well- known cloak halfing also took place in Amiens, on a rougher than usual winter day. Martin’s sharing his red cloak to a ragged beggar is just one example of his magnanimity that accompanied Martin during his lifetime.
Later on, when Martin was a bishop he was heading to hold a mass in Albenga, and on the way, he met a beggar. Martin gave his clothes to this poor man, and changed into the beggar’s ragged ones. During his mass angels surrounded him and covered his body.
True, honest giving carries an intangible, beautiful reward in itself and has not lost from people. In fact, St Martin’s day is 6 weeks before Christmas Eve, and very close to the end of the year. Winter has started; days are colder and light is less. This season, including Advent, carries the tradition of turning inside, measurement and opportunity of leaving unnecessary things behind and sharing.
There is a campaign, which year by year spreads and reaches out to more and more people. Institutions and individual can equally join to it: clothes racks are placed on the streets and in public places with a simple message saying: “If you are cold take a coat, if you wouldn’t want others to feel cold, give one.”
Text: Emese Nánási
Photo credit: mno.hu
